EXHIBITION PEEPS

Evening Star, Issue 23422, 13 November 1939, Page 5

EXHIBITION PEEPS

VAST AND COMPREHENSIVE ; N.Z. GOVERNMENT'S DISPLAY MODELS DELUXE [From Our Reporter.] WELLINGTON, November 11. If you want to “ do ” the Government Pavilion at the Centennial Exhibition make up your mind that it is going to take time. That is to say, if - you wish thoroughly, or more or less K thoroughly, to assimilate the many won- ; derful exhibits there displayed. It is a !- bewildering business to the newcomer, this touring of the Government Pavilion, for no sooner have we found what ■ we-think must surely be the most in- ■ -i teresting feature than something e^se is revealed which is at least equally so. ■ And ho sooner have we finished the round than some particular attraction draws us back. , Consequently it would be quite impossible to present, after even half a dozen visits, anything like a complete picture of the big Government effort V which has resulted in . displays by 26 departments of State, displays which f cover a floor space of 100.000 square ' feet. To attemnt to do so would be akin to trying for a University degree in the course of a 40-honr week. RAILWAY SYSTEM IN MINIATURE. j Sere, however, are a few words regarding some of the outstanding features. First, the Railways Department exhibit. This is a fascinating display—intensely so. It is, in a sense, the small boy’s wildest dream come true —model railway trains moving along the lines, over crossings, culverts, and bridges, through tunnels, past open country and miniature townships, stopping here and • there at miniature railway stations or depots for loading timber or sheep or coal. And all the time signals are blinking their red or their green lights, letting trains through or stopping them on their tracks; bolls ringing at the crossings to warn those tinv motor cars that a stop in time saves life. Here, indeed, is a complete rmlwav system working within a space of lS2ft hv 36ft. But'it is not a toy to he appreciated onlv hv the youthful mind ; in Proof of which statement see the ■ adnlts who crowd the rails and watch and watch and go back to watch apam. DOCTOR ROBOT. ; The "Robot Doctor, who operates in the Health Section, attracts plenty ot ‘■patients,” who listen carefully to the sound advice which comes from his system—or, shall we say, the advice ’ which conies from his, -sound systexnThis figure moves around the stand, ‘‘ stopping at each exhibit and explaining S in detail its significance. • ■ 1 rue, .the r doctor’s “ bedside manner is a little stiff, and there is no : movement of the lips to synchronise with the words com- ' ing ‘from his t ) system. ** Still, it is a ;• novel touch, and certainly increases ‘ one’s receptivity in regard to the whys and the wherefore, the d°’s and the don’ts, which accompany the little lecv tnrettes on diet, exercise, disease, and \ immunity from disease, and all the 1 other useful subjects handled. ? “ Health,” says Dr Robot, “ can be demantled as n right, if we do what is right. The Government do a lot, but ; you, as an individual, must do your share.” TO DO THE RIGHT THING. , In this section are to be seen many f .models—models of the right -kind of ‘ hospital and sanatorium, of young people at exercise and at play: others ’ in hath tubs or in the patient’s chair at a clinic ; models of model dwellings, * of imps making unsuccessful stabs; at • • an “ immunised ” child. Interesting, ’ moreover of great value in helping ns to be able to reverse the orthodox confes- . sion and sav : “We have clone what we ought to have done, and have left un,V done those things which we ought not. to-have done.” 'j f telegraph and radio. Kext to-the Host and' Telegraph sec- ’. tidju More fascinating things here, and - we see .how -messagese are sent .over >j. wires and, cables; how the radio is ; woriced and the mail bags despatched. : Those little lights which ,b,oh across continents and oceans dike . blinking: glowworms when we'turn the handle of a. dial indicate the’-various, air, routes;: "■ other lights represent i, radio beaedns.. '. :fl Further along are. the latest devices; used in telegraphy.-and here and there- .' are a hundred other instruments and gadgets which have made it possible, to reduce the time taken in commnnica^

