THE EXHIBITION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXVII, Issue 7084, 24 January 1907, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

WELL EEP UP ATTENDANCES

(Special—By Telegraph)

Chbistchurch, Jan. 23 Chriptchurch has bean affioted all day with a raging nor' wester, from which tho Exhibition afforded many people a welcome retreat. Hitherto visitors hive had very little to complain of on the score of these winds, as there has hardly been a severe noi' weeter since the Kxhibit:on opened. To-day performances by (he Besi es Band, con crt by orchestra, and Muori dances in the pa, were all largely patronised. A huge crowd ia making for the Exhibition this evening by all approaches?, in view of the Besses' last programme of the present season, and a double display of Pain's London fireworks.

Much interest ie still taken by hundreds of visitors in the sweated industries exhibit. The Hon A. K'rkpatrick, Chief Secretary for South Australia, who is at present in Chribtcburcb, has recorded his opinion in the visitors' book that the exhibits should be shown all o"er Australia. Mr Kirkpatrifk intends on r- turning home to recommend his Government to apply for a loan of the sweated industries exhibits to chow the public of South Australia. An interesting ni-w feature in the Exhibition is on elab' rate display of oanoes and other articles from ih« Cook and Nuie Islands arranged opposite the Fijian court. There are half a dtz.-m quaint canoes, most of them wi. h outriggers attached, a di urn used to proclaim peace foe over one hundred years ( exhibi(ed by Colonel Gurlgton), an Ariki'a throne, belonging to a family of Aitutaki, who are eaid to be practically one with the Ngatipora tribe of the North Island Maoris; sworde, sp9ars, eel nets, ceremonial t>x<?s», a huge native bath, native tapestry, and other articles.

A large oaee containing specimens of natural phosphates occurring in New Zealand lands has been added to the agricultural court, and the collection is fairly representative of the phosphates found in the colony duriug recent years. Prom a practically educative standpoint the agricultural court is one of the most valuable in the Exhibition. There are exhibits showing the progress of blights and diseases in various fruit-", numerous bottled examples of pest and their natural enemies, not to mention other features which must prove of the greatest interest and profit to farmers.

The issue of half-penny commemorative postal stamps in connection with the Exhibition is now exhausted. The total number was 300,000, and as the Post Office is under agreement to limit the issue to that number there will be no further issue of these half-penny stamp?. The 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.

Great preparations are being made for the New Zealand chsmpionEhip athletic meeting to be held on Thursday and Saturday. International toboggan races will be contested at Wonderland on Thursday night and the international competitors will all be genuine citizens of the State? they represent. The sensational fire rescue aot previously given, will be repeated, very complete piecautions having been taken for the safety of the principal actors.

Wellington, Jan 23 It 13 the intention of the Government viticulturist to arrange for a display of N TeW Zealand grapes at the Exhibition. The exhibit will be made up of selected grapes from the Government experimental farms in tbe Waikatoand Hawfaes Bay, and also from vineyards of well-known growers.