THE EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 86, 5 January 1940, Page 11

THE EXHIBITION

More Than 20,000

Attend

GENERAL FREYBERG’S VISIT

Royal Marines Band Of H.M.S. Ramillies

Yesterday again more than 20,000 people visited the Centennial Exhibition. The daytime crowds were excellent, in spite of the counterattraction offered by the battleship in port being thrown open for public inspection. In the evening the beautiful weather, and the Ramillies’ band helped to, draw many thousands to Rongotai. Major-General Freyberg visited the Exhibition yesterday afternoon as the guest of the directors. He wa.s met by tlie chairman, Mr. Hislop, mayor of Wellington, who welcomed him and showed him round. As he was unable to visit the Exhibition till late in the afternoon, ills visit was necessarily brief and his inspection of the Exhibition a cursory one. He expressed the opinion, however, that it was a very good show! and he regretted lie had not more time to devote to seeing it at leisure. He said that lie was glad to meet old friends among the Exhibition directors and management.

Another Naval Dance. Officers and men of the warships Ramillies and Canberra were entertained at a dance in the Exhibition Cabaret by the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. There was a very large crowd, and the dance was most successful. The mayor and members of the patriotic committee were present, but apart from these, a few members of the other services, and of course the gii'ls, the guests were all naval men. The Royal Marines’ Band of H.M.S. Ramillies played in the north bandshell at the Exhibition last evening. It attracted quite the biggest audience, of any band programme since the opening of the Exhibition. All chairs were taken and many hundreds of people stood around the bandcourt. Spirited Band Music. The band, conducted by Bandmaster H. S. L. Murray, played with great verve and spirit, and the new wartime tunes were greatly appreciated. The evening was ideal for listening, with only a light warm north wind, which finally died away. The grounds were particularly attractive, and many people spent the evening promenading up and down Centennial Avenue. The Royal Marines played only for an hour, and were followed by the Port Nicholson Silver Band, which also held the biggest audience it had so far entertained.

Last night there was a Maori concert in the Maori Court, by the NgatiPoneke, which greatly intrigued the British sailors. They were fascinated by the Maori cloaks and piupius, and by the, to them, unexpected degree of culture of the Maori girls who entertained them, most of the visitors apparently expecting to find the Maoris still a savage people. The Ngati-Poneke will probably give another concert at the Exhibition on Satijyday. On January 11 a large party of Wanganui and Taranaki Maoris is expected at the Exhibition to give a series of concerts in the Maori Court. This morning Wellington Maoris are to be entertained on board the Ramillies at an informal reception. There were large numbers of sailors in Playland again last night, the amuse in Playland again last night, the amusement park being easily the most popular part of the Exhibition.