THE EXHIBITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6706, 20 November 1889, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

♦ LPer Pbxss Association.] DUNE DIN, Nov. 20. Exhibitions, as a rule, in the main, present much the same features to the casual observer; but in some important i points the Dunedin Exhibition will differ materially from those which have preceded it in New Zealand. Not alone in its size but also in its specialities will the novelty be found. Prominent among these are the Early History and South Sea Islands Sections, the Educational and Armament Courts, &ie Fisheries, the Aquaria, and the Art Gallery. In a le6B degree the fernery and the Mineral Courts will be specialities ; not' that nothing of the kind has over been s&yn, but that they have not approached t/ae dimensions they attain in the present •show. The Early History Court, under the care of Dr Hoeken, whoße hobby research into the ethnology of these islands has long been, will present a museum on a small scale. The Armament Court, which is a Government department, promises to be particularly attractive. The big cannon are already in position, and present a formidable appearance, surrounded by the smaller but even more deadly weapons 'of destruction, such as the Maxim and_ Nordenfeldt guns. The Permanent Militiamen are busy getting the trophieß of small arm 3 ready, painting up the artillery, arranging the mines, &c. It is intended to give at intervals a display of the working of the six-inch disappearing gun ; and as very few of the public have ever seen these weapons, much les3 witnessed the method of manipulating their apparently unwieldly weight, the sight is sure to prove eminently attractive. The aquaria are constructed of concrete and glass, and mußt prove a source of endless enjoyment to the juvenile visitors. The fernery occupies a large space, and being the coolest place in the edifice, apart from its scenic beauty, will become a much frequented nook. It will be lit by electricity; beyond two large search lights, the fernery will be almost the only place where the electric lightAnother small speciality is the Tourists' Bureau, where the principal display will : be maps, &c, relating to the natural | beauties of the Colony wiil be made use I of. In the other special courts mentioned bo little has been done, that no idea can j be obtained of what they wili eventually j be like. , { The Art Gallery is divided into six sections, 1 each connecting with its neighbour by an archway, the whole building being 110 ft square. About 600 pictures are now hung, and a large number aro to be placed in the iron annexe. Of those sent in, a good proportion have been rejected, and will not ! find a place. This section will be quite I ready by Tuesday ; in fact, the catalogue jis in the printers' hands. Besides the Art j Gallery proper, there are small collections i of pictures in some of the courts. | Both New South Wales and Victoria ! have several bays full, and the Canterbury i and Wellington Schools of Arts are also i represented. The latter sends the only I specimens of modelling at present to be ! seen in the building, a3 well as a special I picture collection. Victoria and New ; South Wales ako have small ferneries of their own. The Concert Hall is an extremely large building, with an organ built by Mr A. J. j White, of Christchurch, and a stage for j performers at one end and a gallery at tho other. It appears capable of holding some thousands of people with ease. Utility rather than beauty i 3 the main thing aimed at by the designer, and from the exigencies of position, there has been no chance of adorning it with any bold or striking features, such as the handsome facade which greeted the visitors on approaching the main hall at the Christchurch Exhibition. ." The regulationß with regard to the sale of goods provide that articles manufactured on the premises may be sold on payment of a small license fee, and it is understood that any exhibits may be sold subject to the provision that the goods shall not be taken away till the close of the Exhibition : these regulations are similar to those of the Christchurch Exhibition, but visitors to that place will probably smile at the recollection of the manner in which they were honoured in the breach rather than the observance. A communication haß been received from the French Government, expressing their regret that they were not earlier made aware of the nature and scope of the Exhibition ; had this been done, they say, care would have been taken to have France and her Colonies adequately represented, and several men-of-war would have been sent down for the opening. The painters, furnishers, etc. ,of Dunedin, are having quite a gala time. Independent i of the great demand at the Exhibition \ j itself the buaineesplacesarebeingfurnished , . up in all directions, and the hotels aro j i making especial calls on labour of the j kind.