THE EXHIBITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 14292, 9 February 1907, Page 10

THE EXHIBITION.

YESTERDAY’S ATTENDANCE. 10,723. AGGREGATE, 1,128,188. DAILY AviRAGE, 13,095. There were no special attractions at the Exhibition yesterday, but a nuniber of outside visitors the attendance, which reached a satisfactory figure. The orchestra gave a pleasant 'concert in'the afternoon. THE BAND CONTEST. (By TROMBONE.) The New Zealand International Braes ■Band Contest will begin on Monday. Several bands are already in Christchurch, including the Australian champions, the Newcastle Band, and the present New Zealand champions, the Wanganui Garrison. Other hands which have arrived are the Wellington Gameon, which has eo fine a rccoid at New Zealand contests; the Auckland Firet Battalion Band, which is under the conductcTship of Lieutenant P. H. Mohr; and several others wbich_ are well known as contesting organisations. - The Kaikorai Band, the Dunedin Naval-s, the Dunedin Citizens, and the Morningtcn Band will arrive hy the first esprcea to-day. The New Zealand band that is travelling the • furthest is Wailri, ■ which will arrive on Sunday. Altogether some thirty bands are taking part in the contest. New Zealand has up to the present sent three bands to Australia to take pari in contests. The pioneer combination was the Invercargill Garrison, which tcok part in the Druids’ Carnival contest, held in Melbourne in 1897. The Oamaru Garrison .vas next, engaging in the same contest of 1898, and the Wellington Garrison later on journeyed to Sydney, and tcok part in a contest hold at Bathurst." The three bands played well, but were net successful in gaining champion honours, though individual soloists secured several first prizes. ' . . It is unfortunate that Code's Melbourne Band could not make the journey, but it is known that circumstances wore against this band. The financial side of the question might have been arranged, but the Failure cf some leading players to obtain the, necessary leave , of absence from their employment, proved a complete bar. However, it is pleasing to New- Zealanders to learn that Mr Code himself has set his mind on visiting this colony ■with his band, to take part in one of the important tournaments of the near future. There have been five Exhibi- .■, tiou band contests in New Zealand. The first was in connection with the Christchurch Exhibition of ISS2; the next wns at the Wellington Exhibition of 1885; then at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, held at Dunedin in 1890; the competition at the Wellington Jubilee Exhibition cf ISD6, and in 1900 that in-con-nection with the Canterbury .Jubilee Exhibition. The first cf the exhibition contests, that held at Christchurch in 1882, seems insignificant'when compared with those of the present day, but, nevertheless, some good playing was ‘ heard at that contest. The Timaru Garrison Band was awarded first prize. Tire second exhibition contest, that ' acid at Wellington. in 1885, was run on novel lines. Each band that entered was called upon to play a programme on a certain Saturday evenjug. ’ The Oamaru Garrison was the first band called, leading off on August .8, 1885. On succeeding Saturdays other bands played, and the last to be called upon was the Invercargill Garrison. The result of the contest was that Oamaru Garrison won with Invercargill second. ■ During March, 1890, the then largest contest tcok place at the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, held at Dunedin. Sixteen bands -took part, and tile judge placed the Oamaru Naval® first, Invercargill Garrison second, Oamaru Garrison third. The marching contest was introduced at that contest, and was -- won by ’Wellington Garrison. In 1896 a was held in connection with the Wellington Jubilee Exhibition, seven bands taking part. The competition was weak > as compared with ordinary ‘contests, and Wellington Garrison scored an easy win from the Canterbury Engineers and Stanmore. Tho Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition of 1960 was the occasion of the fifth contest. ' Thirteen bands took part, end tho leading ones were Wellington . Garrison, • North-East Valley, Kaikorai, Dunedin Novak, Invercargill Garrison and South Canterbury. Wellington Garrison also won tno marching contest,, with South Canterbury Battalion second and Invercarp!, ~”a n,,£on third. The present Exhibition contest, the sixth of tho series, as, of course, much the largest vet held in tho colony, and is, indeed, .the most important in the band history of Australasia. sTho Newcastle City Band dates from the year 1899, but in other forms it existed long before that, and some of its members can point with pride to tne record of more than twenty years’ service as bandsmen in Newcastle The secretary of the band, Mr T. Sanders, was able to give a reporter yestordav sometmng of tho band’s distinguished record. Twenty years ago, he said, ' w ? s band cf the Fourth Infantry Regiment of New South Wales. As such it had a successful career lor some years, and wgs then re-mcdelled, beCCming Barkcl's Model Band, in charge ©I Mr Vi Barkel, its present conductor. In 1899 the band was again re-ox-gnnised, and adented its present name. Since that time it has had a, most distinguished career, in 189!) the band scoured second place at the Melbourne contest, and * in lt';i ] l;U ] the ■ satisfaction of reaching the |r>-> of tho tree, winning flirt mms sr.d* the championship or Ansirclia at tins Ballarat contest. The next year the band'repeated its saccces at "Ballarat, winning the championship, ticing for first place in the march ccmpalTtion, and taking tho Smytho Cup for the highest aggregate of points at the contest. The band also attended a contest at Bathurst in 1902, and tied for first place in the selection contest, and , gained second prize for the march. The 1903 record covered three contests at Armidalo, Melbourne and Ballarat. At each the Newcastle Band took first prize, besides winning the championship of Australia at Ballarat and the Sutton Shield for tho highest aggregate in the contests of 1901, 1902, 1903. In 1903 the championship found a new' homo, and Newcastle was only third, but at tho end of last year the band attended the great contest held in Sydney, and again scored a most meritorious victory, regaining tho championship, and with it the Besson Challenge Cup, a most valuable trophy. NOTES. - About two-thirds of the children belonging to the Rangiora Borough School made a second visit to the Exhibition yesterday. The party, which, including parents, numbered two hundred and fifty, came in by special train. It has been suggested that the next display of fireworks at the Exhibition should be on a Thursday or Saturday night, to fit in with the late train on the north line. I ORCHESTRAL CONCERT. Tile concert yesterday afternoon was very well attended, and the programme played by the orchestra proved a very

