THE GREAT EXHIBITION. (From the Times.)

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 552, 30 July 1851, Page 3

THE GREAT EXHIBITION. (From the Times.)

Tun spectacle which tlic interior of the Crystal Palace presents increases every day in intercut. Y^'ovy department of the woik is carried forward with an energy and rapidity which are truly surprising. Already the entire space cast of the transept has its fittings in an advanced state. Stalls and tables spring up with magical rapidity, and the whole of tJiis part of the building begins to present visibly the system of arrangement and distribution which the Executive Committee have laid down for it. Jn the compartments of each nation, one can now sec the character and the limits of (he accommodation provided, and with no gi eat stretch of imagination those points where the effects will be finest, can already be detected. .But without anticipating the future, there is much in the progiess of the woilc which deserves notice. The inferior painting ptogresses steadily, and gains d.iily upon the approbation of all who see it. Jn a very d.iy*> the southern half of the building will 1)0 completed. Mounted upon moveable platforms, bunds of painters carry forward their work out of reach of the crowds of tradespeople who on the ground floors and in the galleries push on their several tasks. Amidst this scene of wcllduueted labour, thy eye catches occasionally the

figures of men crawling upon the glass roof, and plying in apparent security iheir work upon the brittle and precarious resting-place. While the upper regions of the building are tenanted by glaziers and painters, below masses of handicraftsmen arc busily engaged. Carpenters are labouring at hundreds of benches, the gas and water - pipo fitteis are busy, and the arrangements, both for lighting the interior and preserving it from accident by fire are in rapid progress. The redcoated Sappers and Miners form prominent objects in the animated scene. Their work is principally to facilitate the reception of goods, and they get through all they have to do with great energy, and with a certain observance of military precision which is not without its interest to the on-looker. Custom-house oflicers, with yellowcoloured tickets fastened to their button-holes, watch the arrival of each van of goods, and jealously examine the contents of every package. Over the safety and order of the whole establishment a body of police presides ; and thus the Crystal Palace forms within itself a little model of the world, the industry of which it is destined to enshrine. Within the o/liccs of the Executive Committee a not less busy performance is enacted than without. Constant communications aie passing between the different departments; consultations arc taking place, interviews passing, applications granted or refused, clerks and assistants Hying about from point to point, and all the stir of a governing power visible to the eye. In one large room strangers and exhibitors are received and directed how to proceed in getting what they wish accomplished. In three small closet-like appartments the members of the Executive Committee transact their multifarious business. Another large room is devoted to the drawing of plans, and here, amidst a little group of draughtsmen, Mr. Owen Jones presides, directing and completing his arrangements in the decorative department of the Exhibition. He has just finished, as far as the information at present obtained will permit, a plan of the disposition of space on a Urge scale, and the view which it presents suggests high expectation of the orderly and well-digested method in which our native products especially will be disposed. The nave of the building when finished will be a magnificent sight, embellished, as it will be, with the rarest and most remarkable specimens from each of the thirty sections into which the whole collection has been classified. Colossal statues —great fountains — a gigantic telescope — pillars of granite and coral — an extraordinary dome of glass and iron, cast at Coalbrook-dale, and forty feet high — crystals of spermaceti oil, as representing animal substances, and which cost their exhibitor £1000 — crystals of alum, several feet high, models of the Britannia bridge and of the great Russian chain bridge thrown by Vignolles over the Dnieper — a model of the Glass ralace itself — a model of Chance's lighthouse — a display of feathers by Adcock — a clock by Dent — a trophy of silk manufacture from Spitalfield : such are among the objects with which the western, or British, half of the lofty centre aisle is to be adorned. To this list will, no doubt, yet be added many other attractive contributions, and as an illustration of the desire which is felt to concentrate on this point the most remarkable things in the country, we may mention that a hope is entertained that the section of precious stones may be represented here by Runjeet Singh's great diamond — the Ko'hinoor. It is intended that all the stalls shall be covered with red cloth or pink calico, by which means not only will the unsightly wood-work be concealed, but a warmth of colouring will be imparted to the whole ground-area of the building, which, combined with the great mass of blue over head and the yellow stripes on the columns, will produce a most harmonious and brilliant effect. The arrivals of goods increase daily, and now the piles of packages collected in some of the compartments present a very respectable appearance. This is particularly observable in the space for the Zollverein. The consignments of native industry come in rather slowly still, those connected with the fine arts department being principally deposited in the transept. The agricultural implement makers have" topen- first in the field, havjngJ sent in 72 contributions. Of machines for direct use, such as carriages and railway and naval mechanism, C>9 consignments have been received ; of mining and quarrying products, 45 ; of manufactures in mineral substances for building and decoration, 55; of general hardware, 23 ; of miscellaneous manufactures, 21 ; of contributions in the fine arts, 17 ; of manufacturing machines, 11 ; of manufactures in silk and velvet, the Game number ; the arrivals in the other sections do not exceed 10, and are in some as low as 1 ; while in two sections nothing has been received. The whole consignments of native produce that have come in are 402. The Executive Committee have come to the conclusion that the exhibitors who did not take their places in the building on or before Friday, either by actually sending in their contributions, or by erecting the necessary fittings for that purpose, and getting leave for delay, or who did not send in the description of their articles to the catalogue compilers, must be considered as abandoning their claims to space.

Smoking at the Exhibition; — The commissioncis are evidently dcsiious of preserving good order in the Exhibition; m proof of which a large placard, printed in bold letters, and bearing the following ominous announcement, is put up in the building. " Das Raucheri wird nicht olaubt.— U nest pas permis de fumer. Nun d permesso di iutnare— No es periniltido fum,ir. N,io he pu miltido fiitnai 1 . And lastly, in plain English, No Smoking Allowi!.d.