THE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14191, 13 October 1906, Page 8

THE EXHIBITION.

THE ORCHESTRA. Judging by the rehearsals of the Grand International Exhibition Orchestra, the hopes of the music-loving people of New' Zealand with regard to the music at the Exhibition will be more than realised. Those who have heard the orchestra, even at this early stage, say that it is questionable whether a finer “wood and brass family ” could be got together even in the Old Country, and the string players are splendid, both as a body and individuals. They inchide several fine soloists. The musical director and conductor, M r Alfred Hill, says that he is “proud of his orchestra,” and adds that it is difficult to describe in sober language the treat in store for the patrons of the concerts at the Exhibition. The works already in rehearsal since Monday last are Beethoven’s (No. 5) “Fate” Symphony, “Die Meistersinger ” Overture by Wagner, Brahms’ No. 2 Symphony, Schubert’s Great Symphonic in C (No. 7), Schumann’s “Spring” Symphonic (No. 1), Overture to Richard 111. by Volkmann, Overture Zustspiel by Smetena, and Max Bracii’s Violin Concerto in G Minor. Most of these works are quite new to Now Zealand, although great favourites in the Old World.. It is the intention of Mr Hill to give all the well-beloved and betterknown symphonies of Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Schubert and other standard composers. The popular programmes will include performances of well-known popular overtures, such as “Maritana,” “ Bohemian Girl ” and “ William Tell/” On the Mendelssohn, night the great “Scotch” Symphonic will be a feature. Now that the orchestral rehearsals are well in hand the string quartet party and the wind chamber music players will begin and prepare works' for the chamber music .concert. The compositions to be played at these concerts will include Brahms’ trio for horn, violin and piano, Beethoven’s septet for wind and strings, and works by Mozart, Beethoven. Schubert, Schumann and. others for strings only. During the season several piano concerto’s wit lx orchestral accompaniment are promised. Mr Maughan Barnett, of Wellington, is preparing the Tschoikowsky Concerto, Herr Hirschberg, of Ohristchu-rch, the Grieg Concerto', and Miss Heywood, of Auckland, Miss Medley, of Wellington, and Miss Katie Young, of Christchurch, are at work on a concerto by other great writers. Of works for violin and orchestra, there will be no dearth. The Max Bruch Concerto already mentioned, to be played by Mr Weston, is bound to be a “request” number at more than one concert.. Mr Cyril Monk, fresh from his sojourn iii London, has several novelties for violin and orchestra, and, in short, the variety and quality of music is remarkable. There will be no lack of interesting novelties from the beginning to the end of the Exhibition season. THE CYCLORAM A. The Cycloram a, which is rearing its cylindrical proportions 64ft, with a a girth of 396 ft and a diameter of 126 ft, is east of the Pike, and apparently will be one of the largest of the outside structures. It has created a good deal of mystery, but will really be nothing more startling than the ordinary cyolorama. The view will be the .Battle of Gettysburg. The picture, which cost about £12,000 to. paint, is 360 ft long, and 50ft high, .weighing approximately five tons. It arrived on the. ground in its enormous case on Thursday, and was hauled into position. The raised platform in the centre of the present skeleton building will accommodate the sightseers, and th© pictures will hang round the inside walls of the building. Th© passage-way into the centre of the Cyclorama will be utilised as a natural hill in the scenery : sp'.' thah.rthe view from the platform will he uninterrupted: Musical entertainnienta will be provided at the Cyclorama, which is conducted by Messrs Dwan Bros, and M’Grath. Mr H. E. Wright is the contractor, and although lie obtained a, late start he expects to be finished in time for a seasonable opening.

I THE BULLER-INANGAHUA COURT. Mr Frank J. Munson, who has been appointed the officer-in-charge of the Bnller-Inangahna Court at the Exhibition, arrived from Westport by the I Rotomahana yesterday, bringing under ■ his oare the complete exhibits for his Court. The Buller-Inangahua people have taken nearly 3000 square feet of space, the measurement being 118tt by 25ft. The main attraction will be the display of the Westport Coal Company, which is being erected under the supervision of Mr James Bradley, the company's analysing expert. Mr Munson considers that next in order of merit 1 will be the gold arch, representing the 'bulk of gold exported from the West Coast, £26,000,000 sterling. The arch was designed by Mr R. A. xoung, engineer to the Westport Barbour Board, and the structure is now undergoing 1 the finishing touches. Buller will show, besides gold, coal, and a great variety of other minerals, a fine assortment of timber, including some beautifully mottled yellow pine, rihiu, rata, kawaka and totara. Mr D. Darrach is arranging the exhibits in the- Court, and will probably have his task completed well in advance of the opening date. POLICING THE EXHIBITION. AN ENORMOUS INCREASE. During the Exhibition period the total force under the control of the Po- ’ lice Department in Christchurch will j bo increased by from sixty to a hundred men. Commissioner Dinnie ig at I present in Christchurch making arrangements for the thorough policing of the Exhibition and Christchurch from now onwards, and he states that the force will be particularly strong, and that no effort will be spared to carry out an effective scheme of defence./ The assistance of the Permanent. Artillery has been sought, and the Department will be able to place thirty men in the building and grounds. A number of constables will be transferred from each police district in the colony, and detectives will be drawn from all parts of the colony, as well as from Melbourne and Sydney. Additional men will be distributed throughout the city, both day and night. There would be three reliefs in the building, each superintended by a sergeant and probably under a subinspector, and Commissioner Dinnie thinks that the staff will be sufficient to deal with anything arising in the building. The exact number of the staff could not be ganged at present, but a large force would be commenced with, and increased or decreased, according to requirements. The Exhibition would be divided into beats, and the utmost system would prevail. A large number of plain-clothes men would be engaged, both in the city and the Exhibition, and also in the grounds and the gardens.

