HAPPY CROWDS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 97, 18 January 1940, Page 9

HAPPY CROWDS

Exhibition Had Good Day Yesterday ATTENDANCE PRIZE May Be Claimed Toward End Of Week Yesterday’s brilliant sunshine was responsible for a larger crowd than usual at the Exhibition, the attendance being 18,838. With the total attendance now 1,038,199, it is expected that the first £5 prize for the hundred thousandth visitor after the first million will be claimed before the week is out, probably on Saturday night. Yesterday’s visitors appeared bent on enjoyment and Playland was thronged. The attendance yesterday appeared to include a fair proportion of visitors from beyond Wellington, and at night when, in the complete absence of wind, the illuminated fountain was seen in all its glory of softly-changing colours, little groups gathered and exclaimed in wonderment as the water shot to a height of 70ft, to make a memorable display. jess®®©©®®®®®®®®®®®®®®® 4 !®®* Attendance Figures At Exhibition US Ml,av.mse, 1» Crazy House— Yesterday «•-•»••••• 4,12 4 To date 201,909 Waitomo Caves — Yesterday To date 164,548 Crown Jewels— Yesterday J 365 , To date (,3 >°B3 Thunderbolt — Yesterday R5ll To date Exhibition Tower — Yesterday J’"94 To date 4-,<>3l e ®o®®©©©©®®®®®©©®®®®®®®®®® The women’s section was crowded throughout the day. At night, Mrs. A. E. Hefford gave an informative lecture on the life histories of some of the common New Zealand fish and shellfish, The last of the set of four murals by Mr. F. 11. Coventry, the well-known. New Zealand artist, will be hung in the Government court today. The first, “The European in New Zealand before 1840,” shows the explorers, traders, whalers and sealers and missionaries associating with the Maoris. The second panel, “The Beginning of Organized Settlement,” shows the immigrants in their new surroundings in the virgin country. The growth of agriculture and pastoral farming, the clearing of bush and the opening up of the land for settlement, is shown in the third panel, “Clearing and Developing the Land.” The fourth mural is entitled “The Close of New Zealand’s First Century.” In it are portrayed the achievements of 100 years of settlement. Sir Harry Batterbee’s Visit.

The British Trade Commissioner for the United Kingdom, Sir Harry Batterbee, and his niece, Miss I. Biggar, yesterday paid a further visit to the Government Court. Mr. G. H. Headmore, Commissioner-General for the United Kingdom Pavilion, and Mr. G. Sara, manager of the’Government Court, accompanied Sir Harry round the court, where the party remained for more than two hours.

Sir Harry showed particular interest in the air, army and navy exhibits, and spent some time inspecting the large-scale model of Canterbury, showing the progress of the province since pioneer days, In this display, pictures thrown on a screen show aspects of land utilization in New Zealand and the way in which the State has assisted land development. The health and education sections also claimed the attention of the party. “This is my fifth visit to the Exhibition, and as yet I don’t seem to have seen nearly half of what there is to see,” said Sir Harry at the conclusion of his visit. “It is just as interesting today as on the preceding occasions. I thought the health exhibit was extraordinarily interesting and valuable, and I feel this is shown by the great interest evinced by the crowds of people looking at it.”

Sir Harry expressed admiration of the defence exhibits and said he thought they were proving of particular interest to the people of New Zealand at the present time. “In the Navy section,” he added, “the early ships are beautifully painted. I was delighted to discover the Maori piii piu and tiki presented by a Maori chief to Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey in 1913 and worn by him when in command of H.M.S. New Zealand in action during the last war. I have nothing but admiration for the Maori people and these exhibits appear to be splendid examples of their distinctite art.”

Coming away, Sir Harry had a preliminary look at the Samoan exhibit, which he hopes to inspect in greater detail later.

Open Air Concert.

Under ideal conditions, Mr. Will Bishop’s concert party again entertained a large crowd last night in the band-shell at the Exhibition. A varied and interesting programme was provided, including a number of humorous items. ■

Under the auspices of the Presbyterian Churches of New Zealand, a concert was held in the Churches United Court last night. ; Vocal, instrumental and eloeutionarj' items were given, the programme being as follows: Quartet, “All in the April Evening,” Misses M. Kelly and I. Nicholson, Messrs. J. Bennett and L. McKenzie; solo, Mr. A. Gorringe; recitation, Miss E. Mclnnes; solo, Mrs. W. Coventry; violin solo, "Sicilinna and Rigaudon,” Mr. J. B. Smith; quartet, “Nearer, Still Nearer,” Messrs. J. Bennett, J. Brackenridge, F. Norton and L. McKenzie; recitation, Miss E. Me Inness; solo, Mrs. W. Coventry; violin solo, “Gypsy Airs,” Mr. J. B. Smith; solo, Mr. A. Gorirnge; quartet, "The Stranger of Galilee,” Misses J. Bennett, J. Brackenridge, F. Norton and L. McKenzie.

