DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 November 1925, Page 5

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

SOME OF ITS FEATURES. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.; DUNEDIN, Nov. 16. That ephemeral city- of pageants which has arisen on the northern shore of Otago harbour, housing the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition, 1925-26, to give it its official title, will throw open its gates to the world to-morrow. Though, the exhibition is not -wholly complete, all the displays will be ready in a very short time. The enterprise represents a direct outlay of £IOO,OOO, which has produced ail exposition amazing in its scope and the detail of its representation of the things included in that scope, which is practically world-wide. It is certainly more than Empire-wide, though naturally the Empire plays a vastly; preponderating part in the finished wonder show. Most of the other districts of New Zealand, have taken a share in the promotion of this enterprise, though the North Island seems to have been rather backward in its realisation of the importance of the exhibition. Canada will, perhaps, take pride of place in the eyes of the visitors by its wonderfully attractive display, but the British Government’s court and the Hall of the Empire presents a reasonably complete history of the Empire’s development- and potentialities. The Australian court, though incomplete, will prove one of the most'attractive. There are seven huge buildings, the fio-or space of which is measured in acres, with a central open space, called the grand court, three hundred yards long and half that width, stretching from the main entrance gates to the handsome domed festival hall, wherein over 2500 people may he seated for the various musical feasts prepared for the currency of the exhibition. In the midst of the grand court are beautifully laid out flower beds and an artificial lake. Inside the main entrance, and stretching a quarter of a mile in length, the grounds have been tastefully laid out. A feature of the- exhibition will be the most ambitious motor show ever attempted south of the line. This pavilion also houses a wonderful series of displays put in by the Education Department, including work of school children from schools large and small in all parts of the Dominion. Beside the New Zealand pavilion is a space which will be .especially interesting to rural visitors. This is devoted to experimental plots conducted by the Department- of Agriculture, showing the results of the scientific treatment of soils for different - forms of crops and grasses, etc. Near the festival hall is the art gallery, a permanent brick structure, which contains very valuable collections of pictures and objects of art from all parts of the Empire, including many of the most prized pictures lent from English collections. There is a. wonderful park of amusements, including a scenic railway. Flanking the amusement zone is the games area of twenty-five acres, where all sorts of athletic sports will he staged during the exhibition. Various influences have told against the progress of the North Island courts. Representation was secured by the provinces of Auckland, Taranaki, and Wellington, and though elaborate foundations have been laid in the Auckland and Wellington courts, beyond that signs of progress are scant. The courts will certainly be behind not only the South Island courts, but also those of Australia and Canada, in that they are not in readiness for inspection this week. THE OPENING CEREMONY. DETAILS OF THE PROGR AMME. DUNEDIN. Nov. 16. The Exhibition will -open its gates to the public at noon, and at 2.30 p.m. the Governor-General arrives,, entering by the west gate and proceeding round the Exhibition block through the amusement avenue to the sports ground, where he will be .welcomed by M> J. Sutherland Ross, president of the Exhibition. The route of procession will be lined by Territorials and guards of honour wi'l he -furnished bv HALS. Dunedin and Ist Otago Regiment. After inspection of these by His Excellency, the formal service -of inauguration will proceed, beginning with the singing of “God Defend New Zealand” by the Exhibition Choir, of 400 voices. Then will follow prayer by the Bishop of Dunedin (Dr. Richards), and after that a. Scripture reading by, the Rev. E. N. Merrington (Presbyterian). The Old Hundredth will then be sung by the whole assemblage, led by the choir and accompanied by six bands—--Ist Battalion Otago Regiment, Artillery, Kaikorai, St. Kilda, Tramways, .-mil thp Argyle and Sutherland. Speeches by the- president (Mr Ross) and the Governor-General will follow. At the conclusion of the latter. His Excellency will declare the- Exhibition opened, whereupon the Argyle and Sutherland bandsmen will sound a fanfare of trumpets. The Prime Minister and the Mayor of Dunedin-(Mr H. L. Taplev. M.P.) will then address the assemblage. Two selections by the Argyles will follow, and the formal pro-oee-atngs will end with the same band’s playing of “God Save the King” in a setting they have made their specialty, and which has seldom been heard in this country. The Governor-General

and party wi’l depart by way of the Grand Court and main gates, and the Exhibition will have been launched upon the sea of events. The launching will undoubtedly mark the beginning of a new epoch in. the history pot only of this province, hut of the whole Dominion.