THE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14202, 26 October 1906, Page 9

THE EXHIBITION.

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. LAST NIGHT’S MEETING. A meeting of. the Executive Committee was held last evening? present— Mr J. A.; Frostick (deputy-chairman), Drs Chilton, Jennings and Levin go, and Messrs’ H. J. Marriner, W. W. Charters, H. Quane, J. C. Wilkin, 11. E. M’Dougall, H. W. Bishop, S.M., J. F. Grierson, J. G. Moore, W. Minton, J. Jamieson, A. Kaye, R. Buchanan, T. J. M’Bride, G. Scott, R. 0. Bishop, J. Anderson', A. W. Beaven and H. R. Rushridge, Measrs H. J. Scott, W. Reece ! and ,G. T. Booth, Executive Gommiisioners, also attended the meeting. Apologies were received, for the absence of Messrs G. S. Munro (chairman of the Executive Commissioners) and H. Overton and Colonel Bauchop. THE INVITATIONS. A DISSATISFIED COMMITTEE. \ THE OPENING CEREMONY. Mr Kaye, chairman of the Ceremonial and Entertainment Committee, b'aid that his committee had decided to place before the Executive Committee the following resolution :—“ That it be reported to the Executive Committee that the Ceremonial Committee records the. fact that it is not in any way responsible for the transferable tickets that are being issued for the opening ceremony of the Exhibition, and, further, expresses its regret that any such complimentary tickets should have been issued.” For many months, he said, his - committee had had the question of invitations to the opening ceremony constantly before it. A great deal of consideration had been given to the subject, and the endeavour had been to make the ceremony satisfactory to all concerned. It was seen at an early stage that the Concert Ball would be too small for the ceremony, and it was decided to use the main corridor for the purpose. A list of those who should be invited was drawn up, and it was thought that steps had been taken to prevent anybody being overlooked. The committee’s regret—not to use a stronger term— would be understood when it was announced that two kinds of passes, > one giving ■admission to the buildings and the other to the grounds, had been issued. The tickets bore Mr Munro’s signature, but there was no precaution to protect the particular interests the committee had been carefully watching all along. The committee had intended that, when the time came, it, wuild issue suitable cards, similar to these used at the ceremony, of laying the foundation-stone, bearing the names of the persons invited, and the words “ not transferable.” The posses that had been issued gave no protect on whatever. At present, the committee was in happy, or rati er,- unhappy ignorance of the number of persons who were invited. Even in the large corridor, in which the ceremony would be held, the limit of accommodation waa about 1650 seats, and 100 extra seats would be occupied by hie Excellency and other distinguished guests. Considerably more than 2000 'tickets had been issued, and the committee might find itself in the uncomfortable position of having the corridor very much crowded. The committee therefore wished to enter its protest, and to announce that it accepted no responsibility for issuing the, tickets that had gone out. He did not know what could bo done now, except to state that the intention was that only those who had been strictly invited would be expected to present pas cs at the gates, and that the tickets wore not intended to be transferable. He also announced that the Volunteers had promised to take a prominent part in the ceremonies on the opening day, and in view of the importance of a gcod nurd or of Volunteers, it was hoped tl at employers would not place any obstacle in the way of employees who wished to attend the parade. There was another point in respect to the day’s proceedings that should be made public. The guests invited to the the opening ceremony wore also invited to be present at the trooping of the colours in the afternoon, and a reserved stand, with 500 chairs,’would be available. The committee wished that the tickets presented when guests

