THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 236, 5 October 1880, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION

I The following description of the Exhibition* wjhich wasopened oh Friday last appeared'in UxeN.Z. Times of Saturdays having l been

supplied by its Melbourne correspondent in anticipation of Hint event : — The site of the Exhibition is perhaps one of the grandest in Melbourne. It stands in Carlton Gardens, and to those in New Zealand who have visited the Metropolis of Australia, this fact sufficiently indicates its favorable position, but as all have not been so favored, it may be stated that the Carlton Gardens are centrally situated on high ground — using "the comparative " high " in a local, not in a Wellington sense — within a few minutes' brisk walkof the busiest thoroughfare, Bourkestreet. Pfom the garden immediately in front of the Exhibition-, a fine, though rather distant, view is obtained of Hobson'a -Bay, and of steamers arriving or departing, the building now forming the most prominent land mark visible to vessels coming up the harbor. THE MAIN BUILDING stands back nearly a quarter of a mile from Victoria- street, to which it presents a facade of 560 feet. Unlike its prototype of 1851, or I the Crystal Palace of London, formed almost wholly of glass, the Melbourne Exhibition, or [ rath'er that portion of it which is intended to be permanent, is built of stone, brick, and cement,, and iron, glass being but Bparsely used. 1 Possibly a glass structure, though j suitable under an English sky, would havo [ been found ill-adapted for a Victorian summer. The naves are 500 feet, and. the transepts 272 feet in length: .Running round the entire circumference of these, are aisles and galleries,.2O feet wide. The dome is tbo most prominent feature of the'building but before proceeding to its description, it must ba mentioned that the naves and transept* from the centre of which it springs, are 70ft high, the lighting being effected By clerestory windows, the roofs being formed of corrugated '- iron,- the inner side being-close boarded and richly decorated. The ' . dome rises high above the building, but the proportions, as viewed from the interior are in strict keeping with the magnitude of the 1 edifice it crowns. It springs from the main building, about 100ft from the grand entrance vestibule in the-southern facade, and 'at. the base is 100ft in diameter, terminating !in a cupola 212ft from the floor. As tha 'floor4s4ooffc above the level of the General Post Office the altitude and size of the dome render it a most conspicuous object for miles ground 'Melbourne- The dome is well lighted, and the interior, as also the sustaining walls, are highly decorated and embellished with paintings chiefly of an emblematic' Character, the most striking featurea being eight large female figures, painted in florid style, and representative. of. science, | architecture,, sculpture, music, painting, commerce, manufacture, and agriculture.

i There are three entrances to the main building, one in Nichol«on-street (this being jthe most used), one in Rathdowne-street, and j,he principal one in the south front. In each case access is obtained to the building through lofty arched vestibules, 40ft in jividth. Entering from Victoria-street before reaching the principal vestibule, the visitor passes through about 20 acres of beautiful garden, artistically laid out, and forming a skilful combination of grassy lawnß, flowers, shrubberies, and water, and immediately facing the grand entrance is the

GREAT FOUNTAIN, said to be the largest in this . part of tbe world, the work of a distinguished young German new-chum, Mr Hocbgurtell. The fountain is 34ft high, rising out of a bagin 60ft in diameter. The material used i» Portland cement on a strong framework of stone and iron. The baae is composed of an irregular-shaped mass of rock, rising two or feet above the level of the water; on this are placed three colossal figures, half human, half fish, supporting the first ledga pr basin, 48ft in diameter. Above this a iroup of boys danciDg round under a second basin, and a third above that again completes the series, the whole being surmounted by the figure of a child carrying on his head a dish, from which spring the fountain jets. There are some fifty jets, supplied by a pipe 4in in diameter direct from a 22in main of the Yan Yean water Bupply, and the fountain is supposed to be able to throw to a height of 100ft. Tbe cost was £800.— The geneial appearance of the main building is much marred by the squat looking dwarf towers at the four angles. It was proposed a few months back, when the building was approaching completion, that these towers, aB also the flanking towers, should be raised to a height more in harmony with the great dome, but unfortunately the proposal was bever acted on. Beneath the building a large amount of cellarage accommodation is provided, a portion of which, allotted to New Zealand, has been partitioned off and fitted with skids, shelving, &c, and thereon repose, quietly and coolly until their day of judgment comes, the choice products of most of the famous New Zealaud breweries, aB also a large assortment of wines and cordiala. * ♦ The necessary space for the principal portion of the Exhibition is obtained in two aide annexes, each measuring 500ffc by 150ft, devoted chiefly to machinery, refreshment rooms, &c; and in the