THE EXHIBITION. - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954) - 9 Dec 1861 (original) (raw)

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Mon 9 Dec 1861 - The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954)
Page 5 - THE EXHIBITION.

The Victorian Exhibition was closed on

Saturday evening, no less than 3959 persons

having visited it during tho day. The building

was thronged with visitors, nnd in tho evening

especially tho crush was excessive, tho ground

floor, tho galleries, and overy available , space

being occupied ; in fact wo do not remember

to liavo seen such a crowd in tho building on

any former occasion. Tho principal attractions,

irrespective of tlioso of the Exhibition itself:

wero tbo performances of tho Philharmonic

Socioty, in which Miss Oetavk Hamilton took

a prominent . and effective part, and thoso of

M. Boulanper on tho pianoforte. The concert

consisted principally of selections from orato

rios. A crowded buildiug, wlioro overy ono is

walking about in Bearch of novolty, is not tho

best place for any sot musical entertainment,

and although tho clioruso3 were well rendered,

their effect was destroyed by tlio buzz of voices

and tho tread of . footsteps through the build )

ing. Miss Oetavia Hamilton's singing, and

M. (Boulangor's brilliant execution on tho,

pianoforte, however, scemod to hush the crowd -

into reposo, aod thoy wero each loudly ap

plauded and encored. Of M. Boulanger's

merit3 as a pianist wo can hardly speak too

highly, and ' his performances formed

tlio most prominent attraction of the concert.

The Exhibition being ovor wo may take a

retrospective glonoo at it. It was inaugurated

on tho 1st October, and lies consequently been

open fifty-eight dnyB. During that poriod no

loss than 68,262 visits luivobcon paid to it;

we say visits, becauso that number would pro

bably bo much in excess of tho numbor of

persons who havo beon tliore, seoirig that many

would visit it twieo or tlirico, or cvon oftenor.

This numbor is "exclusiro of those who took

season tickets, who however form but an in

considerable quota, and of tho schools, 10,000

children having boon admitted froo in addition.

We Bhall not bo making an overestimate there

fore in Baying that betweon 40,000 and 50,C00

different persons - have visited the Exiiibition

since it has been opened ; and from this we

may doducc a vory important anil necessary

result, wliioh is ono of tho groat objo'cts of a

reunion of this kind, viz., the probability of the

diffusion of tlio practical information obtained by

thoso 40,000or5Q,000 porsons through tbelength

and breadth of the colony, and which ought to

bs an unfailing stimulant to further oxortions

after excellence.' Although there i'b much

that might havo boon hotter managed,

both on the part of exhibitors and thoso who

havo had- tho conduct of tho Exbibilion, wo

are disposod to say that, taking it all in all, it

has been a decided success. A concatenation

of circumslrincos which the commissioners

could not well avoid was productive of many

disarrangements wliioh, however, exporienco

should rectify at future exhibitions. In tho

. first place, tho tardiness of intending oxhibi.

tors in sending in their contributions, caused

much inconvenience. Although it would have

beon exoiftablo, it was doomod unadviiable

for tbo jurors to commence their work

until tho groat bulk of tho contributions

had been forwarded, seeing that many likely to

bo of great merit hod been hold back. It was

impossible to dolay the opening of tbo Exhibi

tion without shortening tlio timo that it would

have been open ti tho Yictorian public, or of

delaying ono of its most important objects, viz.,

tho duo representation of Victoria at tlio Groat

International Exhibition. Tito delay 011 the

part of contributors delayed tho adjudication of

tho awards; and tho certificitcs of merit,

which might otliorwiso lmvo been attached

to tho exhibits at least a month before

closing, and which would liavo beon of

great advantage to tho exhibitors and in

teresting to the public, wero only completed

within tho last few da ys. This we know has

been a source of comphaint in niiny quarters ;

but when tlio causos wliioh it is attributable

to are recalled, it -will bo found that tlie

disarrangement or-' jos from a combination of

I circumstances, an <J that it is difficult, to say

where tho blara 3 lies. Financially wo under

stand tho Exilit litinn ilim been vei-v successful.