Commissioner Dinnie said that there would be a large contingent of undesirables and criminals from Australia, and they were doubtless arriving now. The detectives from Australia would make them their special care, and point them out to the local force. Arrangements ' had been made with the police, of Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney to watch all the boats, and advise New Zealand of any shady passengers, while detectives, would watch all the vessels arriving in New Zealand. Commissioner pinnie said that apparently there were several confidence trick men in Dunedin. A good school of

them could be expected in Christchurch, which would provide a good field. They would come as stowaways and in all manner of disguises. There had been several stowaways arrested here, but the finger print system had assisted to reveal their identity. The prints were sent over to Australia, and it was found that the subjects had been convicted several times. That would frighten a good many away, and the fear of indeterminate sentences, should the Bill be passed, would also be an effective deterrent. Commissioner Dinnie will remain in Christchurch for some time after the inauguration of the scheme, to see how it works, but Inspector Gillies will superintend the whole matter otherwise. THE STATUARY. SERIOUSLY DAMAGED IN TRANSIT. A start was mad© yesterday to unpack the statuary which was purchased for the Exhibition by Sir Joseph Ward in his recent Continental trip.' About twenty of the half-hundred cases were opened, with almost appalling results. Of the cases investigated, only two were in such a state as to lead to the supposition that their contents were unbroken, and though the packing material was not removed, there was room for doubt as to the condition of one of ( hem. All the other figures were more or less seriously broken, and, some of them were smashed into hundreds of pieces, and lay, heaps of plaster and dust, at the bottoms of their cases. These were cists that had had no other packing support than was afforded by slats fastened across the cases, and the way that sorile, of the iron-work that was cast into the substance of the plaster was bent, suggested that the cases had been subjected to very rough treatment. The majority of th© casts were packed in fine shavings, and these were less smashed up; but heads, arms and other projecting parts seem to have been unable to stand the treatment they have had, and the damage to the figures is so great that it looks very improbable that any of them can be repaired. The figures, which were all plaster-cast replicas on a. small scale, ranged in height from about six feet downwards.’ They were packed in strong oases, but such supports as could be seen yesterday looked quite insufficient, and whether from defective packing or from rough handling, in spite of the liberally written “fragile” with which the cases were marked, the casualty list was terribly heavy. AN EXHIBIT OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Mr John Dixori, representing the well-known musical firm of Boosey and Co., of London, arrived from England yesterday by way of Australia, to make arrangements for the firm’s, exhibit. Messrs Boosey and Co. intend to have a complete and thorough exhibit of military and braes band instruments, ranging from triangles to bagpipes. Mr Dixon states that the exhibit will be the finest that has ever been sent out of Great Britain, , and will be. superior even to the show made by the firm at the St Louis Exhibition. The instruments shown will total about £4OOO in value. The firm is also.sending but an extensive selection of music, including the favourite .selections to be played by the Besses-o’-th’-Barn Band. / Mr Dixon will also he in charge of the exhibit of Messrs Williams, Sons and Co., Limited, ; of Toronto, Canada. This firm is interested in the manufacture of stringed instruments, and is rapidly becoming a formidable competitor with the. Continental makers. Their, exhibit will, of course, comprise part of the Canadian Court. Incidentally, Mr Dixon com-, mented upon the enterprise, d isplayed by the Canadian Government in sending exhibitors’ goods to the colony and returning them free of charge, whilst the British Government left such matters entirely to ' the manufacturers themselves. LONDON’S”SOCIAL MAP. The. social map of London, which has been placed in position on one of the walls of the British Government’s Court, is beginning to. attract notice, not only on account of its interest as an indication of the social condition of the inhabitants of each street, but as a colossal maoof the great metropolis. Captain Atkin states that the notes on the map and the books have been contributed by the Right Hon Charles. Booth, the eminent philanthropist and sociologist. There are seven different colours on the map-black, dark blue, light blue, purple, pink, red and yellow—depicting the different classes in each street from the vicious, semi-crimi-nal, loafing, and so forth, to the uppermiddle and wealthy classes. The first map, Captain Atkin states, was prepared in 1887 and 1889, showing, graphically, the comparative social conditions of the people of London. The map at the Exhibition had been prepared, in 181)9 and 1900, and represented the result of a thorough revision of the first map and an enormous amount of visiting work by Mr Booth or his secretaries, assisted by police officials acquainted with the whole locality. The map had been extended to include practically the whole of the metropolis excepting a strip of South. -London.THE VICTORIAN COURT. ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE. THE WORK IN HAND. Mr Edward Nicholls, the representative of the Victorian Government, arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning, and at once inspected the site of the Victorian court, which is between the main building and the machinery hall. The court will take in 4000 ft, and from a description supplied by Mr Nicholls should be a striking exhibit in a -very excellent position. Mr Holmes has compassed a great deal of work in preparation for the exhibit, and notwithstanding many disappointments, in the matter of obtaining exhibits, he has still a very full horn of Victorian products l . The private firms exhibiting in the Victorian court, Mr Nicholls stated, a.ro the Mildnra Fruitgrowers’ Association, with a nice collection of fruit, etc.; Harvey and Co., with an exhibit of Victorian and sparkling wines; Harvey, Dann and Co., with compressed fodder, and various firms showing machinery and miscellaneous exhibits. Whybrow and Co. also intended to make a good display of colonially-made boots and shoes and leather work, and there would be a four-oared outrigger from Greenland and Son. Messrs Joshua Bros, would also send, a collection of their Australian brandies. Among the Government exhibits the Bendigo School of Mines would have a comprehensive and interesting collection of models, showing the primitive and up-to-date methods of extracting gold, as well as a fine display of minerals. The Ballarat School of Mines was forwarding a case of unique fossil fruits, obtained at a great depth. They had never been suffered to leave the museum before, until entrusted to, his

