OPENING of THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 685, 14 January 1865, Page 9

OPENING of THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

The first New Zealand Exhibition was opened on Thursday. His Excellency the Governor failed to arrive to perform the ceremony, as the representative of Her Majesty, and the duty was delegated to the Superintendent of the Province, John Hyde Harris, Esq. ; there was no public demonstration, in tbe nature •of a procession ; the attendance was considerably less than it probably would have been, had the Governor of the Colony, accompanied by the naval and military •commandants, been present in the BuildIng, and so lent something of official pomp to the proceedings : but, despite the absence of all pageant, and the sense of ■disappointment at the seeming breach of a loag-standing promise on the part of the representative of Her Majesty in this •Colony, the merits of the confessedly very incomplete Exhibition produced a general and deep feeling of gratification. On all Irands wre to be heard expressions o£ pleasure and surprise — declarations that the display was much, better than could have been anticipated — and congratulations that so much should have been accomplished by a first effort in so young -a Colony. The Royal Commissioners must have found solace in their anxieties, and reward for their long-continued and wearisome labors, in the unmistakeable ■satisfaction which was given by their work -to those who yesterday had a hurried -opportunity of seeing it ; and they may with the utmost confidence feel that, when the Ramsay has arrived, and the varied and most valuable exhibits of British, French, and Indian produce and manufactures which she has on board, have been brought into the Building and arranged, there will be but one verdict —that they have done well a great and good work. The doors were opened shortly after noon, and about 600 holders of season •and special day tickets passed slowly into the Building. As is usual in such cases, the last day's work had effected wonders i an the appearance of the interior. It •would be affectation to say that there •are not many improvements in details of arrangement and display vhich can be effected, and undoubtedly will be ; and it was, of course, a pity to see the English, Indian, and French departments bare, or all but bare. But several of the Provincial departments showed exceedingly well ; and the whole Exhibition had been brought into most presentable condition. There was a want of •effectiveness in the look of the central hall; but that is one of the defects that will speedily be remedied after the arrival of the Ramsay. The obelisk representing ! the bulk of the gold got in Otago is the most prominent object ; and opposite ie | stands the elaborate and beautiful appa- 1 ratus for the lantern of the Cape Saunders lighthouse. The displays of gold and jewellery, in several cases, attracted much notice and. elicited decided admiration. At the northern end of the hall, in the dividing line between Otago and England, stands i the dais, surmounted by a rich crimson canopy, finished with a deep vallance edg- I ing, which was intended for the Governor. It is semicircular in form, has three steps, and bears upon the front of the ■caaopy, in letters of gold, the words, 44 Gloria in excelsts Deo, et in terra pax.' At the other end of the hall stands the Weilington-built organ, contributed by JSIr Lewis. As a finish at the lop ot the screen, some crimson hangings, with giltcolored cording and fringe, have been placed ; and in front of the orgau was an ■orchestra for 50 members of the Philharmonic Society. Over the dais, the Royal standard floated; and a line of flags, festooned near the ceiling, extended the length of the building, Above the entrance there was hung a -very large piece of carpet- work, the centre of which represents Napoleon 111. presenting to Queen Victoria a document bearing the words, " The Treaty of Commerce — a further proof of our friendship." The border is deep, and good in pattern and at the bottom being the inscription, *' La reciprocite est la base vraie et durable •de ia paix." Opposite this, over the -doorway leading to the corridor, there -were flags, and a blue ribbon beneath them bore the words, " Alternately the nations learn aud teach." At several points, rich carpeting and other specimens of manufacture, were displayed in front of the gallery; and a broad band of crimson cloth, fluted and otherwise effectively arranged, stretched round the building, just below the line of the glass forming part of the central roof. The interior of the building looked light -aud exceedingly pleasant, despite the absence of chromatic colouring on the walls and ceiling, which one is apt to consider as the necessary and only appropriate decoration of the interior of an Exhibition iluilding. The visitors had time to walk round the

