THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 147, 19 December 1905, Page 7

THE NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION.

A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME. PARTICULARS OF THE "WORK DONE. (By Our Special Reporter.) CHRISTCHURCH, 18th Dec.

Over ten acres of Hagley Park will be covered by the Exhibition Buildings — which certainly seems to be ample space for anything within the compass of this colony's power. Mr. Robert Allan, one of the , two Executive Commissioners, supplies the following figures showing the way in which the floor space is distributed: — • Main building, 187,000 superficial feet, gallery 25,000 feet; machinery hall 90.000 feeb, proposed annex 84,000 feet; additional annexes as may be required, 72,000 feet. Excluding the gallery, this gives a superficial area of 436,000 superficial feet. A considerable portion wijl be taken up by the avenues, corridors, offices, and 60 on. Up till the present the Government has voted £21,000 for expenses, and it is upon this sum that the work is being done. If all the buildings of (he Exhibition are carried out as designed, the cost will be £65,000. This is the largest item of expenditure, and it is not to be reckoned as dead loss by any means, for, properly handled, the iron and timber will realise a handsome figure. No plate glass will be used in the structures, and Mr. Allan, in reply to an enquiry whether the glass required had been ordered from home, said that all that was needed was available in the colony. Apparently no special orders of building materials will require to be sent out of the colony. Since the colony is to "stand the racket," the financial aspect of the projected exposition is a matter that concerns the pedple hi the backblocks of Taranaki as much as the people of Christchurch. It has not been suggested by the authorities that the concern will wind up with a profit. The Premier's £20,000 margin of loss is not terrifying, but when a venture is projected in anticipation of a loss like that, the possibility is that ifc will be much greater. This is the view of many business men here— they are not pessimistic, but merely cautious. In the course of conversation this morning, Mr. Allan, who brings experience, tact, and earnestness to the aid of the scheme, is distinctly hopeful. He mentioned that 320,000 people visited the Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition in its j three months' career, and that the final result was a £3000 profit. For this economy was responsible. Many of the paople on the committees of that Exhibition are on the committees of the present one, and there is plenty of good business talent at work. "From what I can see," said Mr. Allan, "this Exhibition is being conducted on business lines. We are spending no large oums on officialism, because we have the use of diplomatic channels of enquiry and advertisement, and are receiving assistance from honorary officials. I firmly believe that the scheme will not lead to any large financial loss." The difficulty is that the authorities are handling "an unknown quantity," as the applications for space do not close until 31sfc March next. Agents are working all over the world. So far, it seems, none of the Continental countries have given any intimation as to whether they will seek representation other than through their manufacturers. Canada, however, has voted money for a State exhibit, and there are two representatives of the Exhibition there. From that quarter the prospects are very bright. America, said Mr. Allan, is an unknown quantity, but Mr. Donne received encouraging promises of support. There is an agent now in Australia at the Australian Natives' Exhibition in Sydney, and as Australia will be in an exhibition moqd, the prospects of Australian representation seem very bright. From England a very large number of preliminary enquiries nave been received, and there is a prospect of some very valuable exhibits being sent. India also promises a good display. The actual space applied for amounts to 16,000 feet. The Commissioners did not expect that greater applications would be received as yet. In the next three months they expect something like a deluge. Some time back the Post suggested | that tho provincial displays should be made competitive. The Commissioner!! think the idea an admirable one. At present, however, the actual planning of the manner in which the exhibits will be shown has not been arranged, and nothing will be definitely decided until all the applications are in. Mr. Allan presumes that there will be provincial courts. The Government, so I was informed, is very anxious for a. record display of the colony's, agricultural and pastoral products. To this end, advantage has been taken of the fact that the Canterbury Metropolitan Spring Show will take place about the opening of the exhibition. The Government has offered a £500 grant to the Canterbury A. and P. Association, and the Exhibition funds will furnish another "£SOO, to ensure something special at the show. The association has taken the matter up warmly, and there is said to be a piospect of one of the finest agricultural shows ever held in Australasia. Tho show and the Exhibition vrill be mutually assistant to each other. There will, of course, be a very large agricultural and pastoral display in the Exhibition itself, and fat freezing stock competitions are projected. All the buildings are to be completed in time to • receive exhibits on the Ist October. The Commissioners say there is no reason whatever to suppose they will not be completed on that date. The headquarters of the Exhibition are roomy and well adapted to the work. An enormous amount of correspondence is dealt with, acccordinu to Mr. Allan, ond associated -with the Commissioners and Mr. Righton, tho very capable secretary, is a- staff that Mr. Allan say 3" is very satisfactory. In one of the corridors this morning were hundreds of illustrated weekly papera addressed for posting to every part of the United Kingdom. "Bales," was Mr. Righton's reply to an enquiry as to how much advertising and other matter has been sent out. And enquiries for more are said to bo pouring in. There is a small section of the community who fear that the Exhibition will damage their business, and arc Bhivering at tho thought of a slump. In one of the seaside suburbs, an enterprising speculator is constructing a huge brick boardinghouse, to be Teady by Exhibition time. . The arrrangomentß in connection with the art and ' entertainment sections require a separate article.