care. The Mines Department had drawn plans for the erection of a gold obelisk, representative of the .total‘gold won in.-Victoria from 1851 to-1905, and beside it Cleopatra’s Needle would be as nothing. The obelisk could not be erected inside the building, as’it .was too high, but the Commissioners had permitted him, to place it outside. It represented an amount of £275,000,000 —or an average of £5,000,000 per year for the last fifty-five ' years. The obelisk would be 54ft • high,-' of which 6ft would be the pedestal,, while the gold block at the base would be 14ft x 14ft 6in. In addition there would b© a handsome array of’models of all the famous nuggets obtained in the early days in Victoria, including, of course, the largest nugget found in the world. The Melbourne Exhibition trustees were forwarding several pieces of statuary, and Dr L. L; Smith had kindly loaned a, large number of his very valuable paintings from the same building. , The Australian Sheepbreeders’ Association was getting' together an assortment of the best fleeces from Victorian flocks, and the Royal Agricultural Society had selected a. few samples of grain, wheat ; . oats and barley, whiioh obtained prizes' at the recent, show in Melbourne in September. A most striking exhibit would be a huge slab of red gum timber 10ft. x sft, without a flaw, taken from on© of the largest trees. . . ' V Mr Nicholls added that his disappointments in obtaining exhibits . had been too . numerous to ' particularise. Very_ few of the manufacturers were exhibiting, by reason of the tariff • working so much against them. They had not taken the matter up in a kindly spirit, and were not disposed to go to expense with very little prospect of trade arising from it. The exhibit,was shorn of the Chamber of Manufactures. For instance, the woollen,.'leather, cement, tobacco, cigar, rope and twine, hemp, and cordage, jam' 'add dandle manufacturers had not come simply because the tariff was' inoperative. Consequently he had encountered hard work in getting satisfactory exhibits together. He had anticipated ’ being able to , obtain a collection of_ polished slat© woods in a handsome .kiosk,, hiit it had been lent for another ' purpose in Victoria. He had also been disappointed in not obtaining an exhibit of Sloyd work in schools, and work from the Dookie and other colleges had not been forthcoming. Mr Nicholls stated that it would -he uphill work to be ready by November 1, as the court was very bare, with nothing to cover the studs., However, he was going to work at once. NOTES. The South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society intends making a good display of the fishing attractions ,of that district at the Exhibition. A number of fine trout have been stuffed, and will be exhibited in company with a fine set of views, the work of Mr C. A. Winn, of Temuka, showing various attractions for _ the angler which the local rivers provide. The secretary of the New South

