BRILLIANT DAY AT EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 69, 14 December 1939, Page 11

BRILLIANT DAY AT EXHIBITION

. 'Attendance 10,884

EVENING BEAUTY DRAWS CROWD

. Brilliant weather succeeding the recent storm, yesterday proved perhaps the most pleasant day and evening at the Centennial Exhibition during the month it has been open. The sunny, calm afternoon was followed by a still, lovely evening. The attendance yesterday was 10,884, a great improvement on the previous days when unpleasant weather kept the figures down. During the day many country people, and many parties of school children, visited the Exhibition. The morning crowd was unusually good, and though attendances increased only slightly in the afternoon, dusk (brought a host of Wellington people anxious to spend the beautiful evening in Playland and the Exhibition grounds. It was remarkable that, while the buildings were well filled, a big proportion of the visitors seemed well content to linger out of doors, watching the fairy lights, and the evanescent colours of the fountain. A wonderful sunset faded to a deep blue evening, with the new moon setting over the Melrose hills, behind roselit centennial tower. Every star was reflected in the ornamental pools—two days ago so stormy that even the floodlights hardly lit their waves. It was a perfect evening, in which the band music sounded cheerfully through the grounds, and mingled with the hubbub of Playland.

In Playland stalls which had been closed dowu the last couple •of days reopened, the main devices were at work again, and the hilarious mirth of the celebrated laughing sailor again rang through the grounds, a cheering sound to exhibitors after the recent storm.

During the day gardeners were busy tidying up the grounds, Which appeared to have suffered little; the massed annuals in the llower-beds are just coming out for Christmas, and the pohutukawas are heavy With buds almost at the opening stage. Visitors iu the early afternoon received a thrill when two lire engines, one from the local station near the Exhibition main gate, and the other from Miramar, rushed up Centennial Avenue to the Women’s Section, As it turned out, however, it was a false alarm. Nevertheless, the smart manner in which the brigades have arrived at the scene on the several occasions so far when false alarms or minor tires have occurred has greatly reassured exhibitors as to the efficiency of the precautions against Are danger. No serious accidents were reported yesterday by the St. John Ambulance Brigade, which maintains a constant watch at centres throughout the Exhibition grounds.

The Boys’ Institute Silver Band, conducted by Mr. Albert Iremonger, played in the south 'bandshell, where crowds gathered to listen. Silhouetted against the heliotrope aud purple floodlights, the band was picturesque to see as well as to hear, and the evening was one of the most memorable from a musical point of view that the Exhibition has so far witnessed. Maoris Gathering. Increasing numbers of Maori visitors during the past day or two have reflected the interest being taken by the Native race in their share in the centennial celebrations. Keen enthusiasm has been displayed over the Maori Court, and today’s opening is likely to be attended by a very large proportion of Maoris, apart from the official parties.

Children of the Petone Central School yesterday attracted many spectators when they gave a demonstration of juvenile handcrafts at the Education Department’s sunken court in the Government Court. Pupils of the Brooklyn School will demonstrate there tomorrow.

Dr. Helen Deem, who lectured in the women’s demonstration hall yesterday upon the progress of infant welfare and the evolution of modern ideas of caring for children, received an excellent hearing. Dr. Deem drew a pointed, and often amusing, contrast between the bad old days and the methods of today. She illustrated her talk with an array of ancient and modern infant apparatus, such as cots, clothes, feeding equipment, and so forth. The brief concert programme given in the women’s section by the Turakina Girls’ College pupils was crowded and proved a great success. The girls created an excellent impression, and their sweet voices and attractive songs drew wholehearted applause. During the day the girls spent a great deal of time inspecting the exhibits, riding on the sightseeing trains and enjoying the fun of the fair. Dress Night at Cabaret. Dress night at the cabaret was a great success. Bookings were fairly heavy, and a considerable crowd took advantage of the special arrangements for free parking and late access to go out after the pictures for a supper dance. The extension o.f hours, which has given Wellington a night life it formerly lacked, has made an aftertheatre dance well worthwhile. Manuel Raymond, formerly director of music at Frascati’s. London, was conducting, and his skilful sensing of the mood of the dancers resulted in an excellent programme. The cabaret dress nights are becoming increasingly popular on account of the distinguished atmosphere, the restrained, tasteful decor of the cabaret, the gay frocks of (lie women contrasting with the formality of tails and dinner jackets, and the exquisite music make dress evenings at the Exhibition Cabaret something which will remain among the most lasting memories of the Exhibition when it has all been cleared away a year or so hence. Kiddvland is progressing rapidly and should'be ready for children Jo enjoy during the holiday period. Hie work of tidying ami rearranging this corner of the Exhibition grounds has been a considerable one, but the work is being pushed ahead al; rapidly as possible.