AUCKLAND WINTER EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 516, 25 May 1909, Page 10

AUCKLAND WINTER EXHIBITION.

OPENED YESTERDAY. EIGHT HUNDRED ENTRIES. , • (BT TELEQBAPH—SrECIiL COUKESPONDENT.) • ■-,■'•:■ Auckland, May 24. The Auckland' Winter Exhibition, said by southern visitors and others to be ono of tho largest yet held in the Dominion, was opened by tho Governor (Lord Plunket) this afternoon; Taken throughout it is a remarkably fine display, and a feature is,.the'capital arrangements of the interior of the shods, which, aro elaborately decorated.. The Exhibition covers upwards of "an acre of tho forro-concrete railway wharf, and is contained in two big steel sheds. Another haltacre could have been filled had a third shed been available in time. As it was, spaco applications had to be rigorously curtailed. The first shed consists of a spacious Machinery, Local Industries, and Manufactures Court, tho two main avenues being lined by stands displaying all the latest improvements in dairying and other agricultural machinery. Fine samples of tho best manufactures of the Auckland province are shown in the second shed, and the casual visitor gets a rathor bewildering impression of a blaze of bunting, greenery, .etc., which, at night time, is illuminated by coloured electric globes. Down tho centre, long'tables groan beneath the weight of a big show of butter and cheese, and a great decorated arch of butter boxes spans the centre court. A very large court! has been taken by the Agricultural Department, which has staged by far the biggest display of wines, grasses, seeds, insects; -'specimens of pests, fruit, and vegetables ever vet got together in New Zealand. The district .courts., are a model exhibition in themselves, speaking eloquently as to what the country of Auckland province is capable,of producing. The ; horticultural, root and grain, home industries, and other eections all have large - entries also. The total entries ■ are nearly 800, and the very keenest interest is displayed in the dairying division.