Wales Royal Art Society has forwarded particulars of thirty-six pictures, which will be despatched by the following boat to represent that Society in the Exhibition Art Gallery. ' The secretary and superintendent of the National Art Gallery of New South Wales advises the Exhibition authorities that the president of that Society, Mr tE. Du Faur, and himself intend visiting the Exhibition for the opening ceremony, and also with the view of securing works of art for the National Art .Gallery of New South Wales. . Commander M. S. Fitzmaurice, of H.M.S. Pyra-mus, has accepted an invitation to he present at the opening ceremony. His Excellency, Vice-Admiral , Sir Wilmot Fawkes and Lady Fawkes have expressed their regret at being unable to accept the invitation to attend the opening ceremony, but- state that they hope to be able to visit the Exhibition later on, and wish it in the meantime every success. , ... ; With reference to the nomi nation from the Bands Association of New South Wales for the_ Exhibition Band Contest to be held, in February, the secretary ,of that Association writes that the'contest has concluded ae follows Newcaetle City 1," Newtown; 2, Tramway 3, Bathurst 4. Under these circumstances the Newcastle City Band will compete at the Exhibition Band Contest. At a meeting of the ’Photographic Committee the exact extent of space required for the Photographic, Gallery was decided upon. The arrangements will probably admit of the Technical Science section being placed in the North Gallery, next to the photographic section.

, Water has been laid on for the fxont of the Exhibition Buildings, and a good supply is now available for the lawns and flower, beds. Better progress can now be maid©, and the work of completion ie being rapidly proceeded with, The advent of. the stranger a few weeks ago at the Maori pa will be celebrated by a “benefit” foy the: little Maori lady, and with that object an entertainment will he held at His Majesty’s Theatre on October 23 and 24. The idea has been taken up enthusiastically as a compliment to the Maoris, who are helping to make the Exhibition a success. Several vocal artists have promised their services, and hakas, pens and other dances will be performed by over fifty speciallytrained Natives in their old-time picturesque" costumes, The entertainment promises to be very interesting. Mr Sydney Morgan, who is represent-; ing an English firm at the Exhibition, probably holds the record in regard to attendance at exhibitions. He has seen 120, including all the large ones held in recent years, and many smaller ones in the United Kingdom, He says that the exhibitors ought to be,ready in good time, and he sees no reason at all for fear on that score. The Paris Exhibition was in' a shocking condition of chaos a few days ■ before the .opening/ railway trucks full of exhibits being unloaded on the rails in the builmrig. The same state of unpfepafedneas was seen

at St Louie, and, in fact, at almost all exhibitions he has attended. It is claimed that the first (exhibit to be ready for inspection is Messrs Price’s Patent Candle Company’s die- - play. The firm is one of those represented by Mr Arthur Day, the veteran exhibitors’ representative. Messrs Brett and Portlock are work-, ing day and night at the organ, ahd are making steady progress. They\ have no time to lose, but they do not; doubt that they will have the great' instrument ready by November 1. The actual erection, of course, is practically finished, and the organ is;“speaking.” The tuning, however, has yet to be done, and there is a mass of work before the experts. Outwardly ; • the organ presents a fine appearance, Mr Brett is engaged nearly all- day long attending to the delicate mechanism' inside, testing the apparatus,, and seeing that everything is as it ought 'to be. The work is of an extremely ar-’ duous • nature, and much of it has to be done in a close and stuffy atmosphere. .• It has been ascertained that a- number of etchings by Queen Victoria "and Prince Albert will be among the works of art in the British collection offered for sale. ; Very good progress is-being made at the West Coast and Southland courts, both of which evidently will bo ready in time‘for the opening. , The Grand Hall is almost .finished. Carpenters are now. engaged putting down the floor. '; : . . Steps are being taken to put the seating in the concert hall.' Fresh exhibitors arrive at the .buildings every day, and stalls are being erected in all directions with great ra-? pidity. “No loitering permitted” ; is' the warning that confronts visitors at every turn in the buildings. As a. matter,' of fact, very little loitering takes place, and everybody eeems to be bent; on business that must be attended-.to at once. ■ '■ ■ i Exhibits in connection with the home industries section must bo delivered at the Exhibition Buildings not later than noon on Monday. Late entries will bo received up to the same hour. - ; • Mr F. Talbot, representing Mr .F.- ' Shipman, has arrived to'-make arranger' ments for the appearance. at the Exhi-; bition of Miss Marie Narelle. Misa Narelle enjoys the unique distinction Of' having (with the exception. ,df Melba’s opening night) the largest audience ever assembled in the Sydney Town Hail... She was. advertised to appear)’fournights, but as hundreds had to b«f turned away nightly, three extra- concerts were given with equal success. It established ■ a record for any artist -to give seven concerts in ten days in Sydney. Miss Narelle will give the. first two vocal concerts at the Exhibition.-- -