THE EXHIBITION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 36, 12 February 1940, Page 9

THE EXHIBITION

CROWDS INDOORS

SHELTER FROM THE RAIN

SCHOOL DISPLAYS

Saturday's weather was unfortunate I for the Exhibition. Usually that day 'gives the attendance a big lift, but the heavy rain in the afternoon and the - blustering southerly, and rain with it, in the evening, were most discouraging. The result was that the attend- • ance was cut down to about 12,000— j below the week-day level. However, the conditions indoors were comfort- ' able and the Exhibition had full at- j • tention from those who visited it, and the courts were well filled. j ;Two concerts were given by Will Bishop and his Centennial Serenaders, one in the afternoon arid one in the! evening, and both were well attended. Saturday's attendance .. 12,117 Total, 83 days _ 1,425,369 They were to have taken place in one - of the bandshells, but had to be transferred to the assembly hall. The seating accommodation was heavily taxed at both sessions. GOOD FOR SALES. Everywhere indoors visitors studied exhibits.or made selections from stalls where articles "could be bought and the. majority of;-the, stallholders appeared to be having an unusually good day. During the evening many of the visitors could be seen carrying packages ■or parcels and many were busy with a late tea or early supper wherever eatables were available. There was ho trouble at any point from the rain, and the courts were always comfortable, attendants taking care that outside doors were not left open. Police officers and ambulance attendants kept' on the move around tht courts but did not seem to have any difficulties at any stage. The crowds were orderly and ih excellent spirits. The crowds wero more evenly spread than usual, every court had its quota of visitors. The brightly-lit motor court attracted many visitors but there were also large numbers moving around the dimly-lit Dominion Court. The Government Court kept well filled and great interest was shown in all the exhibits. WORK FROM THE SCHOOLS, A good number of people spent some time in the Education Department's stand but the excellent exhibits there did not receive the attention they deserve." From primary to art school the exhibits. are all of interest, and every section of the display deserves a close examination, . The work of technical students is outstanding, and many visitors have assumed, wrongly, that some of the exhibits are apparatus used by the students and not articles made by boys and girls. The Maori schools section is also worthy of an extended visit, the work of the Maori boys arid girls showing artistic merit, originality, and a pleasing blend of Native and, European crafts. . it (Many of the visitors at the ExhibK tion on Saturday . night were from country districts" and they'all appeared to find the "big show", well i worth the visit. PHYSICAL EXCELLENCE. Next Friday and Saturday there will be evening entertainment in the assembly hall, conducted by the New Zealand Weight Lifters' Association. They .will ' include "the : final selection in the Centennial physical excellence contest, and a "Miss" New Zealand" /and "Mr. New Zealand" will be chosen from the finalists, of whom there are twelve, representing nearly all provinces in the Dominion,

In addition to, the judging of the physical excellence contest, entertainment will be provided by acrobatic, tumbling, and other performers, who will include Len Wilson's troupe of herculean balancers, from Auckland, Russell Middlebrook, the Milo balanc ipg troupe from Napier, and two groups of physical culture pupils from Wellington. '.;'.. . '.