THE CORONATION EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1135, 24 May 1911, Page 8

THE CORONATION EXHIBITION.

The Coronation New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, organised'and managed by the Wellington Provincial Industrial Exhibition Cornraittee.'will be opened at 3 o'clock sharp this afternoon with the pomp and circumstance befitting the importance of the occasion. As in every other exhibition, -there-has-been-a-highly strenuous time during the past two or three weeks for all coucerned, and during the past few days the Harbour Board's big buildings on Waterloo Quay have presented a. sight of labour on the rush that has been ex-

hilarating to a degree. Yesterday the place was literally choked with workmen, feverishly endeavouring to catch up to the work that should be finished by noon today. To the spectator who merely wished to see what kind of a show it was the

scene was an eye-opener, and it goes without saying that a large percentage of the people wh.o will visit the Exhibition during the next two months will be agreeably surprised at the dimensions of "the "shdw" and the comprehensive character of the exhibits. ITS ORIGIN. Tho power behind this interesting enterprise is the' Wellington Industrial Association, and the , man most obviously belling the gun, as it were, is Mr. T. Ballinger. A Dominion r'fporter realised that the other day when he endeavoured to corner that gentleman for . a few. minutes. "Can't spare a minute," he said, trying to escape. When will you have a minute? asked the 'reporter.' "Don't ask me," said Mr. Ballinger! "I've hardly got time to eat." However, he paused for a moment in his strenuous endeavours'to answer questions which Were hurled at him from all sides—"What about this?" "What about that?" "What about the other thing?"—and rapidly reviewed the history of the Exhibition movement. The Industrial Association had tested the possibilities of exhibitions before, and had no reason to regret its enterprise, for it reaped a surplus nut of which'was built the present addition to tho Wellington Technical School Building in Victoria Street. Then it tried (he "Industries Week" venture, which fell rather flat. Last year another exhibition was mooted, but the Arbitration Act, with its paiii9 and penalties for exceeding the statutory hours of employment, blocked tho way. Could tho stall-keepers, shop assistants, 'within the meaning of the Act, be employed after the ordinary hours Df closing? The Minister for Labour (the Hon. .T. A. Millar) said that they could not. Not even for an. exhibition? No, not even for an exhibition would he close his eyes to a breach of the Statute, although, noted Mr. Ballinger, the Auckland people went ahead with their exhibition, took all the risks, and

OPENS TO-DAY. BRIGHT AND VARIED PROGRAMME. SOME OF THE EXHIBITS. GREAT INDUSTRIAL DISPLAY.

were harmed not. However, things being as they were, the exhibition could not be held last year—a special Exhibition Act must be passed first, whereby power might be given for the Governor, by Order-in-Council, to suspend the Early Closing Act on special occasions. .The Act was passed, and yesterday the Order-in-Council, suspending the awards, was gazetted. "After all," said Mr. Ballinger, "we are rather pleased that the idea was hung up last year, for by waiting another 12 months we have been able to get the use of these splendid harbour buildings for our Exhibition. The Harbour Board

: wondered what' on earth we wanted- all .this.space for. We'd never fill it, they said. Well," he concluded, "look for yourself. Full. We've had to cut down the concert hall to get everything in."' A GENERAL SURVEY. The feature of an industrial exhibition should bo the industries of the country, and these, it is pretty safe io say will be fairly adequately' represented. The Agricultural Department has an exhibit in the gallery of "U" Store (southern end) which will command the attention of all those interested in the primary products on which mankind subsists. The Railway Department will also be represented by an exhibit in the same locality, that mil in no wise trench upon the North v. South controversy. In. the same gallery will be found a miscellaneous exhibit herded under the Leading of "Home Industries," which have been neatly arranged by a committee of energetic ladies. The Technical School will display in half a dozen bays striking ' evidence of the good work in arts and crafts which is taught at the school, and/alongside, the primary schools are well represented in specimens of caligraphy, mapdrawing, plasticene work, cardboard modelling, and a hundred other interesting 'trifles,, showing ingenuity and . resource. Down below there are really splendid exhibits of New Zealand fruits, something very like a coal-mine, .a green expanse of billiard tables, an array of vari-coloured glassware, stocks of bottled cheer, the Wellington Gas Company's splendid laboratory, a clever show of lead-pipes, a novel exhibition of gas meters, sewing machines, twine (made from New Zealand flax), candles and soap (made at Kaiwarra), and numerous other exhibits well worthy of a more detailed description.

In the aniuxe, a plumbing firm makes a gay show, and a steam laundry is also on view. Bight ahead is the great "J" store, packed with goods to eat and to wear. Hero the big woollen companies make magnificent displays of their' fine manufactures.' Canned fruits from Frimley, stacked in enticing rows above one another, add a touch of colour to the scene, and the Electrical Department's pink and'white salon must attract by tho sheer glitter of the show.

