THE LATE EXHIBITION.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12866, 26 July 1907, Page 5

THE LATE EXHIBITION.

t THE MAORI STATUARY. The auctioneer tried to look hopeful when hf> climl>ed into the midst oF the group of Maori 6'tatuiary at the Exhibition yesterday, and announced that he would 5-ell it if there were, any bids. The spectators were pattiug and tapping the hollow platter figures, and making remarks which were not couched in tho choicest terms of art oritioism. All the figures had sustained more or less damage from the two removals that they had suffered since they stood in the* main corridor of the Exhibition. They were chipped in many places, and broken anne wc/o I'aih Ton able among them. Tho fluto player's hands ami instrument lay in his lap, on© confused -wreck. They ■were offered first in one lot, but there were no bids. Then a bystander intimated that he would bid fox one of tho figures, if it was put up separately. Tho auctioneer was willing, and! in another minute ho had knocked down the dusky maiden with the. poi ball to a gentleman from South Canterbury for £1. Such was tho auction of tho Maori statuary that cost tho Government £000. The buyer sa.id he thought his purchase would look well on the top of a building, or in his gaTden. The crowd trooped out of doore to watoh the auctioneer aek vainly for a bid for the stone fountain in front of tho main entrance. Most of tho goods offered at yesterday's sale so!d at good prices. * Four paire of hnlf-gla«s doors, with the woH "Haeremai" in tho glass fetched £26 each. The high pressure, pump used in connection with the Exhibition water supply was knocked down at £58 10s. Its coet to the Exhibition was £80. The some auctioneers (Messrs MoKen zio and Willis) nl?,o sold the sanitary fittings from the two principal Exhibition lavatories. Two sets of enamel fittings. with cistern and pipes, were knocked down to Mr Vigor Brown, who -was understood to be represent ing the Napier City Council. The price was £-0 per set. which is within £.i of tho cost to import the goods new from England. .Mr If. B. Sorensen. Chairman of the Sanitary Committee of tho Chnstehurch City Council, and Mr H. R. Smith. Town Cl*rk. attended the salp. but did not make any purchases. Two other sets of the latrines were passed in. and Cr. Sorensen, on behalf of the Council, has made the Exhibition authorities an offer for these. The Railway Department made a number of purcln&es. All the lavatory fittkigs were sold. *