OUR EXHIBITION LETTER.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 83, 27 October 1880, Page 3

OUR EXHIBITION LETTER.

BY QNEJRAt

What m Mbajstß.— Oir tbs Wa* «pq sss Suow. — An thb Gatjss. — Eouso t&b Goadbss.— Ta£sß Dumb WAiTatn Ain> A Pots. — JoßßEar attd SkobBBBY. — D.ECO RATIONS. — Tflß STOlIX) •Bfi.TJSH: MSCH-AUiO. — GeR^A-NIA VCrsvs <3tkVL. — Tqb Obesisq Cs&zhosy. — TaE PdEH£E$ AND H.S Po£O*ißEg -rrKlXfr CABgfT AHfD ?HS lTALflir/J. — THB NAKEj> TfiO'BH.— PoTTBfiZ AXO FUEyiTUSB. — GliA.63 WITH C/AB.B. — Tftß DO£B ISO LOTBLAOI.— Uf IX tl.b Clouds.— Onxy a G-BNEAAriON. — A BA3GAJN. If the readers of Thb Masawatit Turrs, willtuvnupt.be word " exhibition " m an? decent dictionary, they will find amongst tbe various meap'qgs the . words " payment and recompense." How singularly appropviate are tbese terms m connection with the just opened International Exhibition at Melbourne. Pcyment to (lie extent of a quarter of. a million of ready cash. havjn.g been made, we no,w l}ay« myc f.eeqrr,pense m a beautif dl structure, surrounded by an exquisite pleaeaunce of tbe tea-gardens order and filled —well, of tbe content?, let this and subsequent letters give such, good or bad report as may- meet the interests of truth and justice. But before I deal with exhibits, a word or two concerning certain prominent fcstures of the Exhibition building and; its accessor/ glories, Passing up Bourke •ti'eat and aotmg on tbe road tha'( ■ oysters can hereabouts b# purchased f on «»• i pence per dozea, that fried fish a"«ari» itself ! aggresstTelj both m odor and presence, that a reek of stale humanity is wartedfrom un« sayorr lanes, that t')« architecture gene allr, is of the up and down miscellaneous order, and taming the corner wbe^ a bug* flight oi steps, a bare brick wall, and a huddled mast of stonework represents the wasp's nest of politics, the visitor proceeds between diogj. and disconsolate, dust-dried corporaton reserves, hoardings glaring with colored posters, and gaudily painted signs, passed a building called the Model School, on the purest Incus a non lucsndp principles, and arrires at last |at one of the main entrances to tbe^Eibibition. Haying duly produced bs or her season ticicei, and submitted bis or her photograph to the search'ag scrutiny of t^e janitors, who look, upon lately developed pimples with suspicious eyes, and to whom eyen the natural growth of hair affords food for doubt as to identity, our typical friend aauaers awhile amidst t'le RL'Qijjjdf, and admires the judicious admixture of lamp-posts and lawns, fresh asphalte and newly-bjosiomsd flower*, art bronzes aaJ pjjiited wooden' pedeitaU, posds, ow,'uj tlisir en'steacs to Van Yean and clay, clods here and there intermingled with.suggesfiiri stiaYds, m fact, a general appearance a3 if some no»jeau ricke of questionable taste, had tried to turn his baok yard into & garden, at '• miaut«> notice. These beauties absorbed, Ut us approsoh the central Wtraacis to the main buildings. 'Here we have the great and. o-igiaal fountain — as thus— to begin with Mie ineyjr.-vble three dumb waiters pjerced \j a pole, three mermen and BiesiMatds, 6 idly copied from a design of a fountain exhibited at Paris m I&Q7 "(by a MVDorel), the four, nnde, and Ve ;t y ru( r e s)Oyi, rep- e^eatias; Messrs. Seryice, Eil«jy, : Buyejot, and' Mi rams, or rather ;CQOJ«»]fc«j SeJencji^ A.vfy ot^ Industry, danciqg th,9 c. » cen m s shower bath. JNext, twelye sea-sick crocodiles crawling nowY'ds, yaiuly e.wlearor'Dg to spout ofec Ui» pe.'ioh of a b,Qy aboye, who is holdioj % b&sktt at . *Ss':iei» whiU from tbe b and fishes iu!ke streams gush forth m the beautifully naturcl mannei usually tdopted by fishes and baskets -under such ci rounds tanceif to tuts a nuaiber of minor^figures displayed undar a irav efcy of humiliating circumstaaccs, and you hare some (idea* of a fountain which cost the commissioners £80Q| an.4 the dwjgJ^F PP 0 ' bably * fire-acfc nighmart, .