ting with the outside world from months to seconds. Round the corner they are showing you, and telling you, by means of pictures and the ever-recurring sound system, how these things were done in the slow old days. THE FIGHTING SERVICES. Now for the throe arms of the service—the navy, the array, and the air force. In the naval section there are beautifully and perfectly constructed models of fighting ships. There are the big battleship and the deadly submarine, and others in between. There also .is a section of a torpedo—an instrument of death which one regarded, before visiting this exhibition, as a receptacle just filled with explosives and shot through the water in the hope that it would..“got there.” Instead we behold a most delicately constructed affair with double propellers, a depth adjuster which keeps it along its straight but “ crooked ” path and many other wheels within wheels and rods beside rods. So that one is not altogether surprised, though is may sadden one a bit, to learn that, including about £550 worth of explosive a torpedo costs in the vicinity of £I,OOO : The army section has its guns, great and small, of particular interest being the new Bren Gun, and here khakiclad and other young visitors may at almost any time, be seen studying the mechanism of arms which, let us hope, they may never have to use against fellow human beings. Here too are models which, in their delicacy of construction, lend to reduce our horror of them as death-dealing instruments. AIR SECTION POPULAR. Particular attention, of course, is given tjie room in which are set out the air-force exhibits. Not only do we find here model planes, sections of engines in motion—a motion smooth as’ velvet—but there are series of diorama pictures depicting the evolution of flight as well as the development of the aeroplane. These begin with the dragon fly, regarded as the “ first glider,” and proceed through the reptilian and bird stages, from which has grown, first the balloon, then the crude flying machine, and finally the fighting plane as it is to-day. These, perhaps, are the most.attractive- sections of the Government Pavilion, but many, many more are there to_ be inspected—the broadcasting studios, the mining industries, the tourist and publicity, the marketing, the hydro-electric, and, of course, the State housing exhibits. Dozens more than these there are, so that it may readily be seen that in this pavilion alone there is a wealth of attractive matter. OTAGO’S PORTION RECEPTION ROOM POPULAR INTERESTING MODELS Visitors continued to drop in to the Otago reception room in the Dominion Court, and are received by the courteous hostess. Miss E. Moloney. The room is frequently-used as a liaven of rest by Otago folk, ov ex-Otago folk, .who. have become a little footsore and weary, ns most conscientious exhibition visitors do become. There is nothing ostentatious about this Otago room, nor is it a big place—just 26ft by 14ft—but it is neatly panelled in figured rimu. An archway and a spacious fireplace are of Oamaru stone.

and the furniture, consisting of a table, a settee, and comfortable chairs, ,is of polished beech from Central Otago, while the floor is richly carpeted. The murals are a feature of the decorations, the 30 beautiful photographic studies by Mr George Chance being greatly admired. The Otago area in the Dominion Court compares favourably with that of any other province. It includes a number of working models representing a shearing shed, with sheep shearing in operation. An apple-grading shed in which the apples are moving along the grader, and a meat freezing works, where are to be seen cAttle moving up a ramp, an engine shunting refrigerating vans at a siding, and the Kurow hydro-electric works. Still models of a bush timber mill and yard, a coal mine head, and a gold dredge on the Clutha River are also within the Otago area. The model of Dunedin city is, of course, the prominent feature in this area, and one frequently hears visiting citizens eagerly pointing out buildings and other landmarks which they recognise. The accuracy with which these city models have been constructed is the subject of much flattering comment. AUSTRALIA IS “THERE” A HANDSOME PAVILION " Australia will be there ” is always the motto of our friends across the Tasman, and the Australian Pavilion quickly established itself as one of those which visitors “ had to see.” It is a spacious affair, like the country itself, and the contents‘speak very clearly of the greatness of Australia, not only in relation to its size, but to its products, human, and material. The sections devoted to art and literature, for instance, reveal the fact that already the Commonwealth has established itself on firm ground. We have, of course, been frequently so informed by Australians we have met, but here is accumulated proof in the form of collections of books and paintings and statuary, as well as photographic studies of Australian composers, / In the field of primary produce, of course, everyone knows that Australia is 11 there ” also. In the pavilion a statement that the value of raw primary goods produced annually exceeds £200,000,000 is supported by pictures and working models showing how it is done. And in the same manner are visitors impressed with other facts concerning the wealth of the country, as well as its social and other attractions. But the average exhibition visitor really docs not concern himself with these kinds of facts and figures. What is likely to more quickly draw and hold his attention is the activated diorama of an Australian beach which is set in the wall at the end of the ground floor of the pavilion, which unlike the other pavilions, is a two-story affair. This has a truly fine and life-like effect, in miniature, of cours'e. On the golden sand there are modelled figures of lifesavers and bathers, and a surf boat is just making land. The waves are in motion and the breaking of the surf upon the beach and the spray rising as the waves strike the boat is marvellously well contrived The furniture of the pavilion is all made from Australian timbers, and very beautiful it looks. Floor coverings, too, have been made in Australia, and altogether the contribution by the r’omrnonwealth Government to the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition is a very handsome and attractive one. TASMANIA APART Having seen and admired the Australian Pavilion and its contents, one is rather surprised to come across, in quite another part of the exhibition, a separate Tasmanian Court. It is a small affair, bub compact, with samples of some of the manv products of the tight little island. These include canned fruit, sparkling cider, oils, metals, fabrics, perfumery, timber—and clothes pegs.

