NEW ZEALAND PAVILION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 66, 19 March 1925, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND PAVILION.

NEW PLANS AT WIMBIEY. SCENIC ATTRACTIONS STRESSED. (From Our Special Correspondent.) J LONDON, March 8. Those, responsible for the 1025 British Empire Exhibition are busy with their plans and Mr. A. F. Roberts, New Zealand Commissioner to the Exhibition, was good enough to sketch for us the plans under way for a display which shall convey to the public a vivid idea ol New Zealand's natural attractions and economic resources. To this end a most important feature will be a large 50ft by 25ft panorama and working model of the thermal regions, a tourist attraction shown last year oniy on the film. Such realistic scenes proved last year to be one of the distinct successes oi the Exhibition, and the representation of Rotorua at Wembley bids fair to be the attraction in the New Zealand Pavilion. To 7uu.kp room for it, the refrigerated iisJi exhibit will have to bo removed. ' The other refrigeration cases will remain for they—or rather thoir contents —proved to be notable as to the quality of the gooHa shown it perhaps not so impressive in attractiveness —altkoug! there are those wlw thought the New Zealand butter display artistically equai to that of Canada. But the reclame of the Prince of Wales, was—it goes without saying—a tremendous draw, artistry aside. The contents of these however, are pot yet displayed, the spaco only is allotted. On the adjoining wall, formerly devoted to truit, and other products, more panoramic displays will be placed —Miiiord Sound, Southern Alps, Waitomo Caves and the Wanganui Kiver. The pleasant main entrance hall will retain its line pictures by the colour and atmosphere of which convey as nothing else could, so convincingly, what the Dominion has of beauty and grandeur or scenery. The central position will be occupied by a neleetric fountain and tree ferns will be used to complete the mise-en-scene. The proportions of this hall are excellent and. the charming apse at the end, devoted last year to the exhibit of monster specimens of New Zealand timber will this year be occupied by a typical New Zealand bush scene with running water —a hint that drought is not a failing of the New Zealand climatic conditions. Then; are displayed also scenic dioramas of the four chief cities— perhaps one of the most interesting features, for prospective settlers are always keen to know what the big town centres of their future country will look like. The maps and diagrams of New Zealand resources proved an attraction last year, and this display enlarged and I bettered will occupy the door end of the large hall. It was found that large numbers of visitors were keen on finding out where friends in New Zealand were located- This display, too, will indicate exactly where New Zealand stands in the Empire. Thus it will have a map of the world showing New Zealand's position, a map of the Pacific showing its regional divisions and yie important position New Zealand holds vis a vis that all important ocean, and. of course, good maps of the Dominion itself. The display of the industries presents the greatest difficulty, for, with the best will in the world, it is hard to make some of this interesting. Last year the ; wool trophy received universal approva , . as both dignified and impressive. It will : remain the central motive, but the un-icr- ! growth of not very interesting secondary industry exhibits will be cleared away : and instead distinct bays will be devoted to one type of product. One will be devoted to the sporting attractions with ,an impressive display over of stags' heads, on either side sporting lish. The next will contain manufactured foodstuffs, the third minerals and kauri, the display of the latter enriched this year by the loan of Sir Arthur Myers' collection Near by there will be a special -kiosk for the sale of apples. Still another bay will be devoted to the timber exhibit, and near by the forest product of furs will be shown with tlie goods made from them. On the east side there will be three bays—one for agricultural and other machinery, another to furniture, and the ' third to grains and seedsWe have mentioned the apple kiosk. It will be partnered by others devoted to sale of New Zealand produce, butter. ' honey, tinned foods, greenstone and posr- . cards—sure to be a popular feature especially if Mr. Winston Churchill seizes his opportunity for a reduction of postage. These kiosks will also be utilised for the display of manufactured woollen soods which were so popular larst year. For the rest, the wall next the Cinema will be devoted to leather goods and flax. The cinema, of course, will he retained, and will show new and varied films. One of the most interesting proposals for the coming season is that whereby the reception room, the fine timber of which and furniture were so universally admired, can be converted into a New Zealand Club, the present general office i being used in that event as a service ■ room for light refreshments. i So far as the New Zealand restaurant ■ is concerned, the committee is now nego- • tiating with a caterer to run this on their behalf, and on the lines required iby the New Zealand organisers. The > problem of running this restaurant is , one that has been very carefully thought over, but it has been found impracticable for New Zea'and to run it, owing to the extreme difficulty of supply and the cost of equipment, but there is every prospect that, with a satisfactory caterer, the restaurant will be conducted on entirely satisfactory lines.