WONDERLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 33, 2 November 1907, Page 8

WONDERLAND.

A MECCA FOR MERRY-MAKERS. OPENED BY LADY WARD. Bo jocund while you may, for you "will be dead some considerable time. This is the gospel of Wonderland, which opened its palace \>f pleasures yesterday. It aims to make Miramar tlio Mecca of merry-makers, to teach the young and old idea to laugh and shoot tho chute, and forget the blackbrowed worries of tho work-a-day world in the thrill of the toboggan or the hilarities of the helter-skelter. In a word, Wonderland is to bo one of the playgrounds of Wellington, and, judging from tho experience of yesterday, it should admirably fulfil its merry mission. / , It was not exactly tho kind of weather that would have,'been turned on by the management, ■ had they been able to wave their magic 'wand over $10 unrulydlements. Iho free wind,'. , —to uW a phrase beloved of Sir Robert Stout—was altogether too frequent and free, and it. took unpardonable liberties, with feminine curls and embroideries. Also, it lashed the lake'into a miniature Bay of Biscay, l and]made a voyage-down the chute quito a ' reckless adventure. One seemed to-be taking his life as-well as his hat in his hand when ho stepped aboard,.but. fortune favoured the . brave, and nobody found a,watery grave. By and by, too, the sun'came out of his sulksj and-deigned-to join in the fun.' So it was quite a gay scene that the grounds presented when the'invited guests filed out to- see .tho sights after' tea and the opening ceremony, in the refreshment room. It was a bright as well as a'large crowd, for it was mostly 'feminine, and gaily dressed. And when the band struck up and joined joyously in the music of youthful laughter one conjured up visions'of the glad-eyed, golden days, in Christchurch, and painted fancy pictures of 'Wellington's Wonderland in tho future. Yet, it was a sceno that had its serious and suggestive side withal, as the- Mayor instanced m his apt appreciation- of Captain. Crawford, that sturdy, 'far-sighted pioneer, who ruado : -the first tunnel'in7New Zealand, drained' what was then a swamp, and paved the way, for the Miramar of. to-day. That was sixty years ago. Time and man work many transformations..' . '"•" ..' V, . THE MAYOR'S SPEECH. ,•'■• Sir "Joseph AVard'had'intended, to declare Wonderland open, but he was prevented by stress of -work. However, Lady Ward stepped into the breach, and she made a charming-substitute. Sho was accompanied by Miss Ward and Miss Rubi Seddon,' and amongst the many guests wero the Hon. T. AV. Hislop (Mayor of Wellington)," and Mr. C. J. Crawford (Mayor of Miramar).;'" ■ The guests having'assembled.'in the''pretty and daintily decorated tea-room, thb'manager of Wonderland, Mr. P. Bigirood, apologised for the absence of Mr. -Chase-Moms, the managing director of the company, who was kept away by illness.' He explained that!the machinery was not yet in. full working order, but everything would be ready for tho 'public opening on Saturday. In the meantime, arrangements had been made that would enable those present to sample-the various ■ attractions provided. . . Mr. Hislop, in the-absence, of Sir Joseph Ward, made a few remarks by way of preface. It would have been fitting, he said, or the Premier, in the name of the .Dominion, to be present to mark the remarkableprogress of that- part of the.country. Howover, Sir Joseph could not possibly attend. Coming down on the tramway that afternoon, one could not help • thinking of the days'when that stout-hearted pioneer settler, Capt. Crawford—father of the present Mayor of Miramar—constructed the first tunnel that was made iii' New Zealand,' "and showed his foresight by draining all of what was then a swamp, and taking the water into Evans that he did not live tOj see ( the, full -effecjt,' of ,the great work he undertook; biiti'ji'e vfas 1 "represented , by his son, who, with the 'help of the Council and tliesettlers, .was carrying'■ the work of colonisation. They must all be astonished at the energy -which : had. been .displayed by Mr. Chase-Morris arid his fellow directors, and the confidence they had shown in the development'of that'part of the Dominion. They must also compliment the company on their determination, and tlie skill and taste shown in the construction of the grounds and the general'management'of , the concern. He]hoped the citizens of , ' Wellington would tako full advantage of the opportunities afforded them, for getting away for a spell from \the cares and • worries of business and domestic work. He would now ask Lady AVard to declare the buildings open. She had kindly consented do so for her husband, and they must appreciate her interest in the progress of Wellington and Miramar. DECLARED OPEN. "I have very great pleasure in'.declaring Wonderland to be.open," said Lady Ward with smiling brevity. • ■-' Miss; Eileen Chase-Morris then presented Lady Ward with a handsome bouquet.. Mr. Crawford said that, as Mayor, of Miramar, he offered sincerest thanks toLady Ward for her kindness in attending 'that day, and ho hoped they would frequently see her at Wonderland. They all regretted the \ absence of Mr. Chase-Morris, '■ for he had shown indomitable pluck, energy,- and skiH in helping-to develop .that] "district; All hoped that'he would be speedily good health, and that he would long ; remain amongst them to continue his splendid work. A man of such qualities deserved all honour that could be paid to him.' - . Mr. Hislop read a letter than had been written by Mr ..Chase-Morris'. In it the writer said that if he had been able to get there on crutches he would have done so. He added that no effort or expense would be spared by the directors of tlie company to make Wonderland a source of enjoyment, and he hoped Wellington people would take advantage of tho opportunities offered.

IN THE GROUNDS..;.'., , The formalities having thus been duly observed, the guests-devoted themselves cheerfully to tea and'cakes—served on dainty wedgewood ware-specially imported — and then wandered iuto tho grounds : to indulge in the variety of thrills provided. The various attractions have already been described in The Dominion, and nothing further need he said on that hoadi A word of praise is, duo to tho contractor, Mr. J. W. 11. Walker, however. Ho designed tho Wonderland at Bondi, and the Exhibition, and the experience thus gained has been turned to admirable account at Miramar. Mr. W. A. Evans, who designed the Fernery, also merits special mention. It is a veritable little Fairyland, irbower of beauty, cool and green and. soothing on a summer's day. Exotic ferns 'from every climate under the sun—lndia, China, Japan, North and South America, and Australasia—have been introduced into.its. shady retreats, and the effect" is one to look and linger on lovingly. . -. ' ' '. THE ELECTRICAL PLANT. : An indispensable feature of Wonderland rathe electrical plant, and a few details may be given. There are' two Westinghouso three-cylinder, horizontal type gas-engines,. each of 125 brake-horsc-power when used with town gas direct, coupled to two generators. Tho main switchboard, which was made by the contractors in their own workshops, consists of five polished marble panels, each 6ft. high by 2ft. 4{in. wide, altogether lift. lOJiii. wide. Two panels ' control the generators, one controls the motors, cue controls tho arc lamps, and ono the incandescent lamps. There arc in all five motors. Two 20-liorse-power motors control the chute, ono 15-b.-p. motor controls the toboggan, one 9-h.-p. motor controls tho Katzenjammcr Castle, and one 9-h.-p. motor controls the ptunp. There are seventeen Excello Flame arc lamps, eachi 'taking twelve amperes, and eacli giving an illumination equivalent to 4500 candles. In and about the grounds are about 3000\incandescont lamps. Tho whole of tho above plant was supplied by Messrs. Turnlnill and Jones, Ltd., of Blair Strcnt, Wellington, ■ tho contractors for the supply and erection thereof. . . '.-•'.'