THE JOUBERT-TWOPENY EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12378, 18 December 1905, Page 8

THE JOUBERT-TWOPENY EXHIBITION.

The Joubert-Twopeny Exhibition was opened in Chrietchurch on April 10th, 1835. The venture was a private one, ami Messrs Joubert and Twopeny had an uphill fight in disarming opposition to the first International Exhibition ever held in ,New Zealand. It almost appeared at one time as if the narrowminded prejudice and local solfisimeas were going to drive the promoters out of the city. But, fortunately, wiser counsels ultimately prevailed, and Christchurch was saved from the disgrace which nearly overtook it. Tho opening ceremony was a gay affair indeed. That tho procession included all sections of the community will be shown by a detailed list of the various societies and bodies which took part. They were:—Plasterers, bricklayers, Hibernian Band, members of the Hibernian Society, butchers, carpenters, Ashbuiton Band. Druids, tailors, Sons of Temperance, Lyttelton Band, Oddfellows, Burnham Band, Orangemen, Protestant Alliance, Labouro c' Union, etonoiraso 6, carriers, saddlers, St. Andrew's Band, ironworkers, Good Templars, Maoris, Foresters' Band, Foresters, Kire Brigade men, brickmakers, Timaru Band, ballast men, leather workers, navvies, and milkmen in that order. Tho opening ceremony w b performed by his Excellency the Governor, Sir Arthur Gordon. The north-wcetorn half of the building, situated in the South Park, was dovoted to the foreign and over-sea exhibits, while tho north-western half was allotted to New Zealand. The display in tho foreign courts was exceedingly good, particularly the Britieh, where specimens of all the leading industries were to bo found. The French court was also exceedingly pretty. Tho two special points of in the Jfow Zealand exhibits were the bays called the ladies' court and that of the school children. In addition there was a good show of New Zealand products and industries, though not 6O largo as one would have expected to see on an occaeion of the kind. The exhibition closed on July 15th, after a successful run. The numter of visitors was 226,300, an average of 16,164 per week, which, considering the season of the year, was looked upon as very satisfactory.