THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION. [PER TELEGAPH.]

Waikato Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1525, 13 April 1882, Page 3

THE CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION. [PER TELEGAPH.]

The following description of the exhibition building forms a portion of the telegraphic message despatched to us on Monday night, out which did not reach this office : — Mr Lambert having been architect, and prepared plans of the Exhibition, the foundation stone was laid by the Mayor, on the 40th January, in the presence of the members of the City Council, and a large number of prominent citizens. - The building is in the form of a quadrangle, the main building being 668 feet in length by 282 feet in breadth, the main transept, from entrance to fernery, 334 feet long by 96 feet wide, including the cloak rooms, offices, telegraphic and telephonic, postal and money order and Customs offices. ' Above these are the offices for the representatives of the press and the judges of the various departments. The main entrance fronting the Lincoln-road is 46ft high, from sill to top of transept, the walls being 26 feet in height. The avenuefe, which are apportioned to Canterbury, Southland, Otago, Australia, America, and Europe are 20 feet iii height from floor to ridge, the walls being 12 feet. The avenues are divided into three sections of 15 feet'each, viz. , the range of bays on each side and the passage way. • The octagons, four in number, are 70 feet high and 45 in diameter, the walls being 27 feet high. These are apportioned to Wellington, Auckland, Asia, and Africa. The main transept is divided into three parts, viz., the special art gallery, ''the entrance' to which is draped i -with* maroon coloured curtains, enriched with gold fringe, ■ similar to the , decorations used at .the Paris Exhibition.' On each side of the entrance to the gallery i aho are several groups of statuary. This art gallery is between 70 feet and 80 feet in. length by about 50'jfe'et/iniwidth, this again is the,cpucert room,. ,13,0,, feet long by thesamewi^tn, and c the transept is -completed Jjy.a vpry" handsome .fernery which has been constructed. ' This 13. 50 feet by 18 feeti.'i."ln."Cthd.J'femovy, the artesian supply- has been- so- arranged as to, rise to , the' top aivt\& Jfef fiory.rand trickle over^^Bjau^.^^^l^^pp^acUea

to the special aWgallery are ajborinthian r *iid*.fulLy*eu~ riched, the'entrance being" flanked " by a pair of columns bxP'jtedestals on each side, 16 feet high, surmounted by a segineiital .pediment, .provision being .inacTo for the reception of four large statues on and inside of same. On either side are niches/ lO^feet' 'high; 1 , for /statuary, enriched with patera!'- 'in spandrils. On entering the • art i ' gallery one is struck by its capacious dimensions, it being nearly 100 feet" long by 50 / feet 1 wide. The walls rise to a height of 20 feetj' with 'open roof and skylight on each side. The roof has a light, and substantial appearance. ■; The front entrance 1 is bold in appearance, and of a decidedly ornamental character; being 20 feefrwide, surmounted by an eliptic arch ; the; windows' on either side being of a - similar form. The walls; which are' 26 feet high 1 are surmounted by a bold cornice, from which springs' a semicircular fanlight, supported on either side by richly carved brackets and flag-poles, also surmounted by a central flag-pole, which is like-wise bracketed. Round, the fan-light, which is boldly mCuntecl,' is a band on ' which is inscribed, in large plain letters, "Advance New Zealand." ' The keystone is strictly emblematical, being the well-known tree fern and kiwis. The concert room is most commodious, being 117 feet in length by 50 feet in width. The special art gallery is floored in a superior manner to a smooth and piiform surface, being eminently fitted for the balls to be held therein. Access is gained to the concert room from the ,arfc gallery by an aperture richly draped' with maroon curtains. Anqther gallery is set apart for the cantata, performers, and, here the organ is placed. The fancy grotto is very, attractive. A stream of vrater issues from the left hand side, . and a cascade is arranged on the right, hand side, near which, in a deep recess, is a fantastic waterfall. , Entrance to the fernery is gained by an elliptical arch 20 ieet wide, from which numerous baskets of vegetation will be suspended. In the open space allotten to implements is erected a tank stand of considerable altitude, containing four tanks, from which the fountains are supplied by water pumped up by force pumps worked by motive power. The open spaces for machinery are lighted by rows of gas lamps. A, certain portion of the carriage space on the north-east side of the great transept is devoted to the sale of nitnacs, whilst a space is allotted to specimens of waxwork and artistic glass work on the north-west, outride of the concert room. ,The refreshment portions of the Exhibition buildings are situate as follows : Two bars, one in the Asiatic octagon,, the other in the Auckland octagon, at the north and west ends of the , building. Ladies' refreshment rooms, lavatories) etc., are situate at the same ends of the building, but are more within the general range of the courts. A wide avenue, called the Avenue of Nations, runs through the centre of the building from north to west, and ia upwards of 20 feet in width. In the centres of this avenue are the fountains, and in the main entrance there is also a handsome fountain. Very complete arrangements have been made by the Gas Company for lighting the building every evening from 7to 11 o'clock. It has been computed that the consumption of gas each night for promoters' purposes will range from 15,000 to 20,000 feet. The total space under cover amounts to 114,200 square feet, of which 77,400 square feet is devoted to manufactures, 27,200 feet to machinery in motion, and 960 feet to art. An open space of 74,176 square feet is also reserved for implements.

(For remainder of news see foxvrih 2iage.)