DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 November 1925, Page 10

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

fInUCATIVJL FEIATUKES

WHAT CAN BE SEEN. (B V TUbKGKAPU —i’ItKSS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, Nov. IS. Among the features of educational value at the Exhibition may be cited the aquarium, dealing specially with New Zealand fresh water fish, and il-luatra-ting tbe success that has attended acelimitisation work. Large tanks contain various specimens in replicas oi their natural habits, while around the walls are mounted trophies of the rod and line, as well as of hunters’ craft in the form of a number of excellent heads of deer and some complete mounted specimens of red deer and chamois. The Maori meeting-hous or whare runanga, which was erected at Whakatane over half a century ago, presented by the Maoris to Queen A'ictoria, lost in the cellars of some official building in London and rediscovered in time for the Exhibition at Wembley, finds a place here, and no doubt many of the younger generation of New Zealanders, as well as visitors from overseas, will study with interest the early Maori history depicted in carvings which form part of the house. A fernery in another building, oi puuga, lined with moss, affords visitors an opportunity for quiet study in its most peaceful phase. Four thousand specimens are shown. The central portion of the fernery is occupied by a rockery, with a mountain torrent in miniature lushing down from a liliputian waterfall. The whole scene is particularly beautiful at night, when many white and coloured lights, concealed in umbrageous giowth bordering the murmuring stream, shed a tender light over the picture, while reflect strains of band music, fiiltering through the thick punga walls, sounded like pipes from Elf land. In a building which houses the motor show (a display that outdistances anything ever previously attempted in the Dominion), a large space being utilised as an education court. It illustrates every phase of training, from kindergarten and Montessori to the university, and gives an indication that the authorities under the Government attach the greatest importance to the pro duction of good citizens. Work is shown from the hands of children in the schools in many distant corners ol New Zealand, as well as displays (some quite ambitious) from larger centres. The home science exhibition inculcating the preservation of health and the conservation of energy, will make a strong appeal to women. Later on parties of school children from the various centres will participate in demonstration classes. Included in the education court’s display is an. exhibit from the London County Council, which is responsible for the training of the youth of the great metropolis, ;a.nd is the chief national education authority in the British Empire. RECO RD ATTEND A NOE YESTERDAY. The attendance yesterday at the exhibition constituted a record for New Zealand. The turnstiles showed that 47,760 passed through, but several thousand more were unable to get through and these gained entrance by way of side gates. The scene at night was specially attractive, merry crowds thronging the courts and the amusement area, while Elgar’s immortal “Dream of Gerontius,” drew an assemblage of music lovers that packed the huge auditorium of the festival hall. Still other crowds promenaded the grand court, while the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band contributed an open air programme that brought joy to the hearts of the listeners.

The weather to-day was fine and from ten o’clock the exhibition has been the point whereon many people (principally visitors) has been steadily converging.

TESTERJ)AY’S PROGRAMME. SOME OF THE ATTRACTIONS. DUNEDIN, Nov. 19. Contrasted with yesterday’s crowded hours of jubilation at the inception oi the great exhibition enterprise, to-day has been very quiet. That is to say, the crowds have been moderate in size, though very intent on viewing everything possible more thoroughly than was possible when the courts were thronged with jostling holidaymakers. Another factor in keeping the attendance down to-day has been the opening of the Otago A. and P. Show at Tahuna Park. That, however, is not limiting the patronage of the exhibition to-night. Illuminations and amusement features are proving an irresistible draw to the younger portion of the community, while the soberer ones continue to study the exhibits in the various courts. The exhibitors and all concerned with the arrangement of the courts ho doubt welcomed to-day’s respite, since it gave them a chance to press on with the preparations that had to be put hurriedly aside yesterday. and each day will see wonderful strides made towards the ideal of the promoters—a display complete in every detail of the world’s great activities. The Government cinema in the education court is excellent in its depiction of New Zealand’s scenery, native life, and industries. Owing to the late arrival of some films yesterday the programme had to be filled with a t) resen tat ion of the activities of the port of London. That was also educative as showing how New Zealand produce is handled “at the other end.” Australia’s display gives a fine idea of the great island continent’s potentialities, besides excellent pictorial representations of the various States’ scenic beauties, flora and fauna. There are comprehensive exhibits of wines, dried fruits, textiles and leather goods, and steel production. The last-named is particularly impressive in the eye of the untravelled beholders, who had not hitherto realised that iron and steel were produced in such quantities and qualities so near home. A busy corner of tlie big show is the post and telegraph office in the Government court. Many jjeople despatched telegrams or posted letters to friends abroad, one incentive being the use of special exhibition postage stamps printed for sale in this office. The Governor-General has sent the following telegram to the King, in acknowledgment of His Majesty’s message on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition: “On behalf of the

Government and people of New Zealand I thank your Majesty for the gracious message which your Majesty was pleased to send on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and South Seas Exhibition, and which I had the honour of reading at the open, ing ceremony. Your Majesty may be assured that New Zealand will loyally endeavour to conduct the exhibition in such a way as to promote the objects on which your Majesty has. laid stress.” PURPOSE OF EXHIBITION. SPEECHES AT OFFICIAL DINNER. An official dinner to mark th e inauguration of the New Zealand and South Sea s Exhibition was tendered tonight to distinguished visitors, representatives of overseas countries and prominent officials and private citizens. Mr J. Sutherland Ross, piesident of the exhibition, occupied the chair, and was supported on either hand by the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. The Governor-General, toasting Ihe New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition,” referred to the displays as more an Empire Exhibition than an international one. While he did not intend to deal in .detail with the whole exhibition, he felt that special reference was due to the Imperial Court for the dignity of it s patronage of the Empire’s historical progress and tradition. It displayed in an unmistakable manner the grandeur of events in British history that bad led to the promotion of the British Commonwealth, as it was to-day. Wonderful assistance had been. given by the sister Dominions in providing displays, and in future exhibitions in other parts of the Empire New Zealand would be in duty hound to give her best assistance. The Mayor of Dunedin (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.), before proposing the toast of “New Zealand,” aroused warm applause by reading a cable message from Earl Jellicoe wishing the exhibition success. The Hon. J. G. Coates, on rising to respond, was gretted with prolonged applause. He complimented the promoters on the success that had attended their efforts in organising the exhibition and eulogised the assistance rendered by the sister countries of the Empire. The exhibition wa s a means of showing how close was our association in trade and social intercourse with the other' parts of the Empire. That was the first lesson of the exhibition, but he believed all would welcome the people from foreign countries who desired to live here so long as they conformed to our ideals of life . and government. While this was so, however, it was the duty of New Zealanders to give first choice to trade with Britain and the British Dominions. New Zeakind must give every assistance in absorbing peopl e from Britain.

New Zealand must and would render all possible assistance to, the British Navy, which was the most efficient means of preserving the ocean trade highways. New Zealand believed in the principle of international arbitration, but until this could be made fully effective it wa s every Briton’s duty to see to _it that the British Navy was maintained, as it furnished the most reliable guarantee of general peace that was within sight. New Zealand was the home of a prosperous community, and every means should be furnished for that community to make equal progress. Every man and woman must have equal opportunity in all cases, said: Mr Coates. The “under dogs” should be given the fullest opportunity to make good. There were people in the congested area s of our cities who did not have a proper chance, and it was the country’s duty to see that these people had a full opportunity to climb out of the depths of misfortune into the sunshine of prosperity. Finally New Zea'anders must maintain high ideals of '•acial purity and constitutional government.