interior before the commencement of the opening ceremony; and the corridor, in which there was an excellent display of flowering -plants and shrub^ ferns, &c. received a full share of commendation. The fountain, originally placed in the central hall, was playing, and it could not but be felt that the change in its position was an improvement. A large and'beautifully-finished boat, built and exhibited by Messrs Fisher Brothers, was much ..criticised and praised. The Fine Arts Gallery proves to possess an excellent light; the painting and water-color drawings have been effectively hung ; and the Gallery will, we doubt not, prove one of the most attractive points in the Exhibition. The Refreshment Department has been well finighed, decoratively, and comfortably furnished ; Mr J. Johnston and his assistants were for some time very busily employed ; and the refreshments, we fancy, gave general satis- 1 faction. i

A few seats for ladies were placed lengthwise in the hall, on each side of_the dais; and there were others ia rear of them. Amongst the company here was Mr Justice I (Jhapman •, Mr Justice Richmond being prevented from beinsc present as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Royal Commission, j owing to being at Invercargill, where a ' Circuit Court of the Supreme Court is | being held. Near this point were thj following members of the Town Board: — Messrs. M'Leod, Bastings, Griff en, Murray, G-rey, Redmayne; Mr Lazar, c'.erk ; and Mr J. Millar, civil engineer. The Hon. W. Fox, M.FI.R. (late Colonial Secretary), was present, as were several other gentlemen and numerous ladies from trie Northern Provinces. The bulk of the visitors stood within the southern half of the hall, or were in the gallery, which was thickly lined. All the principal residents in the city and its neighborhood were to be seen amongst the company, as were also several clergymen. The members of the Royal Commission assembled in their room, off the corridor, and shortly after half-past one o'clock, they entered the Hall, preceding the Superintendent ; and when his Honor had taken his place on the dais, they grouped themselves on either side. There were present, the Hon. Major Richardson, M.H.R. (Postmaster- General) andM.P.C. ; Dr Hector ; T. Dick, M.P.C. ; T. B. GUlies, M.H.R. ; James Paterson, M.H.R, M.P.C ; Wm. Ma^on, M.HR.; E. B. Cargill, M.H.R., M.P.C ; J. Cargill, M P.C. ; R. B. Martin, James Rattray, Alfred Eccles, H. Clapcott, R. S. Cantrell, W. H. Reynolds, M.H.R., M.P.C. ; and Julius Vogel, M.H R , M.P.C. The j Commissioners were accompanied by the Rev. Dr Burns and the Rev. E. G. Edwards. Prior to the entrance of the Commissioners, the members of the Philharmonic Society had taken their places in the orchestra, Mr West being at the con- . ductor's stand, and Mr W. H. Harrison at ' the organ. The members gave their services, and it should in fairness be stated that it was only on Wednesday afternoon that it was settled that their services should be accepted, so that there was scarcely time for a single practice meeting. But they acquitted themselves admirably ; and it cannot be open to doubt that, in the absence of choral music, the ceremony would have lost its most effective feature. The Building proved itself to be firstrate, accoustically ; and while the singing was excellent in tone and volume, it was good in time and expression. When the Superintendent had taken his place, the National Anthem was given ; the company rising, but there being nothing like an attempt to take part in the singing. The Anthem over — ! The Superintendent read the Commission from the Governor, authorising him to act in His Excellency's -behalf, in opening the Exhibilion. It was as follows :—: — By His Excellency Sir George Grey, Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of j the Bath, Governor ani Commander-in-CU : ef in and over Her IVLg ;sty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-admiral of the same, &c, &c. To all Persons Greeting : Whereas an Industrial Exhibition of Agricultural and Industrial Products ia about to be held at Uunedin, in the Province, of Otaeo, and I am desirous the sam* should be <ormally opened in Her Majesty's name : But it is probable that I may not be able to attend personally at Dunedin aforesaid, at the time nxed for the opening of the said Exhibition : Now kaow ye, that I, Sir George Grey, X C.8., Governor of the said Colony, have thought, fit to constitute and appoint, and by these presents do constitute and appoint, John Hyde Harris. Esq , of Dunedin, the Superintendent of the said Province ofOtago, to he my Deputy, forme to attend at the said Exhibition, on the twelfth day of January, 1855. and to declare the same duly opened, and to do all things necessary at such opening. Given under my hand, at the Gjvernment Eeuse, at Auckland, and issued under tbe seal of the Colony of New Z9Bland, this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty fou \ G. Grey. By His Excellency's command — | Hbnxt "WejiD. The Rev. Dr. Burns offered up a prayer, as follows : — Almighty and most Merc'ful Father, we come I before Tiiee, aa oar Lord, to whom we lire and

