THE EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 48, 20 November 1925, Page 10

THE EXHIBITION

“CITY OF A THOUSAND DELIGHTS” EXCELLENT ATTENDANCE MAINTAINED SEMI-OFFICIAL VISITS By Teleguaph.—Press Association. Dunedin, November 19. Seventy-five thousand visitors in two days was the tale told when the exhibition gates closed last night. 10-day dawned with continued summer weather, and the attendance has been excellent, despite the counter-attrac-tion of people’s dav at the agricultural show at Tahuna Park. To-night many people a*e finishing up their outing by visiting the veritable city of a thousand delights that has arisen beside them. Brilliant illuminations outside and tasteful decorations inside the pavilions charm the aesthetic eye, while the music of the Argyll and Sutherland Military Band ensconced in the grand court rotunda, is most seductive to the ear For the lighter-hearted visitor frankly out for fun, 'here are many devices in the amusement zone to give him a frolicsome and even an adven- ’ turous time. The great auditorium of the festival hall was transformed tonight into a brilliantly-lighted and decorated ball-room, m which an official ball was given by the exhibition management. Semi-official visits were paid to the exhibition to-day by the Governor-Gen-eral and the Prime Minister. The latter after a close inspection of the British and New Zealand Government courts, declared that the displays were impressive bevond description .tn the completeness ’of thei rpresentation of Empire history and the manifold activities that had been developed an.otig tb.e peoples making up that ‘xle Governor-General made a tour of several courts, taking keen interest z in all he saw depicting the attractions, resources, and accomplishments of the Dominion. The tour included the Fiji Court, where an interesting ceremonv took place, unique in character, and one never witnessed before in New Zealand. Thio was the ceremony of welcome accorded only to Royalty or Vice-Regal visitors, and was carried out bv native Fijians attached to the court ’in a typical village, scene. His Excellency and Lady Alice Fergusson were welcomed as befitted their rank, and made the recipients of sacred whales’ teeth, which is a mark of tne highest favour in the native mindTile presentation was not made directly to the Governor-General, but through the medium of a Native acting as Ins herald, since, according to Fiji court ceremonial, distinguished guests may only accept gifts through an intermediary: A kava drinking ceremony followed after which valuable island mats ’were presented to Their Excellencies. The Fiji Government representative handed to Lady Alice I ergusson a tortoiseshell dressing set on behalf of the colonial Government The Governor-General briefly addressed the Fijians who were presented to Him. They then sang a . couple of native songs, and as the Vice-Regal party let the court the boys’ voices were heard again in the native version of God Save the King.” >

DEPARTMENTAL DISPLAYS Further reference to the work of the New Zealand Government Departments mav be permitted now that the hurlyburlv of initiation is over, and everybody is getting settled in. The very first step inside the pavilion discloses purposeful activity. The. results have been produced at very little financial ontlav. The pavilion is designed with the object of. showing the activities of each Government Department as nearly in actual operation as possible, in most cases the Department concerned has succeeded ingeniously, especially the Post Office and the Department ot Agriculture, which, in bringing an experimental farm to the very grounds, has accomplished something never attempted before in any part of the world. Where the scheme lias. been impracticable, some other expedient, in all cases simple and effective, has been adopted. In the months of preparation that preceded the launching of the court, the Department of Industries and Commerce was responsible for all the ne gofiations that had to be made with the Consulates, private concerns, and different institutions that were concerned with the court, and its chief officers have personally supervised’ the building of the court and the arrangements of the exhibits. Of these there were so many that the spacious pavilion proved inadequate. The important education court takes up a big area. In the motor pavilion and in No. 2 pavilion, already rather crowded with the provincial courts and the trade exhibits associated with them, room had to be found for the locomotives and carriages that are included in the Railway Department’* exhibits and for the display arranged bv the company of H.M.S. Dunedin.

Education the Motive. Each departmental display is arranged to tell its mission forcefully, education being the inspiring motive of the whole pawilion. . Both in its comprehensive inside display and in the remarkable plot at the rear of the pavilion, the Department of Agriculture shows the correct methods of forming, the results that follow the application of expert pdvice, and. the facilities which different field divisions, offer for imparting that, advice. The Census and Statistics Office, by the actual operation of the intricate calculating machines used in Wellington, bv a staff brought from Wellington for that purpose, educates the onlooker in the methods by which the figures that compose the nation’s barometer are compiled. The Defence Department, with its photographs and war trophies, tells the official storv of New Zealand’s part in the Great War, and its'exhibits of fieldpieces and defence equipment tell something of the means by which the country would be defended in the hour of trial, should such arise.

Tlie Government Observatory enters a sphere wider even than the national, with its practical lessons in astronomy and New Zealand’s part in that important science. The Health Department has its picturised morals of the most vital topic in the welfare of the Dominion’s people.

The Department of Industries and Commerce realises that not bv figures alone can people be interested and informed, and has arranged some fascinating diagrams and mechanical devices to drive home the economic lessons that the statistics reveal. The humane factors in industry and the history of weights and measures are attractively explained in the Labour court.

An actual camp is the central feature in the Lands and Survey court, which shows the functions of the Department that blazes the trail'for the farmer and constructor.