- ; Talking of . the fountain I t?ust it is not true that the artist to whom we owe its existence bad; a hint three months befqpt designs were called for from ether }peal sculp, tors, who were only no^iSed two days before the competition." Talso trust that it is not tri^e, that gross faroritism has been shown m tht matte? of decorations and refreshments. But jobbery and snoljbefy are alas, too frequently foijnd liand m hand m our Victotian affairs, to make us rery hopeful t'jit these charges eonld b$ honestly den'ed. With regard to the decorations, I am told that two of the leading scenic artists now m Australia were inrited by ooe of the Gonimiss'oheit to prepare designs -with an aseursneeof th«" fullest fair play, and prooii«ed that th#T should be duly notified whea they had to ■end' m their "drawings. They set' to work- produced elaborate designs,, and. found out to the*r utter disgust, that the accepted time bad passed, and th* work been given to another without their drawings being eyen. asked for. ; These are some ; of th« shadows threwn » cross the sunlit glory of the great underLe(m«propfed to deal with pl«7santer topicr, m describing the exhibits, the men and women who come- and Sf a them, and the general gos;ip to be gleane.l 1 .1 a rendezvous wftb. so maay thousands of her Majisty'flicge subjects meet eVe/y day. I leave the opening ceremony to be dealt with by the pens of those who lore to chronicle the movements of the aristocracy, and dwell With Jeamesrlike tinctiqn; qn ■ th« Barnes of th* " titled pereonsges/' Epp my own part I prefer a picture to a peer, a piece of porcc* lain to a premier, any day of the week. It was •musing during It3 r rehearsal'of Mr.rLeon Caron's; Very "fine cantata, to watch how certain intent u,pon finishing this^ii^9^teu»" of tieir employers, toiled ftfray amidst the dying steiris and thunderous cashes of the music at stolidly as though stone; deaf. It was also amusing to get a couple of wttaamakers' asßutants perched up alpffc 00 % nar.ow ledge near the big clock. (I think its diameter is 15ft), trjing to l-tach tie centre t* 4? a pair gf M hands ** each

of which vr%* higher than the w who held it. Equally interesting, if not quite so amusing, tbp contest between two of the principal nations here represented — the German and theFronoh. The latter whose court is elegance itself, were full of politeneis, and eager to furnish all all information a^p v 'od for 5 the former were a3 snappish and uncommunicative as though they scented po--I't'caHntrigue m each question, and lithofnehnn* jn every pocket, a bas Ins Al'-".---mo-'.'-'s! Mv sympathies ere w.'th the gallant French, includ'og M. Soud' 1 /. "who by the wav, ii cons'de." ibly powder- marked on t'«ecl"e»k,nasotbe"wis9 qu'tere-overedi ' the effects of Ma wcent d^2 7/V';-b o rttack. I •verbeavd an artist canvass nj the other day easing ILbat he always presented b : s pipe-case to M. Soudry with an omnious ;t click," when applying for any favor, the •aid favor be ! ng immediately granted, But I doubt the truth of this. The opening ceremony was hitcMe ;b, but by no means to imposing at I expected.There was a second-band look about tome of the uniforms m the dull light of that cloud obscured morning, and the wearers of dress coats seemed uncommonly like waiters out of luck. The proper costume for civilians was, of course, frock coat and light unmentionablea, after the style adopted at wedding ceremonies. But the ladies — dear butterfly creatures — made up for the d ; nginess of the males, and the