breathe every moment of time ; we come before Thee, as oar everlasting Father, in whose preaenco and favor, through Christ, oar Lord, we. bope to dwell,, long after.' time shall have ended and eternity shall have began. With profouDdest reverence, we look up to Thee, as the supreme ruler of the universe, upon wh ise government and p^wer we depend for the right ordering of all human affairs— over-ruling all, controlling all, and causing all things to work together for good, in the midst of a sinful and dangerous world We bless Thy great name for those intellectual powers and capacities with which it has pleased rhee to endow the human mind ; ana that in the wise an<i weltreaulwcd rxercise of those powers the good of the individual and the good of society are equaliy found to subsist. "We bless Thy sreat name, that, by virtue of the law which Thine own band hath implanted in man's nature, the vf rv putting forth of the powers of industry and of skill proves to be a source of a very pure kind of happiness to the individual himself, and carries the truitg of that industry to the utmost ends of the earth, to profit and to gladden all the other members of the human family- We render thanks unto Thee, oh ! Thou Most High, for the encouraging circumstances under which we are permitted this day to assemble. We thank Thee that that great enterprise on behalf of "which we are now met has reached its present condition of preparedness and maturity ; and that Thou hast so strengthened the hands «>f Thy servant*, the Commissioners, as to enable them to rear the ! f»i it eof this large and costly building, and to follow out into proner effect th« manifold and | complex arrangements whereby the specimens of the •Dvoductions of so many different climes, and f>f the industry of so many different nations, have been collected, and are now exhibited beneath the I .expanse of this spacious roof. For this signal j measure of succes, we desire now, with onevoice. to praise and magnify Thy Holy Name. And now. oh Lord, we humbly pray that it would plea'o Thee very great y tv bless this imp >rtant undertaking j that Thou wnuldst be pleased to bless it in i's future progress and in its final completion ; that Thou wouldest bless it in its ulterior results and its happy fruits ; and, above all, that Thou woul-'est ble3S it in widening the range of human arr, in promoting the effort* of human skill, in stimulating the labors of human industry, and in spreading wide over the whole face of human society, th° ble«siog* ot an enlightened civilisation. Oh ! Got", erant these our bumble prayers, and glory shall be to the Father, and to the and ti the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, js now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. The choir sang the Old Hundredth Psalm, very effectively. The Hon. Major Richardson advanced, ! and read the following address on behalf ! of the Commissioners: — To his Honor John Byde Harris, E«q , Super- J intendent of the Province of Oago, Coin | missioner specially appointed to act in the absence of his Excellency Sir George Grey. X.0.8., Goveraor and (Joinman'ier-io-Chief j in and over tha Colony ot New Zealan-I : \ Your Honor— We, the Commissioners appoin- j ted by his Excellency the °overnor of New Zealand, to conduct the New Zealand Kxhihition, rt-gret that his Excellency has been unable to vi«it this Province for the purpose of opening thN Hxhibition, bat salute you with sincere pleasure as the Commissioner specially appointed to ac< in his absence. To collect together some of the evidences of the remarkable progress of this Colony, which attest the tnergy of its inhabitant* ; to place them side by s'de with the products of other colonies ami the nareDt country ; to afford the opportunity of comparing the raw material ot the newly occupied country with the finished manufactures of th" old ; to gratify successful enterprise, by an cckuow c g nent of its merits ; an! to encourage further exertion, by the approval of what has been already done — are objects worthy of ih^ £reat exertions which have been made to cause this undertaking to correspond ia some decree wifh the expectations of those by whom it has been designed and snpjorted. Your Honor must he aware how many difficulties attend such an attempt in a young couxry such as tbis, and at a period when, unfortunately, the energies of the Northern Provinces are,*t> a gr*at extent, absorbed in the social struggle in which that part of the Colony has been engaged. We regret that large contributions, which have been shipped from Kngl*nd, including a valuable collection o ( Indian raw material and manufactures, which have been erenerously presented to the Colony by the ot State f)r India, have not yet ar rived, but which we trust will yet add to the intereif of this t<xhibition. We are also assured, that bu f . for the unhappy differences which have for so lone time past severed the two great sections of the American Union, very considerable additions from those States would have been made to our collection. But, notwithstanding the disappointment of our expectations from these quarters, so liberal and satisfactory have hpen the contributions from all parts of New Z'alnnd, as well as others of the Australation colonies, that we have not felt justified in pot ponirn? any