THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 20, 24 January 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

CHRISTCHURCH, 23rd January. Christchitrch has been afflicted all day with a raging nor'-wester, from which the Exhibition afforded for many people a welcome ictre.it. Hitherto visitors J have had very little to complain of on tho score of these winds, as there has hardly been a severe nor'-wester since the Exhibition opened. The attendance has been good to-day, the performance by the Besses o' th' Barn Band, the concert by tho orchestra, and Maori dances in the pa being all largely pat-, ronised. A huge crowd is making for the Exhibition this evening, by all approaches, in view of tho Besses' last programme of the present season and a double display ot Pnin's London fireworks. Interest is still taken by hundreds of visitois in the sweated industries exhiI bits. The Hon. A. Kirkpatriek Chief Secretary in the Government of South Australia, who is at present in Christchurch, has recorded his opinion in the visitors' book that the oxhibits should be shown all over Australasia. .Mr. Kirkpatriek intends on returning home to recommend his Government to apply for a loan of tho sweated industries exhibits to show to the public of South Australia. An interesting new feature in the Exhibition is an elaborate display of canoes and other articles from Cook and Nuic Islands, arranged opposite the Fijian court. There are half a dozen quaint canoes, most of them with outriggers attached ; a peace drum, used to proclaim peace for over a hundred years, exhibited by Colonel Gudgeon; an iyikifs throne, belonging to a family of Aitutaki, said to bo practically one with the Ngatiporu tribe of the North Island Maoris ; swords, spears, eel-nets, ceremonial axes, huge native bath, native tapestry, and other articles. A large case containing specimens of natural phosphates occurring in New Zealand has belri added to the agricultural court. The collection is fairly representative of phosphates found in the colony during recent years. From a practical and cducationel standpoint the agriculture] court is one of the most valuable in tho Exhibition. The experimental plots exhibits, showing the progress of blight and disease in various fruits, tho numerous bottled examples of pests and their natural enemies, not to mention other features, must prove of the greatest interest and profit to farmers. The issue of halfpenny commemorative postage stamps^ in connectioin with me Exhibition is now exhausted. The total number was 300,000, and as the post office is under an agreement to limit the issue to that number there will be no further issue of these stamps. Tho other issues are fast becoming exhausted, and it is confidently anticipated that long before the close of the Exhibition the commemorative stamps will be sold out. The Tutanejtai being otherwise engaged, tho Government has arranged with tho Union Company to carry the cadet battalions to tho Exhibition. Great preparations are being made for tho New Zo&lancl championship meeting! to be held on Thursday and Saturday. International toboggan races for "gents' doubles" will be contested at Wonderland on Thursday night. The competitors will all be genuine citizens of the States they represent. Tho sensational fire- rescue act previously given will be repeated. Veiy complete precautions) have been taken for the safety of tho principals.