SAMOA TOO MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FROM GOCOANUTS Samoa, which “ comes into the news” every now and then by reason of the desire of its former owners to repossess it, has in the exhibition a collection of articles representative of the life and resources of these delectable isles. Models there are, of course, for one would be hard put to it to find an exhibit or a section in the whole of the exhibition which has not its models of some kind or other. In this case they serve to describe what a native house is like, and what difference there is in native houses in the various islands of the group. There are, too, the “ bones ” of a native house of full size, construction having been interrupted, not because of shortage of labour or cash, hut purposely in order to show the building methods adopted in Samoa. Nearby is a canoe such ns that used by the natives when they go bonito fishing. Hats and mats partially and fully completed, native skirts, a wooden ’ pillow tho use of which by a European would probably result in a stiff neck in the morning, one also sees, and there is a show case of divers articles which hare been made from Samoan cocoanut shells —drinking cups, baskets, a whisk, a scrubbing brush, and even a musical instrument akin to a ukelele. In charge of this court are some very fine specimens of Samoan manhood. PORT OF LONDON Over in a corner of the grounds is a small pavilion over the door of which is inscribed “ Port of London Authority.” Here, as in so many places in the exhibition, is history. A diorama shows us the River Thames, with ancient barges moving along it, and

in the foreground figures representing the various periods of development in London as a port. On the other side of the court is a diagrammatic lay-out of the old river from London Bridge to Tilbury, and this is accompanied by a model of the Thames environs, showing thousands of buildings, numbers of docks, wharves, and other shipping facilities. A large model of the Tower Bridge is another prominent feature, this being flanked by symbolic groups representing Great Britain and New 7 Zealand STEEL BALL “ ACROBATS " AMAZING ACCURACY Did you ever see small steel balls such as those used for ball-bearing machinery doing acrobatic tricks? This intriguing performance attracts considerable attention in the transport pavilion. In a glass-enclosed case is a stool wall in which are two small porthole-like apertures, one on either hand. Tn the centre of the case hangs a steel ring which revolves at a regular speed. Out of one aperture comes a ball, which drops on to a poised plate and bounds through the hoop on to a similar plate, and thence up and into the second aperture. The accuracy with which these metal acrobats “do their stuff ” is astonishing, so astonishing as tn create laughter on the part of the onlooker who does not fully grasp the significance of the mechanical test which is the object of the demonstration. CATERING DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME Tlie catering difficulties which were experienced during the first days of the exhibition are being overcome. On Saturday, when there was a large attend-

ance, supplies at the pie stalls and at the fish and chip, the hot dog, and the coffee and biscuit counters, were adequate. Further, the lessees of the main restaurant in the buildings have reduced their tariff to 2s 6d for lunch and 3s 6d for dinner, and patrons are now plentiful. The cafeteria continues to be a popular resort for the seeker after “ eats ” at reasonable prices. An advantage here is that a customer may cut his coat according to his cloth, and his food according to Ids appetite. The official attendance figures for Saturday, issued by / the exhibition authorities were 35,759, almost as many visitors as on the opening day. As the bulk of these were present in the evening. Saturday night was easily the best so far. The total of the attendances to date is 104,555, which gives a daily average of 26.100.