THE EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5171, 31 March 1882, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

The approaches to the special art gallery ill be a Corinthian facade, executed in J aster, and fully enriched, the entrance being inked by a pair of columns on pedestals oh j kch side, 16ft high, surmounted by a j gmsntal pediment, provision being madefs ir tbe reception of four large statues on andj i.ide of same. On either side are niches, 10 EC J igh, for statuary, enriohed with pateras in'| laadrils. The plaster work of this ele-| ant design haa been entrusted to Messrs! . and T. Andrews, who are under a heavy! enalty to complete same by six o'clock oril ie morning of Good Friday. On enter-? ig the art gallery one is struok by it§3 apaoious dimensions, it being nearly >ng by 50ft wide. The walls rise to a height, f 20ft, with open roof and skylight on each, ide. The root has a light and substantial ppsaranoe. The front entrance is bold id' ppearanoe, and of a decidedly ornamentejp haracter, being 30ft wMe, surmounted by liptio arch; the windows on either sidei eing of a similar form. A bold string coursej uns round throughout, above which are two| iroular lights, with keystones, at right angles^ 0 each other, whioh are to be stopped witbj oloured glass. The walls, which are 26f| igb, are surmounted by a bold cornice, fromt rhich springs a semieiroular fan light, %up%, lorted on either side by riohly carveo| traokets and flag-poles, also surmounted by s| antral flag-pole, which is likewise braoketedJ iound the fan light, which ia boldly mountedj i a band on wbioh is to be insoribed, in largej dam letters, » Advanoe New Zeatand.*' Thjji teystone is strictly emblematical, being thtjj rell-known tree fern and kiwis. i The concert room is most oommodiona. .eing 117 ft in l«Dgth by 60ft in width? Squidistent from the winga and the fernery a to he erected the octagonal band stand, 18Et n diameter. . j The speatal art gallery is floored m a uperior manner to a smooth and uniform mriaee, being eminently fitted for the balls » be held therein. The walls hare been ipecially prepared for the pictures to be buna hereon, colored to an appropriate hue roune] he room to a dado height, and at the top of ihe walls elaborately designed stencil bandsol rarions hues have been determined on. The paintings will be hung: by awell known an| recognised authority in such matters, and will be seen to the best advantage. Access 8 gained to the concert room from the art gallery by an aperture richly draped wifcl maroon curtains, over which is a galleryjj access to whioh is gained in an adjoinj ing passage by an easy and convenient staircase. This room will be finished Somewhat similar to the art gallery, [and has four capacious entrances. The wall; will be decorated with ohoioe works of art Revorting to the band stand, it might here bjj mentioned that it will serve aa the dais on thjj Opening day. The ironwork has been execute! by Meisrs Scott Bros. The gallery alreadj mentioned has been set apart for the eantetj 'performers, and here the organ will be placed | The fancy grotto will be very attractive, i stream of water issues from the left han< [aide, and a cascade is arranged on the rigW tnand side, near whioh, in a deep recess, is 1 fantastic waterfall. Entrance to the fernefj 'is gained by aa elliptical arch 20ft wide, fron 1 which numerous baskets of vegetation will bj [suspended. In the open space allotted t is erected a tank stand of cod fiiderable altitude, containing four tanki pfrom whioh the fountains will be supplied t* [ water pumped up by force pumps worked bj motive power. A shed has been erected q ' special arrangement in the open space allottej \ thereto, for which as extra charge is made I the exhibitors, in one comer of which \ placed the maohine for electrical lighting under the oharge of Mr Meddings, power fe whioh is suppUed by the engine driving to imaobinery; the light will be used on specii 'occasions. The open wpaoes for maehiner iwill be lighted by rows of gas lamps. . jeartain portion of the carriage space on tl jporth-east side of tbe great transept will t devoted to the sale of menace, whilst a spat ' will be allotted to spechnens of waxwork at iartistio glass work on the north-west, outsit