The Prisonj Department, with its examples of prisoners’ craftsmanship, needs no other recommendation of the wisdom with which it guides the unfortunate men and woificn who fall by the wayside.

The Post Office, with such of its activities as are not confidential, ■ being conducted in full tiew of the onlooker, affords a unique demonstration of the operations of that great Department.

'The Railway Department, with model railways and signalling systems that are exact replicas of the real things, on a smaller scale, of course, clearly explains much that is understood bv few indeed of the public, for whose benefit the trains are run

The Public Works Department lias its working models to demonstrate the tremendous engineering tasks that the difficult nature of the country involved in ensuring its comfort, safety, and progress. The State Forestry Department has only three exhibits, but even a cursory glance reveals at once the serious situation that would face the, country if its timber lesources continued to dwindle, and shows possibilities that are opened iip by an afforestation scheme.

The Department of External Aflairs holds the interest of the visitor with the exhibits of native craftsmanship of Samoa and the Cook Islands, then drives home the lesson that there, are ways of diverting to New Zealand the island trade that hitherto has been America’s monopoly. Each court has a character, and people will remember it as they remember an individual. Lessons for Farmers, Besides introducing an idea which is without precedent, and is a singular tribute to the advanced methods of the fields division, the Department of Agriculture has provided a great opportunity for the New Zealand farmer in its experimental plots, which are literally a tabloid course in scientific farming. The course is imparted, moreover, in an allegorical form, so that the lessons are absorbed without effort, like a sugar-coated pill. The storv begins in the plot that represents the virgin soil, with its bush and tussock, and continues through burnings and the general methods of pioneer cultivation jintil it reaches the stage where scientific principles have to be applied. Various phases of fertilisation and crop rotation that are associated with scientific cultivation are then related in the open book of the adapted and concentrated conditions of Nature. By the time the pilgrim reaches the last plot, he has unconsciously equipped himself with a wide knowledge of farming principles, after absorbing a complete agricultural history of New Zealand.

THE ART GALLERY The Art Gallery is a valuable addition to the features of the exhibition. It includes one of the best collections of modern works of art seen in a colonial display, and though “old masters” are conspicuous by their absence there are enough really good to satisfy the most aesthetic taste. The “impressionist” school is not encouraged, but of the rest there is housed in the modest brick building behind the main pavilion a most representative collection, that will be visited with pleasure by many. The disposition of the pictures and other art objects within the gallery in itself betrays the work of an artistic mind. The collection includes works of English and Scottish artists in oils, water colours,,, black and white, etchings, dry points, aquatints, mezzotints, and wood engravings. Australian, New Zealand, and French artists are all represented. Marble, bronze, and plaster sculptures are shown from Britain, France, and Australia.

WOMEN’S SECTION For a few days past an army of enthusiastic women has been engaged.in preparing the women’s section, which occupies a considerable portion of one of the main pavilions. The colour scheme adopted is tactful, arid a soft lighting effect has been produced by ingenious drapings. On each side are cases containing a special loan collection, the tops being used for Egyptian jars and other handsome and large articles. There is a very fine collection of china, both British and foreign, antiques in bronze, copper, brass, and silver, samplers, and Eastern embroideries, to mention only a few classes. The fine arts section contains exhibits for sale as well as on loan, from the Society of Women Artists in London, from New York, and, of course, from Australia and New Zealand. Ihe handicrafts include hand-made jewellery from London, painted pottery and china, marquetry (or rather what is now wrongly called so, as the work should be of inlaid, wood), raffia work, and beautiful hand-woven scarves ill rich colours. The laces are, many of them, exquisite, end there are fine specimens of such well-known makes as Limerick, Carrick-Macross, Buckingham, Honiton, Venetian Point, Brussels, Cluny, and Irish crochet. As one would expect the collection of needlework is large and varied, with not only linen embroideries of all kinds on view, but also beautiful church work, an artcraft that is tending to die out, and that requires generations of skilled workers to lie perfect. Anyone interested in this kind of work will find a vivid picture in Zola’s “The Dream. Quite unusual, too, is the collection of embroidered brooches, pendants,- and hair slides. The Shetland wool display will appeal to many, and it is particularly good in its completeness, for here one lias the opportunity of actually seeing the spinning-wheel used as it still is in the Highlands of Scotland. Another working exhibit is the potter’s wheel, still to be seen in the Eastern countries. Nearbv is a demonstration room which, during the exhibition period, will be used .for topical talks , as well as for special competition periods, each period lasting, for about three weeks. lhe first is this month, and is for art needlework. The next, in December, will show dolls and toys as far as the room will permit. The best from each competition will be kept for display from time to time. . , .. In a sheltered nook of the mam hall of the women’s section is found the literarv output of New Zealand women, and a fine collection it is, and well arranged to show the hooka to the best advantage. Three special exhibits must be mentioned—one from Queen Mary, one from Lady Jellicoe, and one from Ladv Liverpool. Above all, looking down with a kindly greeting,’ stands Athene, tne goddess of wisdom and womanly industries, and divine patroness of weavers and potters. ______