EXHIBITION NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8610, 27 September 1889, Page 2

EXHIBITION NOTES.

The following notice by the Railway Commissioners appears in the Gazette published yesterday : — Goods consigned for exhibit at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, to be opened in Dunedin on tbe 26tb November 1889, will be carried free on the New Zealand railways provided that they ehall be so carried at the sole rink of tbe consignors, and that each package shall be consigned to the secretary of the exbibitiou, and marked legibly " For exhibit at tbe New Zealand and Soutb Scrb Exhibition, Dunedin." The loading and unloading must be done at the expense of the consignors. In the event of such exhibits being sold the full railway charges must be paid. Exhibits returning may ba conveyed free, provided no sale or exchange has taeen effected. A certitcste to this effect must be produced, signed by (lie secretary of the exhibition, before the goods can be received ior transit free of charge. Sir James Hector telegraphs that he has commenced to ship the mineral exhibits for the exhibition, and the first of these will arrive here in the course of a day or two. The Bank of New South Wales, the Bank of Australasia, and the Union Bank of Australia have each contributed £100 towards the exhibition guarantee fund in the fr.rm of a page advertisement in the catalogue. Our Auckland correspondent telegraphed as follows last evening:—"Mr W. H. Hodgkins, secretary to the Fine Arts Committee of the New Zealand Exhibition to be held at Dunedin, who has been here on b.isiness connected with that department of the exhibition, left to-day to return to Dunedin. While in this city he was shown over the art gallery. He said the art gallery was the finest in New Zealand, and that there was nothing in the colony to equal it." THE GOVBHNOE'S EESIDENCEr What has hitherto been known as the Grand Pacific Hotel, at the Ocean Beach, St. Kilda, will, for a time at all event?, be henceforth recognised as " Government House." This valuable property is in the hands of the Bank of New Zealand. The board of directors, knowing that the New Zealand Exhibition Commissioners w&oted & residence for his Excellency the Governor and suite, have very liberally gieen the use of it for the time being. Of course in its previous condition it did not look much like a vice-regal residence. The place has been unoccupied for some long period, and naturally everything in or about the property has gone to rack and ruin. It is only a few days ago that the executive had final instructions to prepare for not only bis Excellency (Lord Onslow) and family, but also have had an intimation that our Governor had invited Lord Carrington, as well as the other Australian Governors, to be present at the opening of the Jubilee Exhibition. The very moment when this information reached the office an army of artisans were taken to the spot. The president (Mr J. Roberts) and other members of tbe commission, together with Mr J. Hislop (the architect of the exhibition), and Mr Joubert (the general manager), have taken the matter in hand. The spirit.which moved the abovenamed gentlemen has been instilled into the heart of the contractors and workmen, so that in reality it is a thorough transformation scene from the very entrance gate to the stables at the rear of the building. The carriage entrances have been remodelled, a wide eweep of gravelled roadway leads from one gate to the other, whilst a smaller entrance has been left in the centre for pedestrians. The front of the house is, under Mr Stenhouse's supervision, made into a trim flower garden and shrubbery. The same party has also to trim and plant all the hedges round the premises. A 7ft galvanised iron fence has been erested around the grounds to ensure privacy and hide from view the tram stables and coachhouse. A barbed wire fence also cuts off several acres of the adjoining land so as to isolate the property more effectually. The city water and Caversham gas have been brought to the house. Drainage, and all sanitary arrangements are now more perfect and satisfactory. The whole of the exterior of the house and outbuildings is being painted, bronzed, or gilt as the case may be, ail woodwork grained afresh and varnished. A flagstaff i9 being erected on the piazzs, or flat roof, where the Union Jack will be hoisted to denote the presence of the Governor "at home." As this house is visible from almost every part of the city and suburbs, it will enable people having business with the Governor to see at a glance whether or not Lord Onslow is visible. The interior of the bouse is now in rather a state of chaos, but at the rate the work is progressing and the number of hands Messrs Smith and Smith (who have charge of the decorations) have at it, another week will make a great deal of difference in its appearance. On the right hand of the ball, what was a bar is being converted into a private office for the Governor; the small chamber in the front, the office of his Excellency's aide-de-camp; the bar parlour, the private secretary's office. These rooms are being painted and stencilled in the very latest style. The dining room is also being remodelled and decorated. On the left the billiard room and commercial room have been thrown into one; with the adjoining room they will form a series of drawing and reception rooms, the side verandah being converted into a conservatory leading to the grass lawn and flower garden on the side of the house. The back of the house on tho ground floor is devoted to kitchecß, store rooms, china closets, pantries, scullery, &c.; while in the detached buildiDg a servants' hall has been arranged. On the first floor in the front, and on the right hand side, Lady Onslow's bedroom, with boudoir attached; next Lord Cranley's room; and adjoining Lady Onslow's, the Governor's; his aide-de-camp and private secretary's room. On the left of the landing the Governor's daughter's nursery and attendants; several spare bedrooms, with dressing rooms; the children's tutor's and Lady Onslow's ladies' maid quarters. On the upper floor, in the front, six spare rooms, bath rooms; and at tho rear, seven servants' rooms. The paperhangings and stencilling of the whole house have been carefully seleoted from the best stock in Dunedin. The contractors are vieing with one another to perform their work ia such c manner as to give our distinguished guests a fair idea of what can be done in Southland. Messrs Burt and Co. have undertaken tho looking after of the sanitary arrangements, and when we say that the whole of the furnishing has been undertaken by Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm no further comment is needed. They will make everything as it should be, both as regards good taste, elegance, and comfort.