THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1772, 4 August 1888, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Melboubne, August 1. The town was early astir this morning, and thousands were thronging the streets. , Thu day was observed as a public holiday ill over the colony. Collins street was the rendezvous for the various bodies which took part in the procession. At the upper end of th's thoroughfare paraded the naval and military forces of the colony, with a contingent of blue jackets and marines from the English and French man-of-war now in harbor. Next to them marched 800 firemen in uniform, accompanied by four bands and 40 different pieces of fire appliances. These were joined by 3000 members of the Friendly Societies aod four bands, by way ot William street, and 8000 members of the Trade Societies, with 40 banners aod six bands, who marched up from Drummond street. The combined procession then lined the greater part of Collins street four deep on each side awaiting the appearance of the vice-regal party. Twelve officers and 40 sub-offirers, with 350 constables aod 456 mounted troopers, kept order.

At half-past eleven the Commissioners and members of Committee assembled at the northern entrance of the Exhibition building, where a Guard of Honor was Handing. The main corridor of the buildings, kuewn as the Avenue of Nations, was lined with troops and the Qrand Hall with seamen. The Governor arrived at noon and was received with a general salute, after which be and his cortege , which included the Governors of all the Australasian colonies, were cooducted along the Avenue of Nations. When passing the various courts the bands stationed in the annexe played “The Star Spangled Banner,'* “ Ich Bin Elin Prusse,” Haydn’s “ Austrian Hymn,” the “Marseillaise,” and the “Bed, Wnile, and Blue.” .As the head of the procession reached the Grand Had the organ aod the otchestra, conducted by Mr Cowen, played the National Anthem. The Governors of the various colonies and the principals ascended the dais erected for (he occasion, the remainder occupying the platform behind the President.

Sir James McEUin then offered a prayer for the success of the Exhibtion, and the Old Hundredth was sung fo’lowed by the Son; of Thanksgiving sp cially composed by Mr Guwen. The PreddeMt delivered an address, setting for h the bbjeo s of the Exhibition. His Excedency Sir Henry Loch then formally dechrsd the Exhibition opened. At the conclusion of the Vice-Regal speech a sa ute was fired from the English and French ine'i-ot-war. The cantita, of which Ur F. Co wen is composer, and the Rev. Allan King the author, was then sun K , after which both author and eompossr were presented to His Excellency the Governor. Tiis HaPelujah Chorus and National An hem were sung, and three cheers having b m giv m for Her Majesty the Quean an I vice-regal party, the procession returned to the Avenue of Nations, the Commissioners of each court being presented to S r Hesry Loch. His Excellency the Governor sent a cab'egnm to Her Majesty the Queen, informing her of the opening of the Exhibition emid great public rejoicing., . August 2.

The area occupied by the Exhibition is thirty-five acres, as against an area of twenty occupied by the Exhibition of 1880.

The attendance at the opening ceremony is estimated at 36,000. Duriog the firing of the royal salute a charge exploded and shattered the arm of a bomb idler named Mackenzie so that it had to be amputated. The choir under the guidance ef Mr Cowen numbered six hundred voices. Toe principals to whom sdoi were entrusted were Miss Amy Sherwin, Madams .Christian, A. Beaumont, and Otto Fischer. Lady Loch was presented with an exhibition p«sa set in diamonds. Magnificent bouquets of orchids sent from Sydney were presented to the wife of each Governor. The New Zealand court forms at present one of the most pleasing features of the Exhibition. The Maori curios and models of the lost terraces attracted much attention. A cable message was received from the Queen, wishing success to the Exhibition. Tb's was not a reply to the telegram sent to her, but was a spontaneous expression on the part of Her Mijssty. The lighting of the Exhibition building is superb. Looking down the Grand Avenue of Nations is a magnificent spectacle of striking brilliancy. The German, Austrian, and Hungarian courts have a rich decorative effect. The Broken Hill silver troptiy is the most striking trophy in the Exhibition. Canada makes a very poor representation, and France has only a moderate display. Many of the courts are behindhand in their arrangements.

NEW ZEALAND COURT. The New Zealand Court faces the Grand Avenue of Nations on the left hand side, being the second court from the grand north door, by which the Governor and procession entered the building at the opening ceremony. The first Court is that of Canada, but a small portion of the frontage next to the entrance has been given up to a Victorian exhibitor. The New Zisland Court has a length of 220 ft by 100 ft wide, b|it the frontage is narrowed by the Queensland Court, which runs back 75ft into it. The fac ide is divided into rather more than four bays by lofty.pillars and for ths sake of effect three principal bays which lead into the Main Oiurt have been selected to form a frontage; The decorations adopted are extremely simple, and throw the exhibits into bold relief, instead of drowning them by imposing magnificence, as has been done in other Courts. They consist of three light, arches, picked out in green and gold, while the lofiy pedtahds of native timber, nikau palmi, and fern trees supply a natural and effective ornamentation.' On the left there has been erected a great kauri tree, 26ft high sod 9ft in diameter, forming a very striking feature, while on the opposite side stands a gilt column of of almost equal dimensions, representing the total amount of gold which has been extracted from the diggings in New gialund. The general arrangement of ilia Court » as follows Down the centre there is a series of trophies and show cards representing the natural resources of the country. On the right hand are all the manufactures bearing]

on the production of food. On the left nil relating to clothing, furnishing, etc., including c irriages. A portion of the buy on the right-hand side behind the office ie devoted to mineral prod notion«, while the strip adjoining Canada ie tastefully arranged as an art gallery. This ie divided by screens, arranged ao M to form six distinct octagonal c urtr. the outer apace being occupied by the handsome show-c The total number of entries in the official catalogue is about 528, almost the s«nno as at the last Inter* national Exhibition. In the art aeotion there are 88 paintings in oils and 146 in water-colors, which, with a few exceptions, are paintinga of New Zealand subjects by New Zealand artists and raostlj specially done for this Exhibition. La class 11, education and instruction, there are 60 entries. In close 16, furniture, 26 ; class 27, glass and pottary, 4; close 68, butter and cheese, 20; class 69, meat and fish, 17 ; classes 82 and 83, mining, 30. The general effect'la very satisfoctory. The lobe of the colors chosen for decorative purposes is green end gold and chocolate, to which some banners and other. appnrtenaDoea are made to conform. The contrast with the neighboring courts is in favor of New Zealand, which is readily distinguished from other Courts adjoining. Nearly all the cases and fittings in the‘court, even to dividing screens,-have been made of Now Zealand timber,, and whenever this could be pushed, it has been done with good result, relieving the massive exhibits of’ rough timber and produce in bulk. The ground ? work of the screen surrounding the Court is light chocolate color, separated from a dark crimson dado by a atreak of gold. Toe machinery <a shown in s separate annexe, and some of it is at work in the grounds. S r J. Hector has labored unceasingly to get the Court in order, aod the result reflects the highest credit both so him and his assistants, Mr Califs (Secretary of the Commission) and Mr W. Vaux?