The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1924. THE EXHIBITION.

Evening Star, Issue 18715, 18 August 1924, Page 6

The Evening Star MONDAY, AUGUST 13, 1924. THE EXHIBITION.

All visitors to the Exhibition site —and these every week now are more numerous —must have been struck with the potentialities of its eastern hillside for adding to the pleasure of frequenters when the big show comes to be held next year. The combination of hills and flat forming its immediate setting makes a unique advantage for the sit© of this fast-rising Exhibition as compared yvith those of like importance and size which have been held in New Zealand in the past. The Dunedin Exhibition of 1889-90 was not so fortunate in this respect. The International Exhibition which was held in Christchurch in 1905-7. was ideally situated in many ways, but'the only way to get above it, to get a bird’s-eye view of the whole great animated roundabout, as well as of tho city and green, restful country beyond, was by paying sixpence to be conveyed in a lift to the top of one of the centrrl towers, a restricted and far from reposilul place of observation. It is much bettor when an exhibition can be seen often ‘‘in extenso ” as well as in detail, because not only is a different view then obtained of it, but seeing it in detail must be something of a physically exhausting process without frequent opportunities for rest and refreshment. The advantage of this eastern hillside of Logan Park is that not only will an unmatched view over all the Exhibition buildings and grounds bo provided from it, but one of tho finest views over tho entire city, from the harbor on one side to its hill suburbs, .and right out to the long line of Ocean Beach. It will be a thousand pities if the best use is not made of this adjunct to an Exhibition which, when some disfigurements of its nearer environment have been removed, will have a fair claim to borrow tho motto of another New Zealand city, and to boast itself “supreme in its site.” Though it docs not form actually part of tho Lake Logan Reserve, arrangements have been made, wo understand, for including this hillside in the Exhibition area. With the view which it will command of all tho activities that will reign there in little more than a twelvemonths’ time, and its natural attractions as a picnic ground, it could not be excluded, unless the object of the company was as much to provide a free show as one that would be appreciated by its visitors. The fence will run along the top of the ridge. Nothing has been settled yet, however, as to how the natural advantages of this important asset may be developed to the best effect There is even a danger of the hillside being marred, instead of made more attractive, by too much of its manuka growth being stripped away to make walls for the reclamation work bolow. A bare hillside would be the worst exchange for the beauty which Nature has made. Sufficient of the man <ka, as well as of other growth, should bo left to provide for shade and beauty—if more is needed for reclamation work it can easily be found beyond the crest—and walks should be made up the slopes of tho hill at convenient places. A tea-house at tho extremity of the spur would be delightfully situated. The scheme for planting the hillside as a jpreslxy; trees.

already well grown, being transferred to it which it is judged would would make a good show by the Exhibition’s opening, well deserves consideration; but this and other schemes, no doubt, will depend on finance. That consideration is already beginning to make uncertainty for the plans of not a few committees. It should not do so, while file ideas which they suggest for ensuring the maximum drawing power for the big Exhibition are reasonably and moderately fraFned. No one can say that this city has not done well, as a whole, in the share capita] that has been subscribed for this particular enterprise, but some persons and some firms have done much better than others. Some potential subscribers have done nothing yet who have found Dunedin a good place to dwell in, and have not been remiss in other ways in showing their puhlic-spiritodness. They have no fixed intention of spoiling that good record by refusing their help to the Exhibition to the bitter end; but either because they dislike exhibitions generally, or because they have been unable to perceive how tin's one, for winch others are working with so much enthusiasm, will have particular and immediate benefits for them, their assistance is being withheld till the latest hour. Tho big scheme having advanced now as far as it has, it should be easy for-them to view it as a community project, and to g ! vo their best assistance without delay. The directors and all workers should know by now what tho funds which must regulate the attractiveness of their 'great undertaking can bo expected to bo. Then they will know how to cut their cloth.