EXHIBITION NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 12060, 2 March 1907, Page 5

EXHIBITION NOTES

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• There was an attendance of 10,470 at the Exhibition yesterday. Two new plaster busts have been added to the coUesbon in the Art Gallery—one-of Miss Eileen Ward, daughter of the- Erime Minister, and the other an ideal bust of a ,'young- half-caste maiden, "Dawn." The portrait bast of Miss Ward is one of the best of its kind 1 that have been-execnted in the colonv. The sculptor is Mr Nelson Illingwartfo. Signer Bragato, Government ViticultuTist, nas arranged for a display of New Zealand-grown grapes at the Exhibition. The first ton will be shipped from Auckland by the Talnne next Wednesday. The grapes are grown at the Government experimental station at Wairenga, in the Waikato. The first consignment will consist of the Chasselas variety," which are- considered to be the finest eating grapes. Shipments of other varieties will follow as they ripen. As two tons of Australian grapes will arrive next week, the public will have an opportunity of comparing New Zealand and Australian fruit.

In regard to the cablegram from Adelaide that the judging at the Exhibition,is not- satisfactory, it is understood that the trouble arose some days ago among the Australian exhibitors of wine, more particularly in reference to a, judge appointed by the Govormnent. The appointment was

subsequently cancelled, and the exhibitors were invited themselves to nominate a- substitute. Their unanimous choice fell upon Mr Malaquin, of Canterbury College, and tho Minister has accordingly notified his appointment to the position. No further hitch is expected to occur, and tho judging of Australian wines will commence to-day. The Acting Prime Minister, speaking at a dinner givento the visiting members-of the Press Association yesterday, congratulated those who had had to do with what had been a successful Exhibition. There were some people who had an idea that the colony was going to lose a very large sum, but they must take into consideration the educational value of the Exhibition. When he told them that tho cost to the colony as a whole would not, be believed, exceed the sum of one shilling per head of population, be thought they would agree with him that -the whole arrangements had been carried out successfully in order to produce such a result. The following interesting return, compiled by the Customs, of the total values of exhibits banded, according to tho countries of their actual origin, sheds much light on tho international aspect of the Exhibition, which has . been questioned by critics.:—United Kingdom, £178,107; Australia, £20332 (including Victoria £6,601, New South Wales £10,408, Queensland £2,128, South Australia £1,381, Western Australia, £3lO, Tasmania £4); Fiji, £444; the Transvaal, £26; India. £263; Ceylon, £204; Burinah, £2; Canada, £3,766; United States, £7,106; France, £2,924; Spam, £l6; Italv, £673; Switzerland, £196; Austria, £770; Germany, £3,853; Sweden, £4; Norwav, £ls; Holland, £1,748; Belgium. £671 ; Syria, £182; Trinidad, £2; Cuba, £B2; Philippines, £1,540; China, £lo;—total value of exunder bond, £222,044. The Canterbury College annual 6-ports will be held on March 16 on the Exhibition sports ground. The next display of London fireworks will bo given on Wednesday.

The date for receiving entries for the essay competition lias been extended to March 6.