Maori Concerts Appreciated.

Yesterday, Mr. Charles Todd, chairman of the music and entertainment committee, expressed the appreciation of the Exhibition authorities to Mr. King! Tahiwi, senr., for the two concerts arranged by the Native Department. at the Exhibition this week. Mr. Todd thanked Sir Apirana Ngata, Mr. Tahiwi and the elders of

I the visiting Taranaki and Wanganui tribes for the splendid performances given by the Maoris. The Taranaki and Wanganui Maori party will give concerts in the Maori Court tonight, tomorrow night trnd on Saturday, at 8.30 o’clock. In the Churches Court. A walk through the United Churches Court in the General Exhibits section is well worth while, as the missionary and social welfare work being done by the churches is shown by means of instructive displays. The section devoted to the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand has an illuminated map showing all the I’resbyterial districts. Information about the growth of the Church is also displayed. “The first Christian minister to come to New Zealand to minister to the settlers,” a notice reads, “was a Presbyterian, the Rev. John Macfarlane, who founded St. Andrew’s Church, Wellington, on February 23, 1840. Today the Church has 252 fully-sanctioned charges, 107 home mission stations, 19 Maori stations (with 30 missionaries) and 10 foreign stations (with 27 missionaries). There are also two Chinese missions in New Zealand. “There are 022 Presbyterian Church buildings' in New Zealand and services are held altogether in ,1368 places, exclusive of Maori missions. The Salvation Army. Tlie Salvation Army section, of which Major H. C. Goflin is in charge, assisted by Mr. J. Dean, inis been visited by more than 32,000 people since the Exhibition opened, much interest being taken in the looms for hand-weaving and mat-making which are being operated there. Major Goflin said yesterday that successful efforts were being made in Salvation Army homes to revive the old industry of hand-loom weaving. Scarves in different colours and designs were made, said Major Goflin, trnd the unfinished scarf on the loom was the work of a 10-year-old boy who was being taught by Mr. Dean. The mat-weaving is an adaptation of the old Scottish method of making fingered mats. The pile is put on first and then the back is woven, the material used being tailor’s clippings. There are many other fascinating exhibits in the section, including a bedspread made by Mrs, Brigadier Gray, Wellington, when more than 70 years old. The bedspread is ornamented with kiwis, pohutakawa and a Maori pa in coloured silks and there is a pattern of kiwis in crochet round the border. On display also is a tea-cloth worked by Mrs. Mcßobie, Invercargill, aged 90. There are exhibits of fine needlework from all over the world from Salvation Army institutions in China, Africa and elsewhere. Band Concert Tonight. The Wellington Municipal Tramways Band will play in the bandshell tonight, commencing at 7.30 o’clock. The programme will be as follows: —“God Save the King,” with fanfares; march, “Wnldmere” (Losey) ; waltz, “Nights of Gladness” • (Ancliffe) ; patriotic march. “Wings Over the Navy” (Mercer and Warren), vocalist, Sergeant Milligan; cornet yolo, “Bells of St. Mary’s” (Adams); tone poem, “Finlandia” (Sibelius) ; xylophone solo, “Ida and Dot” (Logey), soloist, Bandsr man Sundberg; novelty, “Beer Barrel Polka” (Brown) ; foxtrot, “Can I Forget You” (Jerome Kern) ; bagpipes. “Scotch Airs,” with band accompaniment (Alford) ; pot pourri, “Radio Parade” (Pettit) ; patriotic march, “Ship Ahoy” (McKenzie) ; waltz, “Thoughts” (Alford); march, “Siegfried Line” (Kennedy and Carr), with vocal chorus; novelty dance number, “Boomps-a-Daisy” (Mills), vocalist, Sergeant Milligan; march, “Invercargill” (Lithgow), xylophonist, Bandsman Sundberg; “God Defend New Zealand.”