THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 12900, 24 August 1906, Page 4

THE EXHIBITION.

[Special to the Stab,] CHRISTCHURCH,- August 24. From inquiries made from several aspects,. and particularly from the view of the Exhibition, the early closing (ten o clock) of the hotels in Christchurch does not seem to have affected the hotel business at all materially. The hour between mne_ and ten has, however, brisbened up considerably, but the average weekly takings have not appreciably diminished so far as the bars are concerned. Tho hotel customers have not been put to any discomfort beyond the trifling one that they have to say “good-night” to visiting friends a little earlier than usual, while so far as the boarders and casual guests are concerned they are put to no discomfort, for beyond the shutting of the street doors they are on exactly the §ame footing as they were previously. Extensive bookings have been made by tho principal houses for the greater part of the Exhibition season, and tho suggestion that there will be a shortage of visitors is as ridiculous as the one which hints at a shortage of accommodation. A good deal of soreness exists locally at the attempts being made both in Wellington and Dunedin to belittle tho work that is being done in the interests of the Exhibitionlocally by the principal citizens of Christchurch, and it is pointed out that the Exhibition was not initiated in Christchurch, hut that, having been located here by the Government, everything possible is'being done by the public-spirited men of the city to make it a success.