NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 72, 24 March 1906, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL.

EXHIBITION.

THE HOUSING OF VISITOBS.

(By Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day.

The chairman of the Housing SubCommittee of the Exhibition Transport Committee believes that Christdiurch will be able to deal adequately with its exhibition visittrrs. He states that applications oy private people who are willing to take boarders are being received by the secretary, and are coming in freely. It is too soon, however, to obtain all the information required. The puhlic seem to be hardly alive to the position, and it i 3 expected that hundreds of applications will be received as the time for opening the exhibition draws nearer. Some of the hotels are prepared to supply extra accommodation. One that he knows of will erect extra sleeping accommodation for 50 or 60 persons. It is likely that a syndicate will erect a building specially to accommodate visitors, and will be able to take about 200. He estimates that the skating rink could afford accommodation for 750, and there are many large boardinghouses that -will have room to spare. He expresses a strong opinion that it would be a great mistake for the Tourist Department to take over the arrangements for accommodating visitors. The Exhibition Committee should be in charge, he says, but he thinks that an officer should be appointed by the committee to give up the whole of his time to attending to visitors and seeing that they receive the accommodation they desire. Mr Donne, superintendent of the Tourist Department, states that he ha_3-received no communication in regard to bis Department taking the arrangements out of the committee's hands. The committee, he says, is the proper body to deal with the arrangements. His Department will have its hands full with its own work, especially as there will probably be large numbers of visitors to the health resorts and places of interest on the Departments itinerary. He says that the St. Louis scheme sketched by him in one of his reports worked very well, and he thinks that something of the same kind should be adopted in Christchurch.

(By Telegrapti.—Freas Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

The official weekly review of progress in connection with the exhibition states that it is proposed to exhibit a solid block representing the total quantity of gold obtained in the Buller district. Great enthusiasm prevails on the West Coast with regard to the Exhibition. One thousand feet of space have been applied for the Marlborough exhibits, and a request made that leave be granted to increase the space, if necessary, in a reasonable time. Sub-com-mittees have been appointed to deal with the canvass for wool, grain, flax, timber, and other products, and also to deal with finance. Applications for space continue to come •in very freely.