THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1907, Page 7

THE EXHIBITION.

CHRISTOHURCH, 30th January. The Exhibition still surprises visitors t r j m °™ Tsea> by its variety and magnitude. New Zealanders who have based their expectations of its dimensions and attractions on their previous experience of local industrial exhibitions express complete astonishment. Mr. H. J. Scott, the South Australian Commissioner for tl» Inhibition, says the number of people journeying from his State to New Zealand during the past month or six weeks has been altogether unprecedented, the Exhibition being tho prime cause. Many of them sinco their arrival have called upon Mr. Scott to express their delight and gratification with all they have seen at the Exhibition. Mt. Sydney fatubbs, Mayor of Perth, a Commissioner to the Exhibition, representing West Australia, also expressed himself much surprised at the length of the buildings and the wido ranee of industrial undertakings represented. Traffic from Dunedin to tho Exhibition continues to keep up on the railway. The average number of passengers' at special rates at present is between seventy and eighty a day. The next big rush is expected for the band contest, which takes place from 11th to 16th February. A handsome trophy of Victorian timber was erected in the Victorian State Court this morning. The structure consists of four walla panelled in various woods, pierced with arched doorways and ornamentally finished at the top The centre of the small room thus formed is occupied by an inlaid table, while a- great number of specimen blocks of various timbers are placed on shelves. The central panels on the outside are carved with typical Victorian, bush scenes. AH tho woods in the panels axe named in gilt lettering, and owing to the good design and high finish, combined with natural beauty of the timbers, the trophy is both imposing and beautiful. The principal woods used are ironbark, grey box, redgtim, bluegum, mountain ash, stringy bark, and block" wood. Tl» Victorian court has ako been enriched by the addition of a magnificent oil painting of Melbourne from the south bank of the Yarra, the work of a New Zealand artist, Mr. L. Wilson. Additions and improvements to courts are quite a feature of the Exhibition, and were TOmarked upon by the Eton. Mr. M'Gowan after a visit to the building to-day. Mr. M'Gowan had not seen the Exhibition since soon, after it was opened, and he expressed himself very pleased with tho alterations for the bettor that hove taken place. 'There ha,ve been some great improvements in the various courts," ho said, "and this Exhibition, taken altogether, hao quite come up to expectations." He thinks the people of Christchurch and of tho colony have a right to be proud of the enterprise. There were fully ten thousand people at the Exhibition to-night when a display of Pain's fireworks wo« the great attraction. The weather and sky were perfect for the display, which was one of remarkable novelty. The masterpiece was a wonderfully faithful representation of Nelson and tie flagship Victory on either side of the historic motto, all done in fii-o works. Next Wednesday there will be a pyrotechnic display in Combination wiUi a military tattoo, in which four bands and a large number of volunteers ..will take jiart ia,