A BRIGHT DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 64, 15 March 1940, Page 9

A BRIGHT DAY

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S VISITS

BIG PARTIES COMING

The welcome—and a little unexpected —return to summer weather yesterday brought a successful day to the Centennial Exhibition, nearly 11,000 persons passing through the gates. Large, parties of school* children from both the North and South Islands increased the holiday atmosphere, and a fair number of men in uniform were present. Last evening was fine but cool. The stallholders appeared to be doing consistent business. The mechanical displays were particularly popular, and great interest was taken in various trade exhibits showing stages in the manufacture of secondary products.. The exhibition of sketches arranged by the Wellington Sketch Club has proved increasingly popular since it was opened last Saturday, and many thousands have inspected the excellent range of work. A notable part has been taken in this show by the Masterton and Dunedin Sketch Cluds. The sketches are well displayed ana include work by many well-known artists, as well as a fair representation of the work of less experienced men and women. The majority are landscapes and seascapes, but still-life and portraiture are well represented, and the standard is remarkably high considering that no selection committee Yesterday's attendance .. 10,756 Total (110 days) 1,780,615 was appointed and that all works submitted have been displayed. Among the pictures exhibited are "The Beach Hat," by Stella Bruce, a convincing portrait; Carl T. Laugesen has several sketches on display, including "Deviation, Bowen Street," "Poi Dance," and "The Silver Gleam, Wellington Harbour"; originality of treatment characterises the water colours by N. Bolton and I. Bowie; and G. Gould MacQuarrie has several pictures exhibited, among them an imposing oil study entitled 'Camping in Blue Mountains." In the still-life section, Kathleen Salmon's "Mixed Flowers" is an. interesting study, and other flower pieces that merit attention are "A Mixed Bowl," by Edith Boyes; "Geraniums," by L. Cockerill; "Rhododendrons," by E. Ramsay; and "Anemone." by M. Duff. A fruit-growing programme will start on Saturday morning at the cinema in the Government Court, and opposite will be paintings of apple orchards by Marcus King. One of the paintings was to be sent to London to be exhibited in the window front at the High Commissioner's office, but the arrangement could not be carried out because of the war. Every visitor to the display will receive an apple. . COLLEGES AND SCHOOLS. The grounds and courts were busy during the day with school children. Several groups from Wellington Girls' College made one of the regular college visits to the Exhibition andjvisited the majority of the courts.' "Parities"'of visiting children also made the rounds of the courts. The seventy-five pupils from Christchurch Boys' High School who are visiting Wellington spent the day at the Exhibition. Half of the party visited the Canterbury Reception Room in the Dominion Court and saw the films screened there, and today the majority of the boys visited the room, where they were met by the host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Macfarlane, and the manager, Mr. C. H. Clibborn. The parties of scholars from other schools outside Wellington will return to their homes today, but on Monday over four hundred children from the combined schools in the Masterton district will arrive by special train. They will return to their homes that evening. Another large party will arrive from the Opunake district by special train on Monday night and will be billeted in the old Newtown School buildings. They will remain at Wellington until Wednesday. On Tuesday about six hundred children from schools in the Palmerston North district will arrive, and on Wednesday some two hundred secondary school pupUs will make a visit to the Exhibition from the same district. m THE CLOSING DATE. The suggestion that the closing date may be later than May 4 has caused a considerable amount of interest amongst exhibitors, but many consider that there will not be any extension and that the advancing of the school term is more likely. The Government Court is more concerned regarding the closing date than other sections of the Exhibition because Government Departments are haying a busy time because of the war and. need the staff occupied at the Exhibition. As there is practically no material return from the court, the cost of keeping it open for a longer period would have to fall on the taxpayer* and its value during May would be determined by the number of children and adults who could take advantage of its educational facilities. Interested visitors to the Exhibition this morning were a party of over one hundred boys from Waitaki Boys' High School. The boys arrived from the south this morning and will spend several days at the Exhibition studying the various exhibits.