THE PARIS EXHIBITION. DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS. LOVE OF THEATRICAL EFFEOT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT). Paris, September 30.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 423, 27 November 1889, Page 3

THE PARIS EXHIBITION. DISTRIBUTION OF AW A RDS. LOVE OF THEATRICAL EFFEOT. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT). Paris, September 30.

The lovo of theatrical eflect is characteristic of the French nationality, and in-, dividually the tawdry trumpery of the celebration of " The Triumph ot the liepublic." where what should have been a great Stato iunction was delegated practically to supernumeraries from the opera and distinguished dansantes, who draw the jeuiiesse dome in crowds to the Eden, wasacase in point. The triumphalode itßelf, of which so much was made, forcibly illustrated how close may be the affinity between the sublime and the ridiculous. The only thing analogous in our own country to these pasteboard pageants is the Lord Mayor's Show, where occasionally the staff of perogrinatory circuses are brought into requisition, and very groggy-looking men in armour excite the derisive admiration of, the. London small boys. Tne official distribution of the Exhibition awards, which took place yesterday afternoon — Sunday, of course, having been selected as a practical piotest against Chri&tian prejudices — was made the occasion of another dramatic display, in which the leading roles wore taken by the President of the Republic and his Ministers. The ceremonies, if fcuch a word is appropriate, it would be" more correct perhaps to say performances, took place in the Palais d'lndustric, the large building ereotcd in the Champs d'Elysee for the Exhibition of 186,8, and since utilised for the Salon, the annual exhibition of French painting and sculpture. The space under cover, exclusive of th r e galleries, is very large, and the huge stage constructed at ono end for the travesty of national glory referred to above, suited admirably for the gaudy processions, " excursions and alarums," by which the declaration of the awards and the speeches of M. Carnot and M. Tirard were preceded. It is computed that 25,000 persons altogether were present, but the number who could obtain anintelligent view of the proceedings was limited ; no one, however, could complain of not hearing the music. The orchestra comprised, in all, moie than 800 instrumentalists, and as about half-a-dozen military bands were included, the noise very considerably exceeded the harmony. The coup d\uil of the stugc on and after the arrival ot the President was no doubt very brilliant, but altogether suggestive of a spectacle at the, Grand Opera ; the scenery exquisitely painted was still, demonstratively, scenery, and the whole affair bad the flavour of the footlights.

THE AWARDS. I take it for granted that the awards, so far aa they affect Australasia, have long since been published, in New Zealand, so that it is altogether unnecessary to rofer to the success or otherwise of the exhibits. The Victorians just now in Paris are naturally much elated at the very higrh position taken by the wines of the colony, which has been somewhat of a surprise in Australian circles, the impression having for some' years generally obtained that South Australia in the matter of wines " took the cake." It appears further that the products of the Victorian vine-| yards have proved exceedingly popular' with visitors to the Exhibition. There is a pretty little chalet in the gai dens close to the Trocadero Palace, devoted exclusively to the sale, besides the buffet in the Victorian section on the Quai d'Orsay, and tho consumption is haid to have reached as high aa, 20.000 glasses a day. This may b& an exaggeration, but that the, public attention of Europe has "been directly, drawn to the' soundness and excellent flavour of many Victorian vintages is beyond a doubt. Large orders have indeed been, I am on good authority informed, already received, and the prospects of opening up a considerable trade are encouraging. As> a matter of course the Paris papers and some Paris correspondents of the London press indulge in mo&t magniloquent accounts of the proceedings in the Palais d'lndustrie— the great success as a spectacle, and the enchusiasm of the people. As a matter of fact the whole thine* fell very flat, and it was sufficiently evident to the casual ob&erver that there was an entire lack of enthusiasm, although professional clacqiiouvb, a woll-known institution in France, were numerously in evidence, and kept up a running (ire of inials ! The President and M. Tirard both read their speeches, tho former in a clear tone, pleasantly modulated, audible throughout the building ; the latter was unintelligible beyond a very limited area.