■entered the building should be retained and be presented again, in the afternoon. The tickets already issued, however, did not readmit holders to the grounds, and the Commissioners stated that those who entered again would have to pay. It was scant courtesy to invite pepole to an opening ceremony and to make them pay. The offic.al programme would be ready scon, and would set out the items in connection with the opening ceremonies. The. ode was well advanced, and it was believed that it would bo a great success. Mr Reece said that he sympathised with My Kaye’s remarks in regard to the tickets. They were unbusinesslike in form and execrable in taste. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that the meeting would make a recommendation in regard to re-admission'of guests in the afternoon. Dr Jennings said that, apart from the tickets, invitation cards had been issued by the president of the Exhibition, and lie wanted to know if a person who had a card, but not a ticket, would bo refused admission. Mr Recce said that every guest was supposed to have a pass. Mr Kaye moved: “That it be a recommendation to, the Commissioners that those who hold invitations to the opening ceremony should be re-admit-ted in the afternoon on these tickets, which should be retained with that object.” Mr Moore seconded the motion, which was carried., Mr H. W. Bishop said that, ho knew two or three instances where one person had received two official invitations, and the spare ones would be passed on to other people. Others, who ought to be invited, had not received any invitations. There was something sadly at fault somewhere. Mr Minson said that he knew of two instances where tickets had been transferred, because two had been issued to one guest. Another, member of the committee said mat he knew of a person who hadreceived four invitations. Mr Booth said that it was only fair to state that the' invitations had been issued by the president in Wellington. The Commissioners had issued some invitations to members .of committees who had been overlooked, but instructions had been issued that the Commissioners should issue no more. Dr Jennings stated that passes had been distributed broadcast to people who had not been invited. The chairman said that 2000 official invitations had been issued.- As each invitation, included two, . persons, the total number of passes would be 4000. Mr Minson said that evidently that number would bo supplemented by many free passes. Other members; of the committee commented on the position, and the meeting went on to other business. THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT. Mr R. C. Bishop said that ho wished to bring up the matter of the publication of an announcement that exhibitors would not be allowed to work at their exhibits after 10 p.m. on October 23. The exhibitors were making the Exhibition what it was, and they should have a« free a hand as possible. No exhibition was perfect on the opening clay, but every endeavour should be made to complete the stalls as soon after the opening as possible, and they should bo allowed to ’ —k as near as possible to the opening day. Mr Reece said chat portion of the announcement was simply a reiteration

! of a rule. It was customary for the authorities to do their utmost to urge exhibitors to ■ got things ready and in place. The Commissioners were how considering what modification, could reasonably bo made. If exhibitors did their beet to help the Exhibition, it would probably bo found that nothing unreasonable would be insisted upon. Mr Bishop said that he had been officially informed that at ten o’clock on Sunday night the whole .228 acres of ground would bo cleared of workers. RIGHTS OF EXHIBITORS AND OTHERS. Mr Beaven said that no provision had been made for the admission mf exhibitors and their attendants; to the grounds. It was time that arrangements were made in that direction, and the matter should bo attended to during the next few days. Mr El. W. Bishop said that he had written to the authorities in respect to admitting Maoris to the pa, but he had not received a reply. The secretary (Mr Righton) explained what bad taken place, and Mr Reece said that the president (Sir Joseph ’Ward), would bo in Christchurch next week, and that the whole mojtter of transacting the Commissioners’ business would bo readjusted, (Hear, hear.) MISCELLANEOUS. Mr H. "W. Bishop said that 'the Maori Committee wished to issue a publication in connection with the pa, in the form of a guide, and to make a charge, but he was informed, that that could not-be done. Mr Booth said that there was a difficulty in the way of publishing sectional catalogues. A contract had been entered into, and it was for the lawyers to, say how far the rights extended. The question would bo submitted to the lawyers soon, and it would probably be found that there would be a difficulty if the Maori Committee wanted to issue a book and sell it, Mr Bishop said that his committee had carried a motion that it intended to issue a guide, in order to test the point. (Hear, hear.) Mr Minson, chairman of the Home Industries Committee, said that*something would have to be done in regard to screening the windows, in order to protect exhibits from the sun’s rays. Mr Scott, chairman of the Building Committee, stated that that question was being attended to. It was decided, on the motion of Mr Moore, seconded by Mr Grierson, that the Commissioners should be asked to give the Executive Committee a more suitable room tnan the one .proposed to bo given. On the motion of Dr Levinge, chairman of the Horticultural Committee, it was decided that thS“ Commissioners should bo asked to have the upper portion of the glass partition in front' of the fernery suitably coloured, to harmonise with the plants. In reply to Mr Moore, Mr Reece said that as far as he knew the offices in Hereford Street were open. The secretary, at the request of the chairman, explained that arrangements had been made to sell season tickets at the Tourist Office. Mr Moore said that it had been suggested by the committee that a competent officer should be sent to the Hereford Street rooms to keep records and attend to the sale of tickets. Mr Beaven moved that the com-

