THE EXHIBITION.

NZ Truth, Issue 73, 10 November 1906, Page 6

THE EXHIBITION.

Mugwump Munro's Mulish Madness.

The "big shop" m Hagley Park and its incidental attractions has been making big records m the way of attendances, especially on race and other days, when large crowds of humans m their best bib and tucker cpre&d themselves : over various parts of the dissrict, either trying to win money or lose it, but always managing tc spend it, anyhow. And to 1 sec the toffs and the dross of society spending cash that they 'have' been hoard-

me; up for ever so long, is & treat. The side shows at the exhibition have been raking m shekels after the manner of the bank clerk, and if they make twopence more to-day than they did yesterday they announce the glorious fact m the papers, and tell everybody about it, but don't spend anything m <the telling. But -the 'Bition is only

IN ITS SWADDLING CLOTHES, and everything will fall so low before the six months are over that people will wonder what they have been cackling over. There should be another large influx at Christmas and New Year time, and possibly another deluge m March,, otherwise the local people and the stragglers will have to keep the show going;-!. ' Meanwhile the various courts are attracting, attention, and pilferers /airp being dragged to the Police Court ;V and the- fernery;, looks well, and the beasts and, plants are being ■scientifically; ,d|scqss-' ed by learned individuals m spectacles,with guide books m their fists, and the vegetable, fruit and plant diseases are treated m a frivolous manner, and the exhibit from the Lyttelton Gaol hides itself away m a corner. Further, the Canadian .Court still advertises itaelf

IN FEARSOME FASHION and gives a lesson to Maorilanders m quite schoolboy manner, and the camels walk around when the' band begins to play, and the ostrich presents a feather to each visitor, or words to that effect. The Maoris have made; themselves an attractive item, and the public pays light heartedly to see the women smoke pipes and hear them discuss the she visitors' dresses: The furriners think the .exhibit .of the brown man is a great turn out, and would like to .take away a sample of him or his missus, or the piccaninny with the neat §uit and dirty nose. Musical Christchurch will have to turn up better to those concert;; where so many classic gGms a.re doled out. at pit rates. The first chamber concert this week was a bit of a frost |m the matter of attendance. A great deal of money is being expended m the way of music, and/it will lie a pity 'if the performances arc scantily, at-

tended. But an improvement may be expected later on. They, are still complaining of

CHIEF COMMISSIONER MUNRO being rude to all and sundry. This chap seems to have a nasty way with him. A man-o'-warsman writes to the papers pointing out that there are man-traps about the building, and that a lady with whom he was visitj inp; the place on Saturday met with [an accident. He was told that this chap Munro was the best man to complain to, but Munro treated him like a damned dog,, and he got not the slightest satisfaction. However, Munro 's missus was present, and she left the office and had the girl attended to. It is little acts of this sort; that make Munro so popular with all classes. Another thinr . the lady assistants at the stalls are compelled to PAY FOR USING THR LAVATORY. A petition is m circulation, and has been signed by 172 . girl assistants, asking Munro to abolish such, an inhuman, silly, senseless, arbitrary provision. The idea of making girls employed within the building pay for the. use of conveniences is tyrannical, to say the laast of it. It is to be hoped that this matter will be remedied at once without any damned humming and hawing. There are tactics being employed m the management of the exhibition that are making it the laughing-stock of Christchurch. And the latest is that no bicycles are to 'be allowed m the grounds.