longer the opening of this Exhibition to the pubic. The Province of Otajjo reeogn'ses with sentiments of the deepest gratitude the zeal and liberality which have marked the co-operation of other Provinces and contributors, but we desire to mention the fact that the Building in which the Exhibition is contained, has been erected at the sole cost of this Province. The heaviest labors in connection w'th the Exhibition have also necessarily fallen upon tho*e members of our body who are resident in this Province. These, however, are burdens which are cheerfully borne, because they are compensated by the advantage of our secins: those visitors from a distance whom this Exhibition has attracted and will attract, and who will at the same time have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the characteristics —physical and social— of this Province, which feels that it may claim for itself nob to have been the last in the great race of progress, in which the various communities of Anglo-Saxon origin in the Bouthern Pacific are engaged. It is not for us on this occasion to indicate in detail the various obj cts of interest, or to attempt to institute any comparison between them in point of attractiveness ; but we may be pardoned for drawing attention particularly to the collection* illustrative of the Geolosy of the Colony, both on account of their extent, and on account of the extrinsic value of such collections in their bearing on the development of the resources of a country from, 4he mineral- wealth, of which so

much has already been derived, and so muoh. may be confidently expected. We may alao contrast witfi these more material evidences of oar resources, the proof of soi-ial and intellectual, re-* finemeDt which is to be found in the Exhibition oi Fine Arts, one which we believe will b* admitted to be extremely creditable to the taste and practical skill hi art of so young a colony* Between these two limits of the material and artistic, will be found a wide range of exhibit?, which we trust will prove equally interesting and instructive. We beg, in conclusion, to express our hope that the Bl'ssinz of Divine r i ovidence may rest upon an undertaking, . which has been begun and completed in an earnest desire to promote ihe common welfare of the colony— to cement feelings of brotherhood and unity between its severer, provinces, while it excites them to generous rivalry— and to extend the hand of recognition to t*ie more remote communities -which have responded to our invitation to aid in this undertaking, or who may hear ot and sympathise with it 3 so.c<jess. Major Richardson handed the address to His Honor, who replied as follows : — Ma Vick- President and Gentlemen or the Commission— It affords roe the highest gratification to witness, and to congratulate you on, the completion of the great work which, through indomitable and unremitting labour, you have accomplished. The experiment in which you have been, engaged is a bold one, and the difficulties and baffling dis ouragements you have had to encounter, would have paralysed the exertions of men whose devotion to a caasc, nnd who ! e determination to command success, wts less ardent than your own. But you have been engaged in a noble as well as an arduous work, and you will receive the reward of your self fSacrifiVn? labors ' in the knowledge that through their means NewZealand has become entitled tr> claim a higher place than has yet been allotted to it amongst the colonies of Great Britain. Small and incomplete as this Exhibition must necessarily be, a^ compared with its magnificentprototypes ia England and France, it will yet be to you a source of laudable pride, to know that you have succeeded ia gatherine a multitude of the products of Nature and of human industry, such as as have never yet appeared in the exhibition of a colony so young and co small, in point of population, as New Zealand- *" The bettfcfioitl effects of this Exhibition on the Colony may not be immediate'y appreciable, but you have sown good seed in a fertile soil, 2nd way confidently look for an abundant harvest. Throush this Exhibition, New Zealand will be brought out from iU obscurity into a face-to face meeting with the outer world Many of its ftreat and varied resources will be cx B mplified— ► its vitality and progressive character will be attested—new indu«tries will be created— existing; ones -evmd - public taste and morals will t>e elevated, anl a generous emulation between various provinces and colonies will be promoted ; while by all these, and by nntnberle« other means, abundant proofs will be afforded that New Zealand presents unusual advantages for the prosecution of all enternriz9S which can be compassed by the combined iuflience of capital, labor, and sci nee. While congratulating you generally on the great work you havi achieved. I cannot refrain from expressing a feeliug of pride at the commanding position which this Province occupiesin connection with the undertaking. It justly claims to have originated it- It has found the men to whose energy its e ucc3ss in great measure is attributib'e It is justly