mittee should ascertain why the suggestion was not given effect to, and that an officer ought to be appointed next day to receive entries for competitions. Mr Moore seconded the motion, which was carried. Mr Chatters moved that the Commissioners should be requested to communicate with the milway authorities and ask them to be good enough to undertake the watering of the South Belt between Colombo Street and Mad-

ras Street, in the interests of the many thousands of passengers the railways will carry to and from Christchurch. Mr Beaven seconded the motion, which was carried. APPROACH OF THE OPENING DAY. * EXHIBITORS’ PREPARATIONS. Exhibitors put on a good deal more pace yesterday, and it is clear that many of them, in the main buildings at any rate, are' making efforts to have some kind of a display ready for the opening day. A wonderful difference was made since the previous night. Exhibits seemed to have suddenly taken on complete shape, and now disclose ingenious schemes and many inventions to attract the. public eye. The Railway Department is still sending in large quantities of exhibits, and the same order and regularity in handling them is being observed. The Machinery Hall continues to lead all other parts of the Exhibition in respect to the rate of progress. Mechanical contrivances are being erected in that hall at a rapid rate. There is- a 'bewildering variety of exhibits alieady displayed there, and many more’ are promised, CANADIAN COURT. Everything was ready yesterday in the Canadian Court for the reception of the 900 cases of exhibits. By eleven o’clock there were thirty-seven truck-loads in the Exhibition grounds and sixty more at Christchurch. ' CLEANING THE BUILDINGS. A complaint has been put forward by several influential exhibitors that there has been no strenuous effort made for the last four weeks to clear up the rubbish lying about. One gentleman states that his stall has been ready for the last fortnight, but there is so much dust about that he can do nothing further to it in the way of dressing and repolishing. He regarded unfavourably the proposal to commence cleaning up in earnest on Monday, stating that it would take two or three days, and exhibitors would be able to do nothing during that time to put the finishing touches on their exhibits'. What should be done was to at once put a gang of men on every night, so that by Sunday night the building would be fairly clean. At other exhibitions this plan had been carried out, and it should be followed in Christchurch. A letter had been written to the Commissioners suggesting this course of action. Mr M’lntyre states that he has heard, nothing of the complaint, but that a gang of men is engaged both day and night in cleaning the buildings, and the rules and regulations for exhibitors are being enforced with regard to cleaning. THE TOURIST COURT. ’ _ “Keep Out” is the laconic advice tendered by a notice at the portals of the Tourist Department’s exhibit. To those who take a peep in, the exhibit creates a pleasant surprise at its forwardness. The stags’ heads have been placed in position on the ; walls, and a ceiling of green and white quartered cheesecloth tones down the heat, of the section, while the green finish of the walls adds to tho 000 l effect. THE TIMARU HARBOUR BOARD’S exhibit. The exhibit of the. Timaru Harbour Board consists of a model of the harbour and portion of the borough of Timaru, and key plan. The model, which is wholly of wood, was designed by Mr E. Crow, formerly in the employ of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, -and now assist a nf/to the engineer to tho Timaru Board. The work was completed wholly by the Harbour Board employees', excepting the painting, which is the work of Mr Griffiths, of Timaru. To a scalo of 100 ft to an inch is shown on the model the .foreshore about two miles ‘ on each side of the Timaru Harbour, with all completed harbour works. Alongside the different piers .'are berthed model vessels, of the type of those which now visit the port, and in tho offing is shown a model of one of the large 43,000-ton Cunardefs now being constructed. The painter has delineated the effect' produced, by the eastern extension mole, just completed, on the weather side of which is shown a fairly rough sea, while under the lee, in the inner harbour, is depicted the exact conditions of perfectly still water, which would prevail there. The model and the key plan ' are based on a recent survey made by the Board's engineer (Mr J. H. Baynes). The key plan, which is on the'same j scale as the model, shows not only the existing harbour works but also pro- ] posalv recently laid before the Board by the engineer, as a comprehensive scheme for the complete development of the port of Timaru. The proposals, which are shown in reel tint, are, briefly—A rubble mole 5000 ft in length, to enclose an outer harbour, with an area of about _ 500 acres; in the inner harbour provision for two new piers, each 800 ft in length; a breast wharf, 1300 ft in length ; the . reclamation of about 4 acres (portion of this is now being carried out). In the outer harbour five piers, each 800 ft in length, connected with the present main ’wharf by a breast wharf 150 ft in width and about 1200 ft in length; and a bi'east wharf 1300 ft in length on the north side of the north mole. • A dry dock, 900 ft in length, is also shown at the Waimataiti Lagoon, from which it is proposed to utilise the excavated material in the construction of a roadway or esplanade running fro/n Caroline Baj’ to Dashing Rocks, and shown on the plan as King’s Drive. The plan also shows, in pictorial and figured diagrams, information with regard to the increase in the trade of the port for the . last decade, including the money value of imports and exports from 18951905, the tons weight of imports and exports from 1895-1905, the frozen mutton and bales of wool exported from 1895-1905, the registered tonnage of shipping from 1895-1905, and a comparison of the frozen meat trade from Wellington, Lyttelton and Timaru. On the model w also shown tho proposed area to be dredged to 30ft below low-water springs, with an entrance to the inner and outer harbour 800 ft in width. The model is tastefully coloured in

