THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9423, 22 July 1889, Page 6

THE PARIS EXHIBITION.

THE NEW ZEALAND COURT. [FSOM PUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, Juno 15. The New Zealand Court, on the Qua! d'Orsai, ie still in a very backward condition, but the other colonial sections are fairly advanced. Two cases of kauri gum of different qualities, ranging in value from £7 to £100 per ton, are attracting some attention. It may be remembered that this kauri gum particularly interested the Queen when she visited the New Zealand Court in the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, and she asked Sir Francis Bell several questions about it. The samples shown at Paris are far superior to those displayed at the Colinderies. The show cases surrounding the Now Zealand Court on tho Quai D'Orsai are being filled with canned meats. Sir William Jervois has agreed to let his pictures of New Zealand scenery be sent to the New Zealand Court in a few weeks' time, after his friends have had an opportunity of seeing them. He is painting a replica of his well-known panoramic view of the Rotomahana Terraces before their destruction, which was so much admired at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. This Sir William subsequently presented to the Queen, who received it with every expression of delight. During his stay in Paris the Prince of Wales was conducted over the Colonial Courts by Sir Francis Bell; His Royal Highness was greatly interested in all he saw, and behaved to the Agent-General with marked consideration, Observing that Sir Francis had uncovered his head he insisted on him putting on his hat again. The Prince, however, was by no means pleased *t notif.ing that the Victorians had placed the words " Royal Commission " over the entrance to their Court, which, of course, they were not entitled to do, the Commission not being a Royal one. He evinced liis displeasure by making a stay of only a few seconds in tho part occupied by that colony. All the colonial visitors to the Paris Exhibition agree that the small Colonial Court in no way does iustice to the natural resources and material progress of the only two Australasian colonies represented—New Zealand and Victoria. Fortunately Sir Francis Bell and Mr. Walker have lately been acting in harmony, and by a skilful combination oi the two Courts, divided only by an imaginary line, a much better effect is produced than would have been the case had the Courts been separated. All the space actually at the Agent-General's disposal in the main section was 2000 superficial feet. Partitioned off, this would have looked ridiculously small, but blended with the Victorian Court, which occupies some 8000 more, a respectable show is the result. But the Colonial Governments arc very much blamed for not having decided sooner what part they would take in this International Exhibition. They put it off' till the last moment, and then it was found impossible to get the requisite space. Their requirements were partially met by a further allotment of space on the Quai d Orsai, but this is situated more than a mile from the main Courts. In this latter section the Commissioners for Victoria have placed their agricultural exhibits, with the exception of the wools, which are exhibited in separate fleeces and under glass all round the Colonial Court in the British section. The Australian timber has evoked universal admiration, being only excelled by the exhibits of wood, rough and polished, in the Argentine Republic section. Sir Francis Bell has erected a very artistic trophy of wheat, barley, oats, and other cereals on the stalk and in grain; but if the Government had sent him just ten times the quantity (which might have been done at little or no expense) the effect would have been greatly heightened. At present the agricultural court in this respect lias almost a painful sense of emptiness about it. Having, notwithstanding the refusal of the House of Representatives, determined to spend I'4ooo or £5000 in a colonial representation, the Government might surely have sent sonic creditable exhibits, instead of the rubbish that Mas packed up and sent from Melbourne, all the good things, it is stated, having gone back to the colony for the Duueclin Exhibition. The Victorian Government, on the other hand, having made a good selection of objects, their show, although far too small and restricted for such a colony, is at any rate a creditable one. The first idea on the part of the New Zealand authorities was to confine their exhibits to ,a series of minerals and ores. This class, as a consequence, predominates : the whole centre of the New Zealand Court being occupied by a double-banked .series of cases containing quart/, specimens. The specimens in bulk of antimony ore from Queen Charlotte Sound, and of native copper from Nelson, form side trophies, and are very fine. But it seems quite marvellous that, in a country possessing such rich deposits of gold, Sir James Hector should not have been able to pick out a better lot of stuff than is exhibited in Paris. There is scarcely a speck of gold to be seen in any of it, to distinguish it from ordinary rubble and refuse, whilst a few yards off, in the Victorian Court, are gilded models of the great Australian nuggets, large and rich enough to set the whole French nation dreaming of the El Dorado beyond the seas. In leas skilful hands than Sir Francis Bell's, the New Zealand exhibits would have only served to illustrate the nakedness of the land. As it is, everyone who visits the Court seems to find something to admire and comment upon. Sir Walter Buller's Maori group—consisting of four life-size figures in full costume—was certainly a very happy idea. The platform on which they are placed occupies the central floor at the entrance, and tho exhibit attracts large crowds of visitors. All day long there is a closely-packed body of people standing round the brass railing, and once interested, they pass on into the court and take note of other objects of a more practical kind, such as wools, ores, polished woods, &c. The Australian group, representing a family of blacks engaged in domestic operations and wearing little or no dress, also attracts the multitude, but owing to the want of space, this has had to be removed to the agricultural section, on the Quai d'Orsay, to a shady spot adjoining the Victorian conservatory, now in course of construction. This latter will be in its full splendour in about six weeks or two months, when the tree ferns have thrown out their crowns of waving fronds. It will cost the colony some thousands of pounds, and will be a very attractive feature of that part of the Exhibition, Both New Zealand and Victoria have very respectable representations of natural history of the country. In the latter, stuffed emus and kangaroos, gaily coloured parrots and beautiful lyre birds are to be seen all round, whilst Mrs. Ellis Rowan's inimitable sketches in colour of the Australian vegetation and flowers, attract a continuous stream of visitors. In the New Zealand Court, Sir Francis Bell has exhibited and with capital effect, the two large cases of New Zealand birds scut home by the Government as a present to Sir.James Maitland ; also, a case of rare New Zealand birds, the property of Sir Robert Herbert, permanent Under Secretary of State for the Colonies, all of which are admirably mounted and set off.