Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-17
TIC Australian wsrid,s Fair.
OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT
SYDNEY.

SYDNEY.
IFrom Correspondence of the New York Times.]
In accordance with several fllustrious prece-
dents the main building was far from being
most In arrears was the American, when there
were many blank spaces reserved for goods not
yet arrived. But hindmost of all were the Ger
mans and AuStrianS. who could scarcely show
anything except unpacked boxes, though they
had been in possession Of their space, along with
the French, for longer time than any others.
all well advanced, and had much to display.
For ten days after the opening the noise of ham,
mering was constantly heard in the building,
was arrived at, and the public, who were rather
inclined to hold aloof at first, soon began to pour
in in large numbers. America had fine show,
of silver-ware, electro-plated goods; of cotton
goods; OF sewing machines, organs, and merinO
wool from Vermont; of locks and keys, house.
furnishing materials; and on the basement floor
fine display Of Fairbanks scales, as well as Of
stoves and kitchen ranges. The work Of two
bridge making companies, one OF whom has OBJ
tanned contract under the New South Wales
government, the Edgemoor, Of Wilmington,
Del. y were. represented by photographs and
models. The engraving and repousse work in
the electro-plate sections were deServedly adj
mired, as not surpassed either by the exhibits of
the great French house of Chrlstofe or the Eag-
lish manufactures; but one of the gems of the
entire collection was the showcase, in the nave,
OF the GOrham silver company, of Provide ace,
which contained almost the only sterling silver
ware In the entire exhibition. In the same area
was the big & )lay OF the Waltham watch fac
tory. OF Massachusetts,, which made consi ler-
able hit, with its simple movements and finely
executed workmanship. The principa Il electro
plate exhibitors We're Reed & Barton, Sims IN,
Hall. Miller & Co., and the Merfden britannia
company, all of New York; keys and locks were
shown by the Yale company and Rus sell & Err
win; scales by Fairbanks, of JohnShury, VT,
aid Howe; pianos by Steinway; stoves by Aben-
co n S' School ' furniture was also Shown
billiard tables, robes, clocks paper boats, etc.;
both machinery hall and agricultural hall had a
strong representation Of American inventions,
but all in too backward state Of preparation
to be examined, even as late as the present day.
High as is the quality of many of the Amert-
can exhibits it cannot be said that the invention
and resources OF the people are at all completely
Illustrated. In fact, many visitors from the
states are disappointed at the smallness of the
total effect produced, particularly when they
know that there Is scarcely department of in
dustry in which Americans do not shine. Bel
GUM has been allowed to carry off the palm for
iron castings from the COckerill factory at Sc
raing; England shows all the best carpets, wool
ems, cottOns and wallpapers, and in porcelain
and glassware is far ahead of all competitors.
The designs In pate sur pate ware and in glass
are stated to be equal to those shown at Paris;
indeed, the collections are the same. Germany
is strong in pianos; Austria in Bohemian glass;
Italy, in marbles and moSaics; Holland, in gins
and liquors. In cutlery and saws the United
States is entitled to be considered first. Though
the exhibition in all respects has come up to the
expectations of the eolonists, there is no doubt
that they would have been better pleased if
their brethren in the United States had Shone
out a little more brightly. New South Wales
being free trade country, ought to offer large
market for American enterprise. Already some
progress has been maze toward commercial in
tercOurse. Pennsylvania locomotives are now
running on several OF the main lines of railway;
the reaper and binder is in favor with many ag-
riculturists, while the carriage-makerS OF sgd
ney depend largely on New York for the ash and
hickory used in vehicle building. American
buckets; field implements, stoves, and sewing
machines, are well known.
The colonies, in filling up their courts have
relied chiefly on the raw material with which
nature has endowed them and which art and
enterprise have brought into the market. Coal
copper, gold, silver and tin are to be found In
several sections; timber and cabinet woods
sugar, and even coffee and tea, from tropical
and sub-tropical regions; merinoes and long
woods, and wines in extraordinary variety
showing that the grape is now being assiduouSly
cultivated from the 30th to the 36th parallel of
south latitude. In manufactures of the simpler
kinds, New South Wales and Victoria are
already manifeSting progress. The colonial
makers of agricultural implements and ma
chinery, like plows, harr0wS, mowers, winnow-
ers. and thresherS, almost occupy the field to the
exclusion of imported articles. The Sydney
Melbourne factories are getting on well in the
manufacture OF heavy and light tweeds, in fur
niture making, rope-making, and they annually
turn out large quantities of boots. Shoes and
saddles; they are commencing to make port
manteauS and trunks, and already show some
skill in brush ware.