THE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14167, 15 September 1906, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

MORE SIDE SHOWS. Mr Frederic Shipman, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday, has many inventions for adding to the list of sideshows. Ho has secured excellent sites, near the Canadian Court, and fronting the roadways that- will lead to the Maori pa. His schemes are not mature yet, but- lie informed a reporter yesterday that ho would introduce some of the best features of three great gatherings, the Pan-American, the St Louis, and the Chicago Fairs. There will ho many novelties in his side-shows, and ho states that he will have a bunch of amusements that will attract very many people. A prominent feature of these shows will bp the fact that they will bo absolutely safe, and they will he likely to bo specially attractive to ladies and children.

| Air Shipman, like Air Burns, is charmed witli the spot chosen for the Exhibition, and with all the surroundings, and lie is greatly surprised at the progress made. Sometime ago, before any buildings were commenced, he wont over the grounds with Air Alimro ; and he said yesterday that although the Commissioner had seemed very sanguine, the results must have far exceeded Ins mast rosy expectations. Air Shipman predicts a thoroughly successful “ season 'i for the Exhibition, and says that when it has concluded its success will probably lead to two other large International Exhibitions, one at Alolbourne and one at Sydney. He has Keen only one drawback to New Zealand’s “effort. That is the high fares from Australia. Inquiries have confirmed .his own opinion that £ll is far too high, and that a fare of about, £5 would contribute much more to the success which will be achieved in any case. In Australia, he frequently asked people if they intended to visit New Zealand’s Exhibition. Large numbers were inclined to do so in parties, especially member’s of a family. When he said that the fair was £ll they shook their heads and replied that the expense would bo too great. Ho then asked them if they would go if the fare was £5 and they generally replied that they would. With a family of four, a five-pound fare would amount to only £2O, but an elevenpound fare would amount to £44, “which,” concluded Air Shipman, “is a very different thing.” He has arranged to bring Miss Marie Narello and her company, which according to present bookings will open the concert hall. Miss Narelle is an Australian. *She has had a remarkably enthusiastic reception in the United Kingdom, and has captured the heart of the Irish nation with her singing of popular Irish songs. BESSES-O’-TH’-BARN BAND. ITS DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND. Tucked away 'on board the White Star liner Alajestic, now on its way from Liverpool to New York (says the Manchester “Daily Despatch”), are musical instruments and new richlybraided uniforms, the one to captivate the ear, and the ether to capture the eye of our kith and kin beyond seas. They are the property of the Besses-o’-th’-Bam Band, which sailed on July 25 from Liverpool on a tour unique in the history of instrumental combinations. But it is a unique band, and unique things are expected of it. It can point to a history stretching back one hundred years. Age in this case, however, has meant the reverse of decadence. ■ The Besses will not be heard 1 again in this country for about eighteen months. When they return they will have travelled some fifty thousand miles, and spread their fame across three great lands, America and Canada being the first- objects .of their harmonious attack. Some idea of the extent of the first portion of the tour may be gathered from the fact that the band docs not sail from Vancouver for Australia until December 7. After playing at the New Zealand International Exhibition, it will tour Australia and then revisit the United States and Canada, and complete an experience which every member is anticipating with the keenest pleasure. Long before the liner’s time for sailing, a great crowd had assembled on the landing stage. This included many of the bandsmen’s relatives and friends from different parts of the county. The members of the Besses, who had been enjoying a look round the city, reached the stage about two and a half hours before the Alajestic sailed, but did not immediate!}’ go aboard. It was TT "typical Lancashire throng. The bandsmen were jolly enough, but wives and sweethearts were sorely tried at the thought of so long a separation. Once more the men reappeared with their instruments, and fond cheers swept the stage. Opening with that lively march, “ Punchinello,” they went on to something which touched deeply the emotions of the waiting throng—“"'Lead, Kindly Light.” The band followed this with “ Auld Lang Syne,” and wound up with the National Anthem, the final bar of which was reached as the ship’s syren for the departure of the vessel was giving its shrill farewell, and the last gangway was being taken away. The band will give its first concert on American soil at Now Haven, where a march composed by Air Alexander Owen, the conductor, will be produced. It has been named after the American President.

It is expected that on the way to Australia the Besses will give concerts at Honolulu and the Fiji Islands. They are to travel extensively through Australia, hut their most important en-gagement-i« that of a month at the Exhibition in Christchurch. Asked what kind of music the band contemplated giving, Air lies replied, “It is not going to play down to athletics and comedy antics. It is going to give the people real, genuine music, the music that has made the band deservedly famous. Some people have told me that for success in America wo must play a lot of claptrap, but I don’t take that view.”

NOTES. The carving of the great gate-way I of the pa was completed yesterday, and Neke Kapua has commenced the carv- , ing of some posts. The walls of the runanga house at I the pa have been erected. I To-day the eastern entrance to the pa will be cloned. There will be a narrow entrance at the north-eastern corner, and tradesmen will be admitted, on the western side. Visitors are being strictly kept out of the pa, but largo numbers gather at the palisades and stand watching the Maoris’ at work. The main building has net been handed over to the Commissioners yet. This will probably be done on Monday or Tuesday. Tho aspect of the Canadian Court is -being changed rapidly by the erection of arches, pillars, and nailing, and by the scheme of decoration. In the main building large numbers of ex-iibitors have placed their cx- . hibifo on the sections allotted to them, i Alessre Gordon and Gotch, Limited, 1 who have taken up a considerable extent of space in the Exhibition buildings, propose to file therein all the Australian and principal New Zealand papers for the free use of the general public attending the Exhibition, i Negotiations arc in progress through i Mr Henry Brett, Executive Commissioner for Auckland for a visit of the Auckland Orchestral Society to the Exhibition. The visit is being arrang--1 ©4 tor the end of January, or early in

February, and it is proposed that, during the week the visit will last, two or three orchestral concerts should he given in the Exhibition concert hall. For public information, it is announced that the engagement made by tho Exhibition authorities with the Besses o’ th’ Barn Band is that the celebrated band will make its first appearance at tho Exhibition on January 9, and then play for a fortnight, afternoons and evenings. A second season of a fortnight is to' be carried out at a later date, and the total remuneration to be paid to the Besses o’ th’ Barn. Band :s £2500. Air Alfred Hill, of Wellington, will arrive here to-day to sign his engagement contract and to take up his duties as conductor of the New Zealand International Exhibition Orchestra. Air T. S. Weston, of Alelbourne, who has been appointed loader of the Exhibition orchestra, arrived from Alelbourne yesterday. Writing under date July 20, Alessrs J. Pain and Co., of Loudon, advise the Exhibition authorities that the flags and shields ordered for decorative purposes, are leaving by the next steamer sailing from London for Lyttelton. Permission lias been granted to Air Hamilton, who is in. charge of the Alaori pn, to place the necessary posts in the lake, near the pa, to form skids and ia landing-place for the Alaori canoes. Shelter sheds are now being erected in. the ostrich enclosure, with the view of the birds being immediately transferred to- their new quarters. The Exhibition authorities have received a list of the pictures which are being forwarded by the Suter Art Society of Nelson, to be hang in the space allotted to that Society in the Art Gallery of the Exhibition. Judging from the titles and description of the pictures referred to these should form a very interesting feature. The Sports Committee has applied to the Executive Commissioners to have arrangements made for a supply of water to the running track and the sports enclosure; and also that the seating accommodation should be so arranged that three stands should ho placed on the east and one on the west side of the ground. Mr G. W. Lee, engineer and manager of the Kaitangata Mine, has made a model of the min© for the Alines Department.