proud of the noble Building in which we are this day m?t, and it has no reason to be ashamed of its other contributions!. I join sincerely in your regrets that the extensive collections from Kngland, India, and France should noc yet have arrived ; and also that the unhappy war which has for so long a time prevailed in America, and the disturbing effects produced by*- the protracted struggle in which, the JV orthern part of tbis Colony is engaged, shou'd have deprived us of many valuable contributions. I fully enter Into and deeply sympathise with your feeling of disappointment that hU Exc9tleaey the Governor of this Colony is not here to day to sanction our proceedings with his pre--ence. I feel, however, justified, in saying that circumstances of no ordinary character must have occurred to prevent hi* Excellency frona carrying out hi<i expressed intention to open this Exhibition in person. In conclusion, I desi c to join my hope to yours, that the Divine blessing may so rest upon. t us undertaking, thit it may be made the means of promoting the common welfare of the Colony, and of diffusing the lore of. peaceful and industrial pursuits. I now, by command of ht3 Excellency the Governor, and as hi 3 deputy, declare this Exhibition to be opened, in tbe name of her Majesty the Queen. The Rev. E. G. Edwards prayed, as follows : — May He in whom we live and have our being, aad who gives us all things, specially endow and prosner this undertaking thus far accomplished. May He bless you ; may He make you perfect in every good work, according to His law, working in you that which is good ia His sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Hallelujah Chorus was finely snng by the choir ; and the members of the Town Board, having advanced to the front of the dais, Mr J. Lazar, the clerk, read the following address :—: — To His Honor, John Hyde Harris, Esq., Superintendent of the Province of Otago. May it please your Honor -It is with feelings of much pleasure and gratification, that we, the Members otthe Town Board otths City of Dunedin congratulate your Honor upon the opening of the New Zealand Exhibition, an event that will always stand in colors of the brighest hue in the annals of this P.o vines. The many vicissitudes this Province has experienced during a period of 17 years, it is nnnecess iry to uilaie upon. From an almost unkaow i and barren waste, bunedia has risen to an opulent, thriving, and commercial city. In the year 1855, an Ordinance was pasted " iaCans' itute a Futilic Board for the Town'of Danedin." Prom that date until 1861, the limited means at the command of it* members, confined the operations for the improvement of the. City to> a Very small compass : bat the dtewery of gold grave an impetus to enterprise, and up to the present time, the rapid strides that have been made, imu}t convince the most fastidious that the con—

stttated authorities have not been neglectful of their duties. The excellence of all human institutions is comparative and fleeting, positive perfection _or ■unchanging aptitude to its object we know belongs not to the works of man ; commerce and the useful arts are unquestionably the basis of our prosperity, and your Honor has manifested a familiar acquaintance with the fact, that the continuance ot this prosperity must in the present state of society depend upnn our progress in the higher departments of science. vfe conclude by praying that your Honor may eDjoy all the peace and happiness which this ■world can aff ird for the remainder of our days, and at their close, Jerive solace from th 6 reflection of a life spent in promoting the instruction and happiness of your fellow creatures. We hare the honor to subscribe ourselves, Your Honor's very obedient, Iramble servants, Horace Bastings, David Miller, junr. (chairman) Jabez Ham Thomas Hedmayne John Barnes G. K. Howard John Grey John Griffen (trea- A. M'Leod surer) K. F« Murray James Turner J. C. M'Guire John Lazar, Clerk to the Town Board of Dunedin. His Honor replied — Mr Lazar snd.Gentlemen— l gratefully accept your congratulations upon the wonderful progress -which has characterized the history of this Province, I need soarcely assure you that so long a? I hold office in this* Province, I shall feel it to be my duty, as it will be my pleasure, to cooperate with the Town Board, and with every other public body, in their attempts to promote the advancement of the Province. I thank you most sincerely for your kind expressions towards myself ; and I trust to show, whrther in office or out of it, that I desire to deserve them. A voluntary was played on the organ ; aad the Superintendent and other members of the Commission walked round the Hall, devoting some time subsequently to the explanations of Mr Balfour, Marine Engineer, as to the construction of the machinery for testing the strength of woods, &c, and to watching testa of the* breaking strain of blue gum, kauri, &c.

The Refreshment Department was much patronised by the visitors, for the next half hour ; and a large proportion of them afterwards remained inspecting the exhibits until the hour for closing arrived.