music WM good ; so after all the opening was iro.'th seeing and hearing, and will dwell a) a aaetnory m t^e nvnds of many. Fancy" fijir H*nrj Parke3 buying £00 worth of porcelain cups and saucers, &c, when up at tbe Exhibition dur : n» Irs recent visit! Whsfc does a bard beaded, ha i% d-hea?ted pol!t ; 'an who forbids Sunday lectures and quotes damnatory Btat : sl ; cs concerning tbe ret -ogreis'ive policy of Victor'? — what c!oe? such a one mean b/ purc'lasing articles, like many of his mrasu/es, hardly able to ho'J wale-, without Yk» some •f. Ilia cqHea^ues^oein^more or less croaked ! H»ve yon !'»>i'd about King Casey and tbe It ij'xi Sculptor p It seems that the I.S. had brought m a great pace of statuary a^id ha I calm'v deposited it m the ' m»<n bu'tld'ng. it wu< his one exhibit, t' c •work of many wea-',r months, tbe offspr'.ng of his artist bra a the apple of his artist eye. But ii weigbed three and a half tons and was simply an abortion. By it passes t ; ie monarch on his morn ; ng rounds — ■ " Gocd heavens," who placed tins hideous thing here ? Tbe esprit is produced but pleads authority for his action. Tbis however being deu'ed by *'l with whom the I.S. had been brought into contact, King Casey orders t'j« aiiEed'xte removal of the Monumental rosss. Tbe I.S, implores, the monarch rares, and forgetting all kingly attributes falls to tie use of Billingsgate. Grxiiually a group of the I.S's. fePaw countrymen cose round the gesticulating paii- 1 , and King C&sav finds nimself the centre of a ciivla of da"k far-M and eyes, flashing sympathy for U'e l " bu'i-ed comrade, ; (and i» veatiioesb! to. Bappoi't in* cause if need be by fo»ee of a.*ms. Several of t'.je Italians even go to fir as to a^si'tue war* ]ke attitudes, it this, like lie qi-encbing of fire 'neath a pa T lful of water, tiie monarch's ire an.d courage va >; sh togotbei 1 , and bi-eak'ng precipitately tbroagh t-ie cordon of In eue<uiej he. fiee* down the nave followed by the>» derisive lau?btcr. Five minutes ai'ter he is bullying ai unoffendioj exhibitor on a purely ima:p-.i:iry charge. Tiie Comrpifs ; oc,p ■» hnvo 6 nail v deeded not to hang Titian's Venu\ Ifc is i^isufficien'ly daped. I bel'eve that skirts and bodies ere being mnde for the various statues wanting ;n this respect, so that c'en the naked l.*uth is to be secluded front^e precincts of the bu'Uing. Ie is net my intention to speak m. this letter of indVidual exhibits, at any rate m detail. I leave that for my next; but I c*nno: help a word or two m comtnend&t'on of he displays made by Mi n ton and Son ; Doulton and Co., and others m Cue pottery line, and by our W9llknow.i furnis'oing firm, W. H. flocka and Co. Tbeir exaibit covers some 140 D feefc and consists of tbree wails eac-ii decovatecl m a different style and enclosing a model bedchamber, furnished afte? t!)e latest modern fas-ion with parquet floor, hai dpainted wall<i and ceiling and a s upe'-b suite ol' furniture to match. Such a room as is bare r#presnted should sei up a ilandard of good taste before our Victor ! an millionaires, who up.ye bitberto iy lavished money m an u;Mirlr absurd manner without anr adequate rclurn L'rom an artistic point of view ; but of this eriiibit more anon. Jlnofcjei' casa of exhibits, intensely interesting iv. the slory of fcber manufacture, and reiy beaufil'i/I m design, are to be fou id m the Austin l'an C»u-fc, inabewitching rzrai-j of a -fi-lea made of glass, from tie I'niesb bjnho.t <i;,-e to t'je mauimoth chaadelitr— from Bohem'an tankards of enjraT*d vitb lt» voi?cl« •' Malbouj-ae Ex--1 libilioH, 18S0," lo ua crystal dessert setWee of an Emperor, ft ex tto the pictures and statues, Ibis glassware and tb» polteiy exu'biis— a.uoogst wiiicb. dear reaJe s I matt