work of laying the rails in the northL east area of the open space devoted to imIplements, &c., for the display of the various of rolling stock used on the New rZealand railways is being proceeded with. b A large number of intercolonial, British and foreign exhibitors have arrived by recent mailpptcamer, and are now in Obristohnron, notably pM. Santifaller, who has represented Austria. [at Melbourne and Adelaidei M. M. Hautrive i and Laßouelle/to whose care the interests of; the French exhibitors is confided; Mr* Fletcher, the owner of the fine art specimens,' for which the special gallery has been erected; a Ljtr Edwards, the agent of several British! 'manufacturers; Mr Andrews, of Wedgwood H [pottery renown ; Mr Scott, on behalf of Vio-tj jtorian, New South Wales, and South Ans-i; tralian exhibitors, and Mr Woodroffe of Mel-' bourne, whose acquaintance as a glesiblower , has already been made 'by the Christchnrch i residents, and also several others. i We have been requested to publish the' i following arrangements agreed to by the ' musical committee of tbe International Exhibition for holding competitive concerts at the] Exhibition, commencing on Tuesday, May .1 2nd next, viz.:-Bands (various kinds), not] ; less than ten performers, each band to play i- ■ twice ; a prize of £50 to the best, with £25;" additional towards travelling expenses./ Violin and clarionet, a prize of £5 each.; Chamber musio, not less than four to each set, and to consist of piano aud» stringed instruments, and stringed instra-j ■ menU alone, prize £10 10s. Choral perform-1 i ances, not less than ten performers, prize £25.' i Unaccompanied glees or part songs, prize £10. j Vocal solo siDging—tenor, bast, contralto and J soprano—prize of £3 3s each. School singing, ; prize of £10, to be expended in silver or 'other medals. Mr Thompson, of Mewra J Milner and Thompson, has kindly agreed to ; lend, gratis, a splendid grand piano, by Bioh- ; ' stein, and another by Kaps. When all the' prises are declared, a grand general concert of all the prize takers, exoept sohools, will take. place, at which each will be expected to per-: form. The decision of the judges will be 'final. Intending competitors are requested' ito send in their names, and what portion of ■the programme they intend to join in, to the, secretary, Mr R. W. Walton, at ; SMesars H. Matson and Cos. Arrangements Sor practice will be made when lute are Sent in. • rf A meeting of the members of the various, (lodges ot Druids in and around Christohuroh.. Iras held at the Wellington Hotel last night,f* jfbr the purpose of making arrangements foes She procession on the occasion of fine Exhibition. D.P. Skinner was voted to' [the ohair. Itwaa stated that the following; [Druids Lodges had agreed to take part, viz.,j 'Pioneer, Mistletoe, St. Albans, Perseverance/.: Campbell, Anohor, Oak of Sydenham. Summerton, P.D.P., was elected Marshal forj No. 13, and Mr Harrington for No. 20 die-1 trick The four district officers will be Bros. Skinner and Timson ; Br. Rowe, seore-j tary; and Bro Eogleman, I.G-. The seore-1 tnry was instructed to inform the marshal,*: 'Mr Leahy, that the Druids will require about; 1400 tickets. -j In order to enable the contractor to proceed,j with the flooring of the main entrance, it i*i absolutely necessary that all machinery, im|j : plemente and heavy goods intended for tbe|j -quadrangles be sent in on or before [evening; 11 Mr Fletcher, the gentleman in whose ; the principal fine art gallery has been placed!? :by Messrs Joubert and Twopeny, has arrived! 1 per Rotomahana, with the bulk of the watom 'colors and oil paintings. A further lot wilf| f arrive by the s.s. Hero, During the time MS j Fletcher is awaiting the completion of his fiaejj art gallery Messrs Joubert and Twopeny hafr|| tasked him kindly to oolleot all loan piotujjejc land attend to their safe conveyance to tra Persons willing to ooßtribnto«s| shu interesting and instructive display awl by the promoters to communicafij 7 wheir intention to them, or tbe seoretarpjj arithout delay, as Monday has been fixed h i ahe day when the hanging of the piotures M.J Po be proceeded with. . r .T.-,..;.*Jjo^it6mi