Tho high prii w of admission at the opening

was decidedly n mistake ; as clearly verified by

tlio small att' .mdunce then, ond llu readiness

with which the public availed themselves of tho

opportunit y of visiting the Exhibition wlieu a

reasonable, charge was mado. It is a further

proof, if. it is wanted, that any attempt to

mako, r,n entertainment of this kinl select

who'u it is essentially for tlio maises, must

signally fail. We said that, financially, tho

inhibition had boon successful, moaning by

that that tbo rccoipts lmd been large.

Tlio oxponses, however, liavo been

very heavy, but this could not

havo beon woll ovoidod. A considerable

outlay was incurred ia tlio necessary additions

( to tlio building; and although this causes out

of tho L5000 voted to tho Oommissio iers by

Parliament, we shall reap the adrnntago of it

lioreaftcr in tho increased space that will be

afforde'd for the various publio entertainments

which are so frequently held in tho Exhibition

Building. Considerable oxponses have beau

incurred, too, in tho preparations made for the

Exhibition of Yictorian arts and manufactures

at tho IntcrnationialExhibition ; and this wempy

look upon as a reproductive work, the fruits of

whioh will probably bs perceptible in increased

emigration to this colony, anl ino trus and

adequate estimate boing formal iu the minds

of thoso at home of this important depen

dency of the British Crown. Erory, effort

will be made to exhibit Victoria as sho is ; her

arts and manufactures, although iu their in

fancy, will be represented by the tangible aud

irrefragable facts wo havo iu the exhibits

wliich havo beon before the Yic'oriau public

during the last eight weeks ; of her pastoral

capabilities still further proof,, if it

woro wanted, will bo afforded in the

transmission . of samples of wool, eto. ;

and tho best idea tbat oau bo given of Victoria

as a gold producing country will be in Mr.

Knight's pyramid. The construction of. this

pyramid was indeod a happy idea; aud from

tho surprise it has caused hero, where wo moy

say we are surrounded by the precious metal,

wo may vory easily form an adequito concep

tion of the effect it will havo upen tlie visitors

to tha International Exhibition. It his bee-i

a caiiso of curiosity to somo liow. tho pyramid

is to bo. transmitted home, and we

have ovou heard an opinion oxpreisod tlmt tlio

freight would be vory expensive ; but' wo mar

satisfy this curiosity and apprehension by sav

ing tljat tho whole of this structure can be

packed in a case 13 feet x 12 feet and about. 6

feet in doplli. ; Tho information to bo given to

our friends at homo will riot be confined to tbisi

for tliore will be practical illustratiohr'g'iven of

quartz crushing and of alluii d gold wasliing-

A quartz crusliiug plant has beon manufactured

at Olunos to tho order of tlio Commissioners,

which will cover an area of 32 feet x 22 lest

will crush seventy tons 0 week, and will

show tho wliolo process of quarlz crushing

This plant cost upwards of L1000, and is now

-at Williamstown ready for shipment. As

tho'matorial for crushing will of courso havo

to be provided, wo may stato that's communi

cation has been recoived from Mr. Fitzpatriek,

Mining Surveyor, at Baliaarut, who has taken

an active part in collecting specimens, statiDg

that the Big Hill Company are willing to give

twenty tons for this purpose; and it is probable

tlidt smuller contributions will bo received

from thirty othor different companies through

out tho mining districts. About one-

third of tho whole of tho artiolos in

tlio Exhibition building oro intended for

transmission to tlio International Exhibition.

These will bo packed up at once, and will bs

transmitted by tho E. A. Bright, which wiil

loavo about tbo 26th or 2Seh of this month

Tlio Commissioners applied about two months

ago fov 15,000 cubic feet of spaco for rbe

Victorian contributions to the International

Exhibition, and if this is ollowed it will bo

ample. Tho Exhibition will be open to-dar

until twelve o'clock for tho admission of

schools only, as it was deemed advisable not

to crowd the building too muoli on Saturday. /