TASMANIAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 8715, 6 January 1892, Page 4

TASMANIAN INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

I From Oub Special Reporter.]

Launceston, December 30. According to the king of experts, the (attendance at the Exhibition is excellent, Chough some of the guarantors and others have neen worrying him on the subject. M. Joubert holds that figures are infallible. In the coarse of a recent letter he said: “ The actual number of persona who passed through the turnstiles on the first week of the Tasmanian Exhibition was 34,233, the population of Launceston and suburbs being 18,000. At the Dunedin Exhibition we deemed it eminently satisfactory when we had 26,145 visitors with a population of 45,898. The Melbonrne Centennial at the end of the first week had only been visited by 60,000 oat of the 500,000 inhabitants of the ‘marvellous city.’ I, therefore, may claim ‘ the cake ’ for the Tasmanian Exhibition. I have had some experience in Exhibition matters, and this is the first instance on record of an attendance equal to double the population of the city wherein one was held.” Up to date about 70,000 persons have visited the Exhibition. On Christmas Day and Boxing Day over 9,000 passed the turnstiles. The manager’s report, j uat published, shows that up to Saturday, 26 bh inst., the grand total of attendance was 60,849, Among recent visitors to the Exhibition were the Governor of Queensland and the Chief Justice of Hobart.

In the art gallery the British section retains the most prominent position, France being poorly represented, whilo Australia falls far short of the Tasmanian section. Apart from the superb painting of the Queen in her happiest day, there is nothing to remind one of the glories of art in the Centennial Exhibition in Melbourne, or in the recent New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in Dunedin, The painting of Her Majesty is full size, and the massive frame covers about 12ft by sft. In the local art gallery named after the Queen there is an oil painting of her not qnite as large as this, and experts differ as to which is the better of the two from an artist’s standard. However, in oils the details of a sheep-shearing acene are beautifully depicted, and there are some excellent landscapes, while a boating scene holds the mirror up to Nature, and another picture of two girls kneeling at their mother’s knee at bedtime attracts much interest. I note two grand seascapes. Perhaps one should not paas v from the British section without admiring ‘The Horrors of War,’ which covers a large amount of canvas, Here a troop of twenty-five cavalry occupy the brow of a hillock, where several riderless horses have got into line, and three chargers that have lost their riders are racing towards the line, while one hussar in the foreground la trying to raise his wounded horse, which seems to have lost its legs completely, A little to the right two hussars on horseback, with lances in rest, are accompanied by two comrades afoot, with one horse, which is quietly led. In the distance may be seen a riderless charger, with a troop of cavalry, while the grey sky is here and there blackened with the smoke of artillery. It is an excellent painting. The idea of the artist seems to have been mainly to show the sufferings of man’s dumb companion in the day of battle, with the faithfulness of horses failing into line without their riders, none of whose corpses appear in the foreground, though there is ample room. However, as I previously indicated, there is nothing here to approach such grand paintings as ‘The Finding of Moses by Pharaoh’s Daughter,’ which attracted universal admiration in Dunedin, or 'The Shadow of the Cross' (Holman Hnnt), 1 The Distress of a Farmer’s Family after a Flood in the Highlands of Scotland ’ (Landseer), and other gems shown in the Melbonrne Centennial Exhibition. As the promised catalogue of additions to the art galleries here is not yet published, there may be a better display shortly. About four tons of ore, recently collected by a Government official on the West Coast silver field, hava been added to the bulk trophy, which is over seventy tons, in the Mineral Court. Another recent exhibit is about 3cwt of massive carbonate of galena. The assay of this ore gave exceptionally high results, showing as much as llioz Sdwt of silver per ton from a piece of carbonate of lead, The galena showed 7loz 4dwt to the ton. “The compliments of the season" and wishes for a happy new year are prominent. There were not many entries for prises in connection with a recent show of dairy produce, vegetables, and poultry, held near the model dairy.

An excellent display of opossum skin rugs is shown by a local firm. Among the novelties shown from the Tasmanian Pottery are some teapots and jugs of Rockingham and majolica ware, the first made in the colony. Mrs Irvine, sen., of Launceston, shows fonr cases of Tasmanian shells, which were gathered in the vicinity of Tamar Heads during her residence there. The pretty oolleotion, which is mnch admired, is the only one of the kind in the Exhibition. An exhibit of Tasmanian seaweeds and native Sowers is shown by the same lady, who also has a fine assortment of New Zealand ferns, including the lichen and kidney fern. Mrs Irvine is an enthusiast, She contributes another exhibit in the form of the wild flowers of Victoria, gathered in the vicinity of the Black Rock at Brighton. The official agent of the French Court has been placed at a considerable disadvantage by several cases of his goods being over-carried to New Zealand, but his show is far more satisfactory than on the opening day. The court is tastefully decorated with flags, and the coat-of-arms of the Republic displayed on tastefully ornamented shields. Among the exhibits are triplicate folding mirrors in framework of metal, bamboo, ivory, and wood. These are cleverly ornamented in various designs, some being hand painted. One of the mirrors is quite unique, as it plays various tunes when opened. As for the toys, artificial flowers in chinaware, jewellery, and glassware, they must be seen to be thoroughly appreciated, as the Yankees say. Mr John Harris, of Hobart, recently sent a complete shoeing forge and samples of horse shoes enclosed in a glass case, which has been placed near the kindergarten exhibits. The children of the State schools in Launceston were recently invited to pay one visit to the Exhibition free of charge. Sir Robert Hamilton, after distributing prizss at the Church Grammar School, gave an excellent speech “to the boys only,” and advised thorn to visit the Exhibition as often as possible. He mentioned that during a recent holiday one collector had obtained 2,000 specimens in the fields near Hobart, and of those 200 were new to science ; he therefore urged the boys to spend part of their holidaya in collecting “anything” in the way of birds’ eggs, nests, etc, The fauna and flora of the colony were attractive. His Excellency has a horror of lazy boys who smoke cigarettes. He not only warned his own six boys against companionship with idle lads who keep their hands in their pockets, bat he took every opportunity to encourage every youth to value true freedom and industry. On speech days at public schools the Governor of Tasmania does not believe in speaking “ over” the boys’ heads. A Queensland company has sent large quantities of eucalyptus oil, for which there seems to be an ever-increasing demand. Among the new features of the Exhibition is an exceedingly handsome little bookcase, which was prepared by Baron Von Mueller for the Government of Victoria. It consists of twenty-four polished blocks of the native timbers of Victoria, New Zealand, New Sonth Wales, and Queensland. The blocks, which represent books, are so well finished that a casual visitor would be inclined to handle them as literature.

