THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 303, 29 September 1888, Page 6

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

i T^u^hTb, is , very Jifctle doubb that, the chief 1 attraction of tho approaching holiday season will bo the Molbourne Exhibition. The Union Steamship Company have offered exceptional facilities for, seeing this wonderful -show, the largest that has 'ever been held in these, colonies, and, tho most wonderful we are likely to see for very many years to como. Already several hundred excursionists from our shores have "done" the Exhibition, , and each steamfer from Auckland or • the Bluff takes something like ono hundred passengors, ' with < the same object in 1 view. The excursion traflic is pretty sure to increase largely as the summer advances, and Melbourne people expect thousands of visitors from New Zoaland at the Cup and Christmas tiino. In spite of the badtimos, too, there seems every likelihood that their expectations will be realised. Those of our readers >vho will not have the ' good fortune to see the 'Exhibition will find in these jottings by onF, special reporter descriptions or the more^interesting features of the Exhibition, while those who contemplate a trip to Melbourne-may discover in them information that will prove useful to them on their travels.

SELECTION OF 11OUTE. The choice of route is nob a very difficult matter. There are soveral routes, but of these there are only two that would spocially commend themselves to an Aucklander, If timo is a consideration, tho excursionists would do well to go and return by way of Sydney and to travel between Sydney and Melbourne by rail. The whole timeoccupied by travelling to Melbourne and then back would then be within twelve days. The return steamer fare from Sydney is £13. The best route of all is, however, direct to Sydney, thence by rail to Melbourne, returning home by way of "the Bluff. Tho travellers would then see Hobart and the towns of the southern part of this colony en route, and the fare f would be £17 or £4 more than the other way.

THE TRIP ACROSS. i One consideration on a trip of this kind is to go by a fast and .comfortable stearaor, , and in this respect we were especially fortunate. Our journey was mado in the s.s. Manapouri, than which there is not a more suitable ship in tho company's fleet. Fast and comfortable, splendidly fitted up, and well officered, with an obliging steward and a good table, she is an admirable vessel in which to make a holiday trip. The run across occupied exactly five days, including a stoppage of seven or eight) hours at Russell. This delay is not by any means annoying. It gives the passengers time for a ramble along the shore or over the hills, and many of our passengers spent thoir time in selecting and purchasing fern baskets, shells, and other articles suitable for presents to friends in Australia. Our passage was a delightful one, but it was like all other sea trips. The passengers read, and sung, and played deck quoits, and gossipped, just as the humour seized them, and eating and f: sleeping appeared to be tho chief pleasures of those on board. Whales spouted occasionally on the distant horizon, to the delight; and astonishment of many on board, while porpoises frequently engaged in their sportive go-as-.you please trials of speed -with the ship. Monotonous "though the trip was in some . respects, the weather was . beautiful, and few on board were pleased on Sunday afternoon when Sydney Heads appeared in sight.

ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY. Our passengers saw Sydney Harbour under the most favourable conditions. The afternoon was warm and pleasant, and there was not a cloud in theclear and beautiful blue sky. The sunset was a glorious one, and the waters of the harbour were bathed in a flood of glorious sunlight. One and all were in raptures with Port Jackson as we steamed up towards the city and not a few comparisons were made between it and , the Waitemata. It is creditable to the loyalty of the passengers that the palm for beauty was accorded to Auckland in tho proportion of not lees than two to one. But then Aucklanders away for home are always ever mindful of the beauties and natural advantages of their favourite city on the banks of the Waitemata.

ACCOMMODATION AT SYDNEY. Sydney carriers are quite as devoid of consciences as their brethren in other parts of the - world, and one lady in our party submitted to the extortion of 13s for the conveyance of several portmanteaux a distance of fcwo or three hundred yards. Strangers would therefore do well to hand over their belongings to the agents of the Sydney Transfer Company, which forwards it safely to its destination at moderate scale-prices. Accomodation is easily obtained in Sydney, but the hotels are vory much preferable to the boarding houses, and the charges are very little higher. One is naturally surprised that the coffee palace institution, which is such a success in Melbourne, hasnot found successful imitation in Sydney: and indeed this is not the only respect in which the older city is lamentably behind its more enterprising rival. Those excursionists who propose spending two or three weeks or more in Sydney would study their comfort and pleasure, as well as their' purses, by engaging apartments in a private house at one of the numerous bransmarine or other suburbs in the neighbourhood of the .city." ,They would thus be away from the dust, noise, and bustle of the street, and would find ample means of conveyance to and from the city by means of trams, 'buses and steamers.

THE LIONS OF SYDNEY. | The lions of Sydney have been so fi'Q" quently described that now even an onume*"" ation of , them is almost unnecessary. A fortnight can be very pleasantly spent in Sydney, and even then the visitor will be loath to leave it. One of the prettiest trips to be obtained is up the Parammatta by 'steamer and back to town by rail. Balmain. Glebe, .Newfcown, Paddingtoh, Redfern, Waterloo and' Aunandale are all suburbs worth visiting, ( while the watering places of Manly Beach,' North Shore, Botany Bay, Coogeo, Bondi, etc., otferattractions ofavery s-trong character. Coogee and Bondi can boast of an aquarim, skating rink, and gardens, and the latter also possesses a Switchback' .railway. Trams or steamers run to all the places at frequent intervals during the, dayor night, There are some beautiful 'spots within [a few minutes' "'w'allc of the 'cenire of 'the city. These include tho Botanical" Gardens, the Domain and Hyde Park,' all of , which abut on the 'harbour, and are 'most/Charmingly situated. [The ' Zoological hardens are= reached ' by 'tram arid are' well worth! 'a visit, while the fMuBeum f Mu8eum and Public Library should not be forgotten.' 3 ' Tlfe < latter contains some f 40^000 „ -books, * '?btit ' ' ' they ," are stowed" aVay'iri very 'limited' space Within 'the compasß^Xyery sipfall^ temporary 'b.uildirig. The.Art Gallery -isi died "a great ,'attraction reo r co visitbreV It 1 is, sit'tfated in ( ;the Domain, .^but at th*e present , time some: o£ the best .'piclures^lar'erat the'Molbouriie Exhibition. Those, that, ren)ain,*h owe ver, are a source v li^t;t'6^ViSiWra''qf aVtistic tasted, and we .notice %hpiy[ include'/sqme/ r of -Gully's admirable pairCtinga^df ' New/ Zealand scenery;

* AMUSEMENTS. >. f ' 7'Tljero Jsnorlack Qfcjsyoiiin^ amvtseipents in Sydney.- Apart frpni' tl>e' numerous concerts in various 'parts'df 'the \ city, the Theatre Koyal,, .Opera ,Houp,q, , Gaiety Theatro, and of Music 'are constantly running. * Rjgnold was producing a revised version oi Undo Toms'a ,Cabin'ab the Umo of our visit, while the Arabian Nights formed the attraction at another house. There are 'Skating Rinks' too in the city and' all tho suburbs, and the bosfc -of these is certainly tho Crystal Palace Rink, run by Alf Wyberd, who is very well known in Auckland. Lie is a professional skater, and understands the business thoroughly. The walls are covered with immense mirrors, in which the lady skaters can admire the reflections of their graceful figures as they glido serenely around the room. Foliage covers the ceiling comploLoly, aud in the recesses of Iho branches are thousands of prettilycoloured incandescent lamps. This and tho Elito Rink absorb most of/the patronage.