natural tints, and encased in moulded panels, while th^' internal effect is sm hanced by mirror panels.

VOLUNTEERS’ REFRESHMENTS. The Exhibition authorities have made a grant of £l6 towards the expense of providing refreshments for tho Volunteers on the opening day. As there will be about 2000 men at the-ceremony the grant works out at about 2fd per head. It is understood that tho men. are dissatisfied with the amount, and state that the authorities had promised to bear the whole cost of their refreshment.

NOTES. ' About twelve pieces of statuary, have been mended already, and they reflect credit on the efforts of those who undertook the work. Yesterday the workmen were requested to leave their bicycles outside the building, cleaning operations inside being projected, and the consequence was that there was an inextricable mesa of machines to be seen at most of the entrances. Outside the chief entrance, about ton .or a dozen deep were nearly sixty machines, all in reclining attitudes, while round the side of the walls there were ranks four and five deep containing more than - a hundred bicycles. Altogether, there were over 200 etc I in this casual manner, and the trouble in extricating them at twelve o’clock was considerable. The sale of season tickets at the Tourist Office continues steadily, and the average receipts are about £SO per day. At the Agricultural Department’* ’ Court the show cases and specimens are being put in pcsition, and given finishing touches. The cases of honey are very interesting, as they represent the collection by Mr Hopkins of samples from all parte of the world, There is a jar of the' celebrated Scotch heather honey, probably the first seen in the colony, and there are seven samples of English, honey, representing the best qualities, which have taken prizes at Home, collected by Colonel Walker, of Devon, England. There are about fifty samples of New Zealand honey of different grades, and one sample sixteen year* old. There is also a large jar of pure buckwheat honey from America, the first seen in New Zealand, a jar of pure white sage honey from California, and alfalfa honey, also from the United States. There are 2501 b from the State apiary at Waikato, Auckland, and this honey will realise the highest price in the English market. Mr Hopkins is collecting honey from-all parte of Australia, and the section altogether should be of the greatest educational value for bee-keepers, who will be en-' abled to see what are considered the best samples in all countries. Samples will be shown from the Exhibition apiary, but they will not be available until January. . . > Signor Bragato has arrived at the Agricultural Department’s court,, and will proceed to unpack his exhibits of wines to-day. • ■ , , ~. Mr J. Pollard has'offered to lend hw splendid collection of British regimental badges to the Defence Depart-: ment for exhibition in the Defence Court. The collection, which is said to be the finest of its kind in New Zealand, was gathered by a member of the Australian Bushmen during the Boer war,- who, on his return, sold them to Mr Pollard. , PARAGRAPH . ANNOUNCEMENTS. Business paragraphs intended for sert ion in this column must be arranged for with the advertising department.