EXHIBITION NOTES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9308, 5 March 1907, Page 8

EXHIBITION NOTES.

£PEESS ASSOCIATION.]

CHRISTCHURCH, March 4. The performances of the Besses Band this afternoon and evening again drew large attendances. A new case has been placed in tfhe Agricultural Department's Court containing samples of Cape, Turkey and Australian mohair. The collection includes hair as taken from the goats, samples of "tops" or material after it has been washed and combed, specimens of yarns and finally of finished materials made from mohair, consisting of ladies' dress fabrics of great variety, some of which have all the appearance of silk and plushes, which are largely used for up holstering purposes.

Of curious interest is a large and beautiful wreath made as a tribute, of honor to the memory of the late Captain Hutton, curator of the Canterbury Museum, now on view in a glass case in the Exhibition The wreath was made by Me H. J. and Miss Stone, of Woodend, and it occupied them continuously for twelve months. Tt. is composed entirely of New Zealand fibre and the plumage of New Zealand native birds. The feathers of 26 varieties* of birds were used, several of them being extinct. The Government permitted Mr and Mjss Stone to take a feather off some of the birds from public collections. The workmanship of the wreath is extremely delicate and elaborate, feathers being combined to form ;_any graceful and beautifully cole red flowers.

A cheap excursion f or^ visitors to the Exhibition iTom Inverea-gill, Goto, and Waimea Plains brought 356 excursionists to-day. It is notable that with all the heavy Exhibition traffic of the> paafc few months there has not been a single aoci dent. : The Hawke's "Bay Maoris, whose per- i formanoes at the pa have been of such a. high order of merit, left for their homes to-day. Mr Hamilton is trying to arrange parties of Maori children to, ivisit -thie pa.

A very large number of entries hay* been received for the pet show on Friday afternoon and evening in the grounds of "Wonderland " The entries range from the smart hansom cab and horse to the diminutive hedgehog. A number of per-fom-irg animals have also entered, and will be put through some novel and remarkable tricks Extensive preparations have been made by tho "Wonderland" authorities to suitably display the exhibits. Entries for the com petition for essays on "kindness to animals" will be accepted up to Wcdnes^av night

Numerous entries for tho dahlia and fruit shows in the main corridor of the Exhibition next Wednesday and Thursday have been received. It is expected the exhibits of fruit will be a record. The dinner caMe decorations are more in num ber than at previous shows, and displays for exhibition only egeeed those at oth/?r tfie. Exhibition.