PANAMA EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 187, 7 August 1913, Page 5

PANAMA EXHIBITION.

BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE. ("Sydney San" Special Service.) LONDON, August G. In the House of Commons yesterday, Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Secretary"), in reply to Sir A. Williamson (Liberal M.l\ for Elgin and Nairn), said the Government had done nothing to (liscourago the participation of the selfgoverning Dominions in tho Exposition, nor would it discourage private British exhibitors. •Sir Edward Grey further stated that the refusal to participate had been decided upon apart altogether from the Panama Canal tolls question. Though tho British Government may, hold aluof from "The Panama-Pacific International Exposition," to bn held in San Francisco in 1915, and somo of the Continental Governments may also stand off, that will not deter the Californians from going on with the preparations, which have already been long in the making, or deflect them from their determination to make the exhibition "the biggest ever." Tho grounds set apart total up (,2a acres on the south side of the amphitheatre which the harbour forms, and they have a watcr-frontagu as befits the celebration of a huge and epochal maritime event. The territory extends for two miles along the harbour, at a point which most of the sea-going traffic, passes. Thus, appropriately to tho great occasion cpmmcmoratcd, this will be an amphibious function, so to speak, proceeding on land and water. All along the harbour edge n Great Wall, fJOft high, will ha built, and continuing round this will form tin! enclosure of eight exhibition palaces. Tho greater courts will be, tho Court of tho Sun ami Stars, flanked by tho Court of Abundance and tho Court of the Four Seasons. Those two latter are to represent the East Aid the West, and so arc symbolical of flic junction effected by the canal. Around these will be grouped "the departments of varied industries—mines, manufactures, transportation, liberal arts, education, and agriculture"; while outside tho walls will be iivo other "palaces," tho largest of which, appropriately to modern development, Is to bo '•Automobile Hall.". Where the main land entrances to tho exposition are they have planned "tho garduns," half a mile long and a quarter of a. mllo wide, a big patch to bo planted with art, skill, and financial rcgardlcsßncss, and protected by a hedge sixty feet high. This is what is being <lono in advance for tho flower show; sixty thousand plants and shrubs are growing lit six greenhouses, each ISO feet long. Ten acres of prepared ground nro used for planting out, where millions of cuttings and seedlings are being coaxed into growth. The chief of the landscape department reports 20,000 veronica of various kinds maturing in tho open; and tho flower-scheme is being so arranged as to provide a continuous succession of bloom. Tho land of flowers and rich colouring will be always blossoming and bright while the Exposition lasts, and it is modestly proclaimed that in this respect there will bo such n show "as could not be obtained by any other open-air garden outside California,"