JOTTINGS

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12484, 21 April 1906, Page 7

JOTTINGS

* A report has been received from Mr Pearson, head gardener for the Tourist Department at llotorua, who recommends that fifty bales of virgin cork, and ono hundred loads of rock, he procured for the purpose of making up the fernery. His report contains several other very valuable suggestions, which it has been decided to agree to and act upon. Mr J. C. Williamson advises the Executive Commissioners that ho has arranged to reduce the royalties for t'lio permission to perform the operas of tho ''Mikado" and tho "Gondoliers" to fifteen guinea-*. Adv.cc has been received from Toronto that thirty-three members of the Canadian Manufacturers' Association havo made application for space at tho Exhibition throu_,h the local honorary Commissioner. Mr James E. Hardy, the American Blondim, describing himself as the "undisputed champion high wire artist of the world," has addressed the Executive Commissioners of the Exhibition with the object of making his appearance in the Exhibition grounds. Tho block plan of the main Exhibition buildings has now been designed, and the total extent of frontages provided exceeds four miles. This is exclusive of tho frontages provided by tho machinery hall and of the gallery of the main buildings. The machinery hall measures 300 feet square, and the gallery referred to measures I.GOO feet in length. Tho public will, therefore, have some idea of the extent of ground and tho time it will take to visit and ini-jpect the exhibits. Air Frederick Shipman, writing from Chicago recently, advises the Commissioners that his "Palace of Mirth" will lie the meet complete thing of its kind ever presented to the world, not even excepting these of the St. Louis Exposition or of the Chicago World's Fair, which it is needless .o attempt to de- ' scribe. He has arranged for the display of the proclamation relative to the Exhibition in tho principal hotels and theatres of Chicago, New York, Toronto, and other big cities in America, and further states that that production is very much admired indeed. Mr Shipmau proposes to lake dates at the Exhibition Concert Hall for a company which ho is bringing to Now Zealand, one of tho "stars ot which will bo Mario Nnrelle, tho wellknown Queen of Irish Song.^ Messrs Spreckels Bros., of San Francisco, advieo tho Exhibition Commissioners that, in conjunction with the American railroads terminating at San Francisco, they have arranged to carry back at one-half the regular rates of freight any exhibits which may be returned, provided those exhibits have paid the full rates outward. This concession refers to the railroad companies . only, and further than this-, Messrs Spreckels will only charge half rates of I freight each way on all exhibits from San Francisco to Auckland, whether returned or not. This is the most liberal arrangement that lias yet been mado in connection .with the oversea transportation of exhibits. Mr H. J. Matthews, Chief Forester, advises the Chairman of the Horticultural and Landscape Gardening Committee that he is well forward with the work of procuring ferns, and that he expects to bring the first of these to Christchurch early next month.