THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5783, 11 October 1879, Page 2

THE SYDNEY EXHIBITION.

(FKOM OVB .SPECIAL COUUE.SroNDENT.) Sydney, October 4. The Garden Palace, the centre of attraction, is now assuming something of the aspect which it should have presented on the opening day, which day was to all intents and purposes a ptem.vurc one, and has had a very bad effect as regards tho influx of visitors to the city, the country residents having deferred their visits until the completion of the display of the exhibits. Another reason for this exists in the decision arrived at by the Commissioners to erect a separate building for the fine arts collection. This building will not be available earlier than the first week in November, and people who come from a distance would not care to lose the opportunity of seeing as fine a collection of art treasures as will in all probability be witnessed in these colonies for many many years to come. There are attractions so numerous in the Exhibition that it would be almost too early to enter upon a detailed description, or to attempt to individualise excellence until the completion of the work, but enough of that which is beautiful, as well as novel, is already shown to occupy the attention (of those who seek for knowledge) for a greater length of time than is at the command of any man of business. It therefore means that the ordinary visitor who wishes to gather information must confine himself to a particular class of exhibits, and in this respect I am sorry to say that the Sydney International Exhibition is without exception the worst arranged of any exhibition heretofore held; for supposing you wish to inquire into the improvements which have been made in any branch of industry you have not only to traverse every court, but even iu the courts themselves the exhibits are so scattered that it becomes a matter of labor to seek out the desired object you would care to inspect. As it is my intention to write you a separate notice on each of the national and colonial courts, it would be out of place to distinguish one more than another in this, with this exception that you will be of necessity interested in the New Zealand portion of the Exhibition. In this court everything has been done by Hr. Hector to arrange the exhibits entrusted to his care to the best advantage, and it will not bo too much to say that as far as I can discern the New Zealand court is exceedingly interesting. The Maori house is not yet erected, but the ground has at length been allotted, and tho work commences at once. The catalogue of the New Zealand exhibits will lie ready iu a few days, whilst Hr. Hector's “ New Zealand Handbook,” which is already published, has received much commendation from the vast amount of research which the contents shows must have been bestowed upon its compilation. Great interest has been shown in the tables of statistics which have been introduced, fully depicting in figures the social, mineral, and agricultural advantages possessed by New Zealand.

I must now leave particularising to say a few words upon what I deem a subject of more than common interest to be thought over in connection with this the first Australian International Exhibition, and this in the way of calling the attention to it, rather than offering any opinion upon the lessons which such enterprises teach. Here within “ The Garden Palace” is a collection of the products of the various manufactures and natural resources of the nations represented. Here may be studied with profit the perfection and style of each quarter of the globe ; and those who are concerned in the opening of sources for the furtherance of commercial interests can form an accurate estimate of the cost of production, amount of freightage, and the relative sale to be anticipated of every article exhibited; thus those productions which are derived from densely populated countries, such as China, .Tapan, and also including India and the European states of Germany, France, and Austria, where labor is relatively cheaper than in the colonies, goods can he made and sold much cheaper than they can be manufactured here. This is the problem which should be carefully pondered by the trades societies : Whether it would not be more advisable for them to encourage in every form the introduction of machinery to lessen the cost of production and to secure the markets of the world, rather than to throw obstacles in the way of employment of capital to the certain result of the cheapest labor ultimately succeeding in misting them from their employments. So far as I can see, there is no fear of any competitors successfully contending against the enterprise and spirit of the old country and her colonies so long hs the capitalists consider it safe to invest their moneys in industries carried on therein ; but when you hear of these same people leaving their longestablished businesses, and betaking themselves with their means to other lands, where they can manufacture articles of consumption and actually get them imported into and ready for sale in the colonies much cheaper than those same commodities can be produced therein, it is, as I sav, a problem whether new industries and machinery should not be brought to compete against the low price of labor. The Exhibition has been well attended, and the musical arrangements are well worthy of attention. It is, however, to be regretted, that the management have not reserved a sufficient space in the north aisle for seats for those who attend the concerts; hut not only in this respect but in many others the want of good management is visible. For instance, the statue of her M? jesty, placed under the centre of the dome, is presumed to be elevated on the top of a fountain, where four driblets of water should flow from imaginary lions* months down the distance of eight or ten feet into equally imaginary large-sized cockle-shells or some other specimens of the conchological series. Now, if the water flowed, and the lions' heads were right, and the shells were right, and the whole surrounded by some ferns or ever-greena, in would be a great source of pleasure to congregate round the statue of her Majesty ; bat at present t!■,!.- is not the case. It is not an oasis in ■ - art, but a desert in an oasis, for no othi-’- ■ . ;uf the Exhibition has so bare and baii-.n >.j appearance.