THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

Bush Advocate, Volume I, Issue 61, 25 September 1888, Page 2

THE MELBOURNE EXHIBITION.

EXHIBITION NOTES.

(FROM OUR SPECIATj COMMISSIONER.) After having temporarily and superficially disposed of the main buildings with annexes I propose taking the reader down the Grand Avenue of all Nations. The first and largest space, on the left hand side, is Great Britain opposite New South Wales and Tasmania on the right ; France ) Belgium, Austria (and Hungary) on the left facing Victoria on the right. Here there is a short break by the EaßternWestern Avenue, which intersects the Grand Avenue at right angles. Then comes Germany with a large space on the left (a corner place) facing South Australia (on the corner) Queensland and New Zealand on the right. And last on the left is the United States facing Canada on the right. We have now come to the large entrance door from Oarlton Street. Between the buildings and this street a large covered space is devoted to the heavy machinery, principally from the United States, Germany, France, Canada, and Australia. Here is also situate the switchbaok railway, which as yet is the only outdoor amusement provided for the visitor, It is, however, anything but an amusement for the people living close by in the houses in Carlton Street, to judge from a very pressing petition from them, which lately was laid before the Council of Executive Commissioners, praying that it might be removed without delay. In fact, thoy have found it an abominable nuisance. As yet no steps have been taken to re-establish the former peaceful state of the dwellers in Carlton Street, who in consequence are still kept awake till 10 p.m. every day, through the rumble of the switchback railway cars. This railway eeems destined to a checked career. SfThe proprietor, Mr Harrison, had first erected it at the south side of the Exhibition building, not far from the concert hall as directed by the Commissioners. The rumble of the oars was found to interfere too much with the musical enjoyment of visitors to the concerts, and Mr Harrison received about £300 and an additional 7£ per cent of the takings to the 50 per cent he already had, as compensation for taking it down and re-erecting it at its present site (northern) alongside Carlton Street, where it has become a sore point with the inhabitants, the objections to it being the rumbling noise of the cars and the screams of the occupants. This switchback railway is simply a structure built up of wooden material, the oars on top running on rails from a high platform down an*inoline o* undulating form till they, by law of gravity, have acquired a terrific speed, •which enables them to ascend a similar incline and reach another platform on the other side at the same height as the one from where they started, Here they are switched round aad run down a similar line of rails parallel to the first one, and thus by graviation only, as motive power brought back to their original starting point To judge, (rom tf}« frequqnt SQWWeoI Ifee,

ocoupant's the rapid succession of upsand downs must be rather trying to the nerves. I tiavS act had the questionable pleasure ;,of trying/it myself, but a writer to one of the papers the other day compared it to riding down a rainbow in a thunderstorm^ but how, by thunder, he ever experienced such a ride I cannot tell. In any case the switchback railway ride must, be rathe r unique, and attracts a great many people; Taking it, further* from a financial point of view, I do" not think it likeiyl that, the Commissioners will grant the petition /of the inhabitants in Carlton street*. If I say any more about this railway even your readers will vote it a nuisance, bo had better return to the general description of the Exhibition building. Far back on eaoh side of the Grand Avenue and parallel with it are several small avenues, where a number of the smaller courts have their places, till at last we , come to the machinery annexes on each side, the principal and most interesting exhibits here being American and British. As regards space, Victoria naturally Occupies the largest; after that come in point of size Great Britain, New South Wales, Germany, America; France, South Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Queensland, and last, but not least noticed, [New Zealand, This court has also a favorable position by being close to the eastern entrance and facing the . large German court, which generally attracts a great many visitors. Proceeding along the Western Avenue we come to a part of the building which also is a great point of attraction with almost every visitor, but for different reasons. Here are the principal refreshment compartments surrounding an artificial lake, along the shore of which a fine esplanade has been constructed, with kiosks, seatß, and tables. The refreshment compartments consist of dining rooms, where meals are served beßt part of the day and can be had at various prices, from those charged at first-class, table d'hote down to the shilling of a common eating house. The food is excellent and the tables are attended to bywaitresses in white aprons and lace caps. Besides the dining rooms a number of bars of every description are situate along part of the lake, such as oyster bars, temperance bars, coffee bars, tea and wine bars, and licensed victuallers' bars, so that everyone can choose according to taste. The esplanade being also the only place in the buildings where smoking is allowed, there are therefore here for all those reasons a great many people from early morn until late at night, sauntering round the lake and looking at the many species of waterfowls and turtles, or seated at the tables reading, smoking, or partaking of refreshments. At night the whole is lit up by the electric light, which gives '. a new enchantment to this favorite spot. In other parts of the ldings refreshment bars on a smaller soale have also been provided, the choice of refreshments offered being as ample and varied. There remain now of noteworthy features of the general description only to be mentioned the extensive galleries in the main building, which are entirely devoted to exhibits of arts, containing principally exhibits from Victoria, New South Wales, France, Germany, and Great Britain. Particularly are the pictures in the British Loan Gallery muoh admired. The dome of the main building, is abo muoh visited, as from here a splendid view may be had o* the whole of Melbourne with surroundings. Ascent to the dome is made by means of an hydraulio lift. In future letters I intend returning to and describing in detail most of the courts and other noteworthy features casually mentioned above, the first on the list, which will form the subject of my next correspondence, being The Nbw Zealand Court.