THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1067, 20 September 1879, Page 2

THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

(by CABIiE.) (SPECIAL TO THE OTAOO DAILY TIMES.) ; Sydney, September 19. ! Since tlie opening the attendance has been inconsiderable. Fresh exhibits are constantly being displayed, and a visit to the basement showed that it will shortly present a second exhibition scarcely in- - ferior to the existing display on the main i floor. The machinery shed is still in confusion, i and the art buildings are only commenced, so that I am really dealing with less than : half the actual Exhibition, Among the articles just added are - numerous exhibits of woollen goods from 1 widely distant places. I availed myself of the opportunity to compare the New Zealand fabrics from Mosgiel and Kaiapoi with those from Europe and from s other Colonies. From Galashiels, Scat--1 land, Cochrane, Brown, and Sons send - a larire display of tweeds, which excel in ; material, being (if large pattern, soft, and • thick. Jkirchali, of Leeds, sends closer i nveods of harder texture, and broadcloths, s Ficars, of Sydney, shmvs goods very s similar to those from k'ealand. The 3 Parramatta Company's tire nut so good. I have not yet discovered any Melbourne, Geelong, or Ipswich wools thus far. Although New Zealand shows nothing ' identical with some of Galashiels, its same kind seen, excep'tmg the' exniiSit'm Saxony woollens, by Klemm and Forest, in the German Court, which are espef cially admirable for softness of texture and general finish of surface. There is an extraordinary number of pianofortes exhibited, principally Continental.

In ihc British Court, Arrowsmith has a square of wooden parquet inlaid flooring, principally of oak and woods of similar lines. It is not comparable for beauty of appearance or elegance of design to similar articles by Guthrie and Larnach.

Boots abound, and are all so excellent that it would puzzle an expert to give a preference, especially as there is little scope for novelty. The only especial articles discovered were shoes for cricketing or athletics, with corrugated soles of vulcanised indiarubber, giving a grip of the ground, by Mansfield, of Northampton.

Webb's Stourbridge glass is worthy of additional mention. It is situated near the entrance in the nave, and has a splendid effect. One chandelier is like semi-opaque ice, and the other has crystal pendants of extraordinary brilliancy. They are surrounded by thousands of'objects—candelabra, sconces, jugs, and vases, with figures and groups, and designs, engraved or in relief, of exquisite beauty. Ford's Works, Edinburgh, exhibit similar jugs, equally lovely. One alone, of medium size, is priced at LSQ. Barnes, of Birmingham, has a fine displaj7 of crystal chandeliers, but suffers by comparison with Webb's magnificent display. John Russell and Co. show every variety of tubing, piping, iron, brass, and lead work, but neither ho nor Danks, of Melbourne, beat Burt, of Dunedin, in his specialties, although both, the former especially, show many additional lines. There are hospital beds with simple springy battens of wood, noticeable for simplicity and for facilitating different attitudes. Mackintosh and other firms show a large variety of waterproof and rubber goods. The German court is still very incomplete, but shows tasteful exhibits in infinite variety. There are drugs, chemicals, washable gilt mouldings, a handsome assortment of Berlin goods of e"rery conceivable hue and shade.

Heckirt, of Prussia, shows beautiful wares of opalis'ed glass, enamelled with gold and colors in delicate designs. There is nothing precisely similar elsewhere shown, although there is a lot of opaliaed glass in the British court. From Nuremberg come sparkling exhibits of gold and silver laces, spangles, &c., in remarkable variety. Harkart, of Dinsberg, sends some very striking exhibits. There is a huge frame wrought of bolted ironwork, with photographs of the bridges and other vast iron structures executed by the firm.

The entire case of Stadelmann is devoted to different g^a-burners. The largest-sized block of copper ore shown is in the New Caledonia court. Tasmania shows a lot of willow withes for baskets in a handsome trophy, tastefully designed like a fountain dripping with stalactites ; tin, jams, &c., from many factories ; very fine rugs, &c., of black opossum,

Victoria shows several good marble busts by resident Italian sculptors ; chocolates, cocoas, powerful reflector lamps from a Sandhurst maker, water-heaters for bath attachments.

Danks, of Melbourne, shows excellent 1 brassworks, pumps, and fittings. The exhibits by M'll wraith of leaden and composite pipe, made by hydraulic pressure, and rolled lead, though not superior, are equal to and more various than Burt's. The brushware 'from Victoria is unsurpassed in the Exhibition; and there is a

variety of notions of Victorian manufacture, such as washing-machines, patent churns, &c. The brilliant appearance of the Victorian court is due to the excellent disposition of the exhibits, and largely to the local mirrors hung everywhere. The New South Wales court now looks decent. There are great drums oPpaper from the Lithgmv Mills, hedsteads of brass, handsome trophies of tobacco by Sawell and by Cameron, which rival the American exhibits, leaves of American tobacco worked up in Sydney on account of the diilerence in tho duty. The superb furniture by Lawsou, and | tho chaste new designs in bedroom suites, rival Xcv,- Zealand except in the beauty and rich contrasts of the woods used. An upholstery suite shown by David Jones is extremely rich. The leather shown includes infinite descriptions of beautifully-prepared leather. The Fiji court is now nearly completed, and is very interesting. The industrial products give great promise for the new dependency. The samples of sugar-cane are amazing. One stool shows fourteen cane of ample thickness and 26ft to 28ft high, excluding the tops. Among the other products, are raw sugars, tapioca, ivory nuts, candle nuts, iron ore, pearl shell, but the latter is not equal to that from Queensland. There are also bcchc-rh-mer, dried bananas, and rum. The Straits Settlement exhibits are more forward, and include gutta-percha and many gums.