EMPIRE IN MINIATURE.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 94, 21 April 1924, Page 5

EMPIRE IN MINIATURE.

WEMBLETS^B!G~SHOW. ENCHANTING VISTAS. NEW ZEALAND'S PAVILION. (By Cable.-rrcss Associatiou.-Copj-right.) _ (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, April 20. The Empire Exhibition is almost bewildering in its maspiitude. and the variety of contcnte. Hi • n,<re enumeration of the main feature* ;„ the separate pavilions would occupy many columns, out a few are necessary to indicate the size of the undertaking. In the first Place the Exhibition buildings and grounds cover 216 acres, its main avfe- 1 mies and roads stretch ior fifteen miles, Hence the necessity for a non-stop railway around the Exhibition working on toe same principle as the continuous escalators. There is also provision for rubber tyred electric trolleys to take visitors around. The playground is a sort of large scale Luna Park on Coney Island, with its scenic railway, switchbacks, and other thrills. These are confined to a separate fifty-acre paddock. A most striking view presents itself from the ramparts of the Stadium walls, the exterior of which at present contains only a huge ugly advertisement, suggesting that the Empire was built on somebody's ale or somebody else's cocoa, but these disfigurements of the wonderful Stadium ■. structure have aroused so much Press j criticism that they are likely to be re- ' moved. JEWEL OF THE EXHIBITION. Within the grounds one of the loveliest prospects is along a narrow treelined lake, traversed by quaint little bridges, reminiscent of the familiar willow pattern china. A most beautiful J vista is provided from the, bridges by the white Indian pavilion of magnificent 17th century Mogul architecture, the court enclosing fountains embodying features of the Taj Mahal at Agra and the Jama Masjid at Delhi. But externally the jewel of the whole Exhibition is the Burma pavilion, covered like a pagoda with tier upon tier of famous Burmese carved teak, with steeples topped by gilded umbrellas and with temple bells tinkling in the lightest breeze. Opposite this is the huge, ugly, but true-to-life reproduction of a terra cotta mud walled city of West Africa. Of the great Dominions' pnvi lions, Australia is the largest. Canada has as large a section, but has three buildings on it. Within the main entrance of the Australian buildings a huge arched timber trophy strikes the eye, built around a large hole in the floor, in which a great ! relief map of Australia has been-fixed, whereon an arrangement of coloured electric lights throws upon the map the most striking facts about Australia. The wings of the building are devoted to mining, manufactures, agriculture and primary industries. The main method adapted to depict life in Australia is a series of panoramas, each forty feed wide, with foregrounds made up of real fruit trees, wheat, etc., etc., backed by scenic painted backgrounds. In a large glass windowed refrigerator visitors will see samples of fresh meats, butter, cheese, fresh fruits, and other products. DONE MAGNIFICENTLY. New Zealand has also done magnificently. Her pavilion externally is particularly handsome, owing to the large sculptured panels. A picturesque' feature is a large Maori wharepuni (or meeting house), full of wonderful carving, which is closely associated with Maori history and traditions. New Zealand's primary and secondary industries arc splendidly represented within the main "hall. The* plaster imitation of Maori wood carving around all the internal doors are remarkably realistic. A Maori scheme of decoration is also effectively used in the restaurant. Unfortunately New Zealand's exhibits cannot be completed by the opening day. Sir James Allen states that this is entirely the fault of the Exhibition Board in not supplying -power, in the time promised. An internal feature of the Canadian pavilion which arouses the greatest interest is a scheme of coloured mural decorations and other designs, all worked in coloured seeds. South Africa is makine a feature of ostrich farming, diamond mining, and fruit growing.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.)