In the Austrian Court a Vienna firm shows novelties in soap, resembling various kinds of fruit, enough to make one’s mouth water; and many persons think it almost incredible when they are told that the fruit is more artificial than real.

An extensive chart showing the harbor improvements proposed by Mr C. N. Bell, and the probable requirements of the port of Launceston, occupies a position near the telegraph office at the bead of the avenue of nations. Mr Bell’s scheme has been accepted by the Marine Board and endorsed by the Government. It involves an expenditure of L 84,000. The cookery classes in connection with the

i ■ i f ■ i ■ ■■■■■ Exhibition, by Mrs Wicken, promho to be successful. This lady has charge of the Sydney Technical College, and is the author of a notable cookery book. At S resent she is engaged by the Launceston as Company to iuostrate the advantage of gas stoves for cooking purposes. In the New Zealand .Court Mr T. Osborn, of Christchurch, is doing good business with his specimens of engraving and caligraphy. Exhibition fares from Melbonrne to Launceston are causing thousands to spend their holidays In Tasmania Cabin, LI; steerage, 10s. The steamers are overcrowded, and in cue of an accident the boats would not be sufficient lor one-fourth of the passengers. However, the .Board of Trade In Melbourne are still asleep, and the authorities in LaonCeston are willing to run the risk in fine weather with a splendid harvest in view.

A good Christmas oake came to the Exhibition from the new Pinafore mine. The gold weighed 1,6260z, averaging 2cs 6dwt 3gr to the ton, its value being L 6,300. The company hava a capital of only L 5.000, in 40,000 shares of 2s 6d each, While only 4d per share {s called bp. Lucky shareholders haVe jilat received another dividend of 3s per share. Since the company started in August, 1890, they have won gold valued at L 34.305, The Bochum Union portable railway attracts a considerable amount of attention. It covers a circular line twenty-five chains in extent in the Exhibition grounds, the gauge b<4ng only two feet. The rails, which are of Bessemer steel, weighing 251b to the yard, are laid on sleepers of Tasmanian hardwood. The grades run up to 1 in 20, the general average on the Government lines being 1 in 40, and the curves are of one chain radius. The engice used is of 20 horse-power, made by Krauss and Co., of Berlin. Attached to the engine are three trucks of 18 cubic feet capacity, and a passenger car similar to those already running on the Zeehan silver fields here. These portable railways oan be constructed at a Cost of L 350 per mile.

A card affixed to the Tasmanian Gold Mining Company’s trophy gives the returns from October, 1878, to December 1, 1891. The total yield was 303,5000z of gold, the average per ton being loz Sdwt 19gr ; value, LI ,090,896 18s 3d; amount paid in dividends, L 574,625. Yesterday some splendid specimens of Tasmanian gems were placed in the Exhibition. The cut stones wore sapphires obtained by Mr T. Bakhup from his claim on the Blue Tier. These are set in bracelets and breast-pins, one of the bracelet gems weighing 14J carats. The Uncut gems consist of sapphire, catseyea, topaz, and zircons. One of the sapphires is a magnificent stone, weighing 320 carats, while others range from 10 to 40 carats. Mr Bakhup states, on the authority of a Melbourne expert, who out some of the sapphires, that they are harder and more dense than the Indian or Ceylon sapphires. M. Pouasard, the celebrated French violinist, residing in Sydney, has secured the Exhibition Hall for several concerts to be given here this month. His visit to Launceston is sure to be appreciated by lovers of classical music.

Among the side shows the miniature railway has supplanted the popular switchback, while merry-go-roenda and swings are well patronised. Near the mechanical shooting gallery <a a tent that will accommodate about a hundred persons, and there the half-hour performances of Punch and Judy, with a professional acrobat and a ventriloquist, attract large numbers. The scenery represents a street in London SGO years ago, and the present Punch is gathering a silvery harvest which would have made his forefather green with envy, while the humor of tho entertainment pleases both young and old spectators. On Christmas night the Exhibition choir and orchestra gave an excellent performance of ‘ The Messiah.’ The grand oratorio drew at least 2,000 people to the Albert Hall, no charge for admission beyond that for entrance to the Exhibition being made. Visitors were agreeably surprised to find that local talent Was equal to the task of doing justice to the principal solos. As some of the artists may visit New Zealand iu the immediate future, I give their names: Mrs Brooks, Miss Plaice, and Miss Kennedy (sopranos), Miss Cox (contralto), Mr Cragg (tenor), and Mr Fred Ferguson (bass). Of the choruses, tho ‘ Hallelujah ’ was the best, one of tho local Pressmen going into raptures over it in his critique. It is probable that the oratorio will be repeated shortly. The return ball to tho Mayor of Launceston has been arranged by the Citizens’ Committee for January 21.