spend a special day for your be. efifc, — lake uiy fancy most. Theya:-e so chaste, so new, so clean, so charming, taat after all I do nqt wonder at Sjr iieniy Parkgs atjd his purchase. ' ™ ' " Yfd couldn't patch, a live Pirinpe as an ertubit, but we have a real Duke and that is better than nothing. I tbiak tbe Duke, or J'akfl, as my friend O'Jilaraey calls him, and ijoudi'y dit ; cl# the honors between tiiem, lib* !ad"c,, as a r.it, glyingtbe prcfe'-ence to SoucU-y. Why is . .:» ? I ; .use for a A trip to the Dome it worth taking. The flow half way to b.e tog from t'i« roof of the main building, is yery good, but awar ug where tjhe Union Jacks |lo»i,s i piroitdly m t.i* breeze it is soi^etaing to be i reqßpn^ijei'e.i. Taerefoi-e cabling out fe^y, cry like a ti'qt Repuolu-an •' a 'v la.i6er'.ie, and mount wilh me tue perp«nUieui*r ironranged, iron raUed latloer lead.ny to Lbe pinucale of uijr auibit'oa. Oaee vi tbelaq- j if m, and. able to look down anl aroun J witaoufc dizziness and you are weil l-enarded for tl c trip. At your feet lie tie eardens, their rough and ready ff.a^re^ i".;oi?i•acd by the distance, tber lawns is'uiooi ed into Emerald yelret, their flowerbeds kaleitloscopicaily rariegated, tiieir poads gl-stec-iug, as if friend Bii-kinme haij b.ia wav^ and the Van Yean had beta duly purified! Even tbe ugliness of, {.h* foupt..ia ii lo«^ at this altitude, while the comnion-placVhii- | maoipy vhafc strolls up and down t c v > pjalled paths, or surges m at the man entrance, mio-lit be a congregation of t • best beliaved, best- looking people m the world for all we can see or hear. Awaj to the south, the eye glances over ail Ilia wellknstwn feaitirei of the city, th#' iQirei'B of tb» Poafc Office and Towa Mull, th» «»•,« of tu. We leyan, Scots, and independaat Churches, te fie wa'ebouse walls of G.orernment Hoqse, and oa to the new Emerald H"l Town Hall, brave m fresh stucco and with, windows catebnj tue sun wit'i "shinmg moruing face." Eight and lefi •t.tfcca tilt suol'^os of CarlLon and Hotham on the one side, and CoUingwood and . .tzroy on the other, wbi'e to the rear straight lines, of straets bordered by regiments of bouses sliow bow rapt !v the great city ii •xtending to tbe northward. And all tins meia, I 'ebcr Herr Schmidt. allthe«io» cher Monsieuer Patapon, a l ' tbis, my remnants of Babel generally (of w.fyose to-wtr by tat war, I am now forcibly rsjminded) all this is but the growth, of a ■ingit geftOi-ation { I^ittlf morf tha.n t-hlj

years ago, Melbourne was the veriest toy villa^» ; its main streets a muddy slough of despond, its houses huts, its court of just cc of so fragile a nature ifjat ii 3T83 aanibilatad by the butts of Mr EatmaVs bull, and and now with 2G5,C33 iahabih\afcs and as the j ninth English city m tlie wo If 1 , Melbour.ie, invites all tbe nations of tbe globe to admire her wealth, her prosperity, her indepeudance, her generosity, be? taiea, her smells, her unfisbed buildings, h«r p2:s'ng beauty, and her moral irorfc I}.1 }. Coelp-a-doodJe-clo \ As one of the consequence-* of tbe Erbibit'on we bave rarions wares put fo.wsu-d by enterp v : s ; og trades people with spec'al t*tle* Ja bo.ior of tbe great eve at. Tbus there a -a Eshib'Vou boots, Exbibit'oa advertising sbeets, Eib'b'tion lollies, Exhibition socks, Bsbibition <arts, exbibition t'es, Exbib't'on di-i'nks, Exbibiticn lodgings, Exhibition prices, md la3b but by no meats lejst m tbe liib of newly batched blessings, Exhibition corraspoadents, amongst wbom I, your humble servant bare tbU daj lb« honor of mak'ng my fivst bow befovo you. 1 trust that we sha]l understand each othir bsfore long. If you ara lenient, J will be zealous — and so we shall, I trust, agraa. Your hands upon it. f Tis a bavgaiu !