At the northern end. of this store is tho Coronation Theatre, where the English Pierrots are to make light of things nightly. A decorative touch is being given to the stage by some beautiful relief work (round the proscenium) from tho Carrara Company's studios. The

gallery hero is devoted to art—an art gallery and a photographic studio. This will be a quift corner for the contemplation of (lie beautiful, well away from Iho clatter of the commercial sections. A catalogue is being published by tho Ails Commitlee, which will tot forth the name and painter of each picture. Of this exhibit more will be said later.

Altogether the Exhibition is a city in tabloid form, that must arouse a great deal of interest in the public mind, and will be in>tructivc and educative to many, particularly the younger people, who have grown into, years of reason since an exhibition has been held in Uie Empire City. ■THE OPENING CEREMONY, The following is this afternoon's programme:— Overture—Clark's Orchestra. Address—Mr. Thomas Ballinger, chairman of the Exhibition Commissioners and President, of the Wellington Provincial Industrial Association. Address—His Worship the Mavor (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.). Part-song—"Thou Camest Here to the Land" (words from the "Oedipus" of Sophocles), Wellington Liedertafel. Opening address—The Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon.. J. Carroll). . Part-song—"Comrades in Arms," Wellington Liedertafel. Address—Mr. R. Fletcher, chairman Wellington Harbour Board. Part-song—"The Happiest Land," Wellington Liedertafel. Address-Mr. H. C. Tewsley, chairman of the AVellington Chamber of Commerce. Chorus—"Glory and Laud to the Men of Old" (from "Faust"), Wellington Liedertafel. "God Save the King." Those who have received invitations are requested to present them at the main entrance (next to the Customhouse).

Others who desire to see; tho exhibition and bo present at the opening ceremony will be charged one shilling. ■ Tho following are the. teams for. the first official game of bowls to be played on the Stadium rink at the conclusion of the opening ceremony this afternoon:— Acting-Premier's' rink—Dall,.' .Miller. Moult, Carroll (skip). Chairman of Commissioner's rink—Leslie,.Hildreth, V. Laurenson, Ballinger (skip). ■ SKATING IN THE STADIUM. The Sports Committee have decided to allow skating to take place, on the floor of the Stadium during, certain-hours,, to bo hereafter announced.. This floor is of ■ Neuchatel asphalt, and is 240 ft. in length, so that skaters who like' length for their money will have a splendid area to show their skill on the rollers. The Tramways Band is to play in the Exhibition this afternoon, and the Wellington Gas Company have arranged a programme of orchestral music to accompany the symphony of gas that will play a merry part for a couple of months to come. , ~ , ~ The refreshment rooms—behind the green wicket in "J" store—will lie under the control of-Mr. James Godber. The"English Pierrots 'have issued 'invitations for.a special opening performance, to take place in the Coronation Theatre at 8.30 p.m. to-morrow.' They have been rehearsing assiduously, and Mr. Dakin promises a bright little, musical show on refined ;lines. ■.'..''

ARBITRATION AWARDS SUSPENDED, Tho following notice appeared in a supplement to the. Gazette issued yesterday:— . . .

' "Whereas, bv an Order in Council dated the twenty-third day cf March, one thousand nine hundred and eleven, the.holding of an Exhibition at Wellington, under the name- of the Coronation New Zealand Industrial Exhibition, 1911, was authorised, and the said Exhibition was declared to be an Exhibition within the meaning of tho Exhibitions Act, 1910: And whereas it is expedient to suspend the provisions of certain Acts in the cose of the said Exhibition as hereinafter appears: "Now, therefore, in pursuance and exercise of the power and authority conferred on him: by Section nine of the Exhibitions' Act, 1910, His Ex-, cellency tho Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice and consent of tho

Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth, in the case o£ the said Exhibition, hereby suspend the provisions of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, 1908, and of any award nr industrial agreement in force thereunder, and of the Factories Act, 1908, and of the Shoos and Offices Act, 1908, and also "of any amendment of those Acts in so far as those provisions relate to the hours of commencing or of ceasing work, or to the issue of permits for overtime or extended hours, or to holidays or half-holidays, or to the closing of shops, and in so far as they affect the Commissioners for the said Exhibition, or any person. employed by them, or any exhibitor, or anv person employed in or about the said Exhibition.

"J. F. ANDREWS, "Clerk of the Executive Council." Though not a general holiday, the Government Buildings will be closed from 1 o'clock this ■ afternoon, so as to enable members of the Public Service to attend the opening of the Exhibition.

Attention is drawn to tho sale of Mr. C. H. Brill's Parakowhai property, to be offered at public auction by Messrs. Dalgety and Company, Limited, on June 20. Full particulars will be found in our advertising columns.

The Wellington City Council notifies that-Fortiinatus Streetj Yogeltown, will la closed for a few days as from to-day.