AT THE EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1161, 23 June 1911, Page 4

AT THE EXHIBITION.

AN ANIMATED DAY. THE PAGEANT AND SPORTS. Tho Coronation Exhibition was well patronised on tlio day from which it derives its naino, lu all, C 853 persona passed through (ho turnstiles yesterday, which lifts the grand total of those who have visited (ho Exhibition sinco it start. c<l, to 81,! M. Cash takings from all sources yesterday totalled .£'3os. This is not within ,£IOO of Iho record, but nevertheless it was a big day. Very few people visited Iho Exhibition during the. forenoon, but from two o'clock onwards visitors arrived in a. steady stream. Tho descent of rain early in the evening induced many people to seek the shelter of the buildings, and during the- evening the big show was crowded in all its parts. Of tho (1853 persons who entered, 5350 paid in cash for the privilege of entering. The. balance had season tickets. Up to 8.30 p.m. the sum of X'lU had been taken at tho turnstiles.

A lot of brisk trading was conducted yesterday. Tho secretary was called upou during the day to supply silver change to the amount of ,£2OO. Ordinarily a sum of ,£IOO sullices to meet all calls for change, but yesterday trade was booming. One enterprising salesman got rid of .£2O worth of change in three-quarters of an hour, and came back at the end of that time, asking for more. Tho big Exhibition sign on the top of tho Customs building was prominent among tho city illuminations last evening. It contains no f.ewer than 240 electric lamps, and can be clearly seen from widely-distant points in various parts of tho city.

STADIUM SPORTS. Tho sports meeting at tho Stadium in tho evening was attended by about nine hundred spectators, and proved ono o£ tho most successful that has been held in that popular place of entertainment. First in importance among tho athletio events was a Marathon race, over a course extending from tho Stadium to South Kilbirnie, via Oriental Bay, and back by way of Constable Street. Eightlaps round tho Stadium completed tho course. A. l'obinson, who won in good style by a length, covered tho distance, i'o. ono hour, Gnrin. 2Csec. He was closely followed by other starters, and tho last man to enter arrived eight minutes later inan tho winner. A very pretty item oa the programme was an exhibition of electric light club swinging by midget performers, Miss Alma Henry and Miss Doris Lane. The Stadium was darkened for this performance, and the clubs, tipped with coloured lights, produced, as they were gracefully swung, a l>eautiful effect of interwoven luminous rings. Tho programme concluded with a repetition of the "All Nations" pageant, which made a popular hit a liltlo time ago. Britannia was once more enthroned to receive the homage of her sister nations, personified by a number of young ladies appropriately clad. The dresses presented an infinite variety of design and colour, but all were beautiful, and their wearers bore them gracefully. The final scene in pageant was an intricate grand march, executed with admirable precision. There were no prettier or better-clad performers in the spectacle than four tiny maids who boro Britannia's train. Results o. the various sporting events are as follow: Grand Coronation Marathon Race.—A. Robinson (Gmin.), 1; R. Reid (lOmin.), -; P. J. Fitzgerald (lmin.), 3. Time, lhr. GiiiLn. 2Gsec. Also started: C. Rowberry, scr.; C. Murray, scr.; F. Byrne, 45sec.j \V. Press, lmin. Msec; W. B. Bennett, lmin. Msec; F. Rollo, 2min.; J. Finn, 3inin.; E. H. Shaw, 4min. 25500.; A. Hague, smin.; and Poynter. Emiprc Handicap (50yds.).—First heat: L. C. Galbraith (2yds.), 1; C, L. Turnbull (21yds.), 2. Second heat: A. T. Duncan (scr.), 1; C. T. Young (2lyds.), ... Final: A. T. Duncan, 1; L. C. Galbraith, 2. Time, Gsec. A very close finish.

King Gcorgo Handicap (half-mile).— First heat: F. Eollo (25yds.), 1; F. Turner (12yds.), 2; — Rowberry (20yds.), 3. Time,, 2'nin. 19sec. Second heat: V. ,T. Byrne U'Ovds.), 1; T.' Duigna'n (30yds.). 2; L. Salck (25yds.), 3. Time, 2min. 19 4-5 sec. Third heat: J. Don (35yds.), 1; H. J. Pollock (35yds.), 2; C. Euro (40yds.), 3. Time, 2min. 2Gsec. Final: V. J. Byrne, 1 j F. Eollo, 2'j F. Rowberry, 3. Time, 2min. 19see. Boys' Walk (half-mile).— Eose, I, OTHER STADIUM DOINGS. A demonstration of wireless telegraphy, which was to have been given in the SI-α----dium this evening, lias been postponed until Friday next. The Stadium authorities hopo to arrango a sports meeting, with naval men. as tlio principal participators, for Monday evening next, but the fixture has not yet been definitely settled. Entries close to-morrow (Saturday) for the handicap tennis tourney which is to bo held early next week. EXCURSION TRAINS WANTED. Tho Exhibition authorities considei that they havo a grievanco against the Minister for Railways on account of his faihiro to run excursion trains for tho convenience of country visitors to tho Exhibition. Yesterday tho Chief Commissioner (Mr. T. Bailinger) pointed out that on the occasion of the Palmerston Show special trains wero run from Wellington and other places on four days. On the other hand not a single special train had been run expressly for the benefit ol: the Coronation Exhibition. It would benefit incidentally on account of special excursions being run on threo days in connection with tho Coronation ceremonies, but no trains had been run with a view to directly helping the Exhibition. Mr, Bailinger considers that it would bo only fair to run special excursions once a week, during tho term of tho Exhibition, for the convenience .of its patrons. J. A. SMYTH AND CO. Notable among exhibitors is tho firm of J, A. Smyth and' Co., which is represented by the managing proprietor, Mr. Tasnian J. C. Gurr. Of this firm's many agencies, there are shown displays from Iho Frimlcy Canning Company, 'tho Atlas Biscuit and Confectionery Co., Scott Bros., Ltd. (Atlas ranges), Sylvia Starch, ami Butterfly Coffee. Mr. Gnrr is tho largest single space-holder at tho Exhibition. He is ii strong believer in personal direction, nnd is almost always in atleiulnnco himself. Ho sarys that he is perfectly satisfied with results so far. "It lias stimulated demand in every lino wo show," lie states, "with tho result that wo are registering great increases in sales. Far from there being any fall-ing-oil', public interest seems to me to bo heightening all tho time." Having regard to the nature and intention of this Exhibition it is interesting to note that Mr. Gurr explains that his firm is concerned only with New Zealand products and industries. "Wo handle nothing else," ho says. "Wo havo had very templing offers of foreign agencies, but, so far, we havo touched none of thorn, New Zealand makes wonderful industrial progress, and gives us plenty to do."