PROCESSION OF NATIONS. The piocefesion of the various countries exhibiting, the defiling of which before the President was the main feature of the show, reminded me very much of the " Alhambra " ballet— the " Army and Navy." There was the same grouping round standards, the march to national airs, the same ebullitions of sympathy, or otherwise, on the pare of the tpecbators. Russia and the United States, I noticed, were warmly cheered. The great Republic was worthily represented. General Bunklin, the head of the Commission, has a grand physique, was resplendent' in a gorgeous uniform and escorted by a smart body of United States marinos Great Britain was somewhat coldly received, and the few Commissioners present shuifled along as it playing a part which did nob by any means suit them. The Austmlaaian colonies were represented solely by Victoria, a brand new flag being sported for the occasion. Unfortunately, having two poles, one was carried by a short, the other by a long man, the general ■ effect being decidedly wobbly. Ib cost, lam told, £25, bub Victoria, under protection, can, no doubt, afford the outlay. Grouped i around this gorgeous and expensive banner were the only representatives who put in an appearance, Dr. Bowen, of Melbourne, M. Castello, who lives now in Switzerland, and M. Sevvard, of Bordeaux, all, I believe, Victorian Commissioners ; Mr Davie, of Hobart, and M. CamilleMalbfroy,oi' Kofcorua. That New Zealand should not have been represented directly was by no means the fault of the Exhibition au* bhoyities. The fact of the matter is, that Sir Dillon Bell absolutely refused to • take any part in the ceremony, and in declining the invitation to do so, wrote, ib }s said, in rather curt terms to M. Berger, the Executive , Director - General. The particular grievance would seem to have been that New Zealand did not appear in the official catalogue, a default for which JM. Berger and liis collaborateurs were by no means blameable, since up even to the present ti|me the catalogue of the New Zealand courts has.nofc been completed, and was therefore oot available for embodiment in the official catalogue: There is . a general idea _ among the Australasian, Commissioners, whether well grounded or, nob I am unable to say, that Sir Dillon Bell throughout, working with his intimate fiicncl Sir Pol yd ore Keiser, has sought to merge the direct representation of Victoria and the other colonies in that of Great Britain. Beyond question Sir Dillon has taken a very active part in the British section and ide.nti6ed.

himself completely therewith. Likely enough he was disgusted at the meagre show made by his own colony, and not very desirous ot calling attention thereto.

THE SPEECHES. The substance of yesterday's speeches, important as they are in their general bearing, have, I take it for granted, been cabled ; there are two or three points, however, to which I would dixect attention as havingespecial interest in the colonies. M. Carnob having first paid a graceful compliment to the members of the International Congresses, in which eminent men from every country had brought their contingent of ideas to increase the mass of scientific and general information, proceeded to say that "in the group in the Exhibition especially consecrated to social economy," in which are collected treasures of information of inappreciable value concerning pro- ; duction and the means of improving it, there " nii^y have been seen the glorification of the work of 1789, the enfranchisement of industry and the complete picture of one of the grandest economic and, social evolutions of humanity. Such riches will' constitute a precious mine to draw trom at a time when, more than ever, it is imperative to study all the questions relating to labour, production, credit, association, and the people's savings ; at a time when the examination and defences of our commercial inteiests demand as piuch vigilance as sangjrohl : at a moment when patriotism enjoins practical and fruitful policy, with peace at home and abroad and concord among citizens. If only the Exhibition of 1889 opens for our country that era of peace, it will have borne the fruit anticipated and hoped for by all patriots." Its beneh'ts, however, ho continued, ought not to stop at frontiers. " The guests whom France has welcomed with joy, and whom she will regretfully see depart will have learned to know her. The enlightened judgments which they will have formed, the sentiments they will carry away with them, cannot be without effect on the relations between different peoples. The policy to which France is iaithful will have found new defenders, and the Exhibition of 1889 will have served the great cause of l peace and humanity.' " The personal characteristics of great men being always of interest I may mention here that the President of the French Republic is a typical Frenchman in appearance and manners, a little above middle height, sallow complexion, jetblack hair and moustache, most carefully barberised, thin lips, the upper drawn somewhat up, disclosing a perfect sefof ivories. M. Carnot might be any age between 35 and 50. His expression does not btrike me as pleasing — his political enemies declare it is Satanic ; ho certainly reminds one ot Chatson-Renaud in the " Corsican Brother?." The President, I may add, dresses much more nattily and with greater attention to detail than is usual with men of mark in England, who, aa a rule, are somewhat slovenly.

THE ADDRESS OF ftl. TJRARD, a somewhat gaunt elderly man, with grizzled hairs, in appearance a great contrast to his chief, was principally notable for the able manner in which he took " the bull by the horns " as to the connection of the Exhibition with the celebration of the centenary of the outbreak of the revolution of 1789. The "coincidence," he affirmed, was not a sterile political manifestation, but the demonstration of the power and vitality of a free nation which, faithful to the traditions of its race, was labouring incessantly for the improvement of the lot of its citizens. In conclusion, he said : "As for us French*men assured for the future ot peace at home, desirous to live in harmony with everyone, without ever sacrificing anything of ,the interest, honour, and dignity of France, and proud of our Pacific success, we will not rest upon our.laur.els. We will pursue with ardour all the progress of science' and art, all the perfecting of industry and agriculture,- as well as the search after all that can contribute to raise the mind, cultivate the intelligence, and improve the lot of those who laboui and suffer. We will continue' "with prudence and resolution the work of 1789. We shall remember that the social reforms our fathers foresaw, and the realisation of which we are pursuing, are nob to be obtained either by surprise 'or violence, and that to produce sure and lasting effects they must be patiently and progressively conquered. It is thus France will continue her ascendant march in the paths of progress and civilisation with the worship of liberty, and with the love of labour which is to-day master of the world."