THE EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 137, 5 March 1940, Page 9

THE EXHIBITION

To Close Finally On May 4 OPEN GOOD FRIDAY Decisions By Directors Yesterday Intermittent rain, sunshine and wind made weather conditions at the Centennial Exhibition yesterday somewhat uncertain, and the attendance was 9739. Most of the visitors went out in the evening, which was calm and pleasant at first, but with rain later. At a meeting of the directors, it was decided to close the Exhibition finally on May 4, which will be a Saturday.

it was unanimously decided to open the Exhibition on Good Friday, from 2.30 p.m. onward. This reversal of a previous decision not to open that day is understood to have been influenced by the numerous requests received from all over New Zealand, from people proposing to visit Wellington at Easter for the express purpose of seeing the Exhibition, this being for many their last opportunity of doing so. Another decision made yesterday was to award diplomas for meritorious exhibits, in recognition of the satisfactory support and fine showing of so many exhibitors. A tentative design for the diploma was submitted, and it will be a splendid memorial of participation in the Exhibition. Lady Galway In Women’s Court. Today Lady Galway will present diplomas awarded to exhibitors in the arts and crafts section of the Women’s Court of the Exhibition. In all, some 60 awards are being made, and recipients are coining from as far afield as Dunedin for the occasion. There ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. The Centennial Mystery Man will visit Playland on Wednesday and Saturday evenings this week. As before, £5 prizemoney will be given away for his identification, if the claimants qualify by carrying a copy -of “The Dominion,” and by addressing the mystery man with the phrase, “Hurrah for Playland! You are the Centennial Mystery Man.” A description of the anonymous stranger, and a rough schedule of his movements, will appear iu tomorrow morning’s paper. This evening there will be another bright concert by the Ngati Poneke Young Maoris, in the Maori Court, at 5.30 jxm. Fire Brigadesmen's Day. Tomorrow is to be Fire Brigadesmen’s Day at the Exhibition, when members of the United Fire Brigades meeting at Petone this week will visit the Exhibition. Special ferry services will be run between the Petone Wharf and the Miramar Wharf by the Eastbourne ferry steamer Muritai. Tiie service will be supplemented oy a feeder omnibus service between Miramar Wharf and the Exhibition. The Muritai will leave Petone at 10 a.m., and will leave Miramar on the return trip at 8 p.m. The New Brighton Band has been engaged to play selections in the Dominion Court from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow evening also will take place the official opening of the Wellington Sketch Club exhibition, the hanging of pictures for which is at present proceeding in the Motor and Transportation Court. A party of 73 senior scholars of tiie Darg’aville District. High School is expected at the Exhibition today. In Easter week a party of 800 children from Palmerston North will visit the Exhibition on a day trip organized by tiie mayor and municipal authorities. ’l’he Fijian Court. Approval of the Fijian Court was expressed by Major Clive Brewster, a member of the Fijian Exhibition Committee, who visited 'Wellington last week. He said he was gratified by I lie percentage of visitors to call at the Fiji Court. He hoped that this interest would result in a brisker tourist traffic between New Zealand and Fiji, and in particular in more New Zealanders spending the winter in Fiji. Major Brewster said the Exhibition impressed him as a remarkably fine effort for a country the size of New Zealand. The innnnger of the Fiji Court. Mr. D. A. .Donald 1 . of Suva, said that it was possible a series of “tasting days” similar to those arranged in the Australian 'Pavilion, would bo held by his court. 'Io acquaint the public with tiie fruit, 'products of Fiji. Great inleredt had 'been takmi in the large bunehes oi 'hamtmis brought, down from time t<> time from tile islands, and exhibited iu 'the court, which lakes tiie form of n native house. The ripening of the hamtmis was watched with interest, and when they reached tiie eating 'stage, they were in keen demand. On one occasion when a bunch had ripened quickly, there wore about, one hundred bananas available for eating all at once. They lasted about, five minutes, said Mr. Donald.

At present the main fruit exhibit, apart from .tinned fruit, is a pineapple actually growing on the plant. Unfortunately, it is now over-ripe, having been kept as an exhibit as long as possible. on account of the keen interest taken in it. Other fruit will he shipped down from time to time during the progress of tlie exhibition.