popular one. The Prelude du Deluge, with Mr George Weston playing solo violin, was encored, and the evergreen “ Turkish Patrol ” was given. Mr Cyril Monk played a beautiful setting of Rubcnstein’s “Eeuo Angelique,” arranged by himself, and also, a Hungarian dance. A largo number of visitors requested that tho beautiful unfinished symphony, known as “ No. 8,” by Schubert, should be played, and this was done. WEST’S PICTURES AND THE BRESOIANS. The Concert Hall was full to the doors last evening, and the programme submitted by West’s Pictures and the Brescians appeared to give complete satisfaction. A special attraction was the presentation of Exhibition scenes, including tbe Fijian fire-walkers, and a trip along the Avon in a motor-boat. The Brescians provided a selection, of pleasing musical items. WONDERLAND. Tho water-chute, tho toboggan and the other less exciting attractions. of Wonderland were enjoyed by a fairly large number of people yesterday, and everything seemed to work smoothly. Some toboggan races were got off in tho evening. THE PIKE. Tho wooded walk echoed to many fro'steps yesterday, and tho six sideshows by which it is flanked saw a succession of satisfied visitors. MAORI PA. A special attraction in the Maori pa to-day will be the welcoming of the Hawke’s Bav Maoris by tho Fijians. Various interesting dances will be given. CYCLORAM A. The huge picture in tho Cyclorama building was viewed by a considerable number cf people yesterday. WORKING MODELS. The public appear to delight in seeing wheels go round, and tho working models were well patronised yesterday. modelTcolliery. The model colliery is one of the cleverest pieces cf work of its kind in the Exhibition grounds, and it continues to iniei'tst many visiters. TOWER ELEVATOR. Large numbers of people still patrouisa the South Tower, and hundreds of post-cards are bought daily from the tower top and posted from there. The electric elevator is still running smoothly. CONEY ISLAND"ILLUSION. The Coney Island Illusion, which is situated in the main building, near the Victorian Court, was well patronised yesterday. THE CASTRE^THEATRE. The displays of moving pictures in tho Castlo Theatre yesterday attracted fairly large audiences throughout tho day. Some new pictures will be shown this evening. O’NEILL'S BUCK JUMPERS. The arena was well patronised last evening, and tho performance of the M ears O'Neill was highly appreciated. This evening Miss Button will ride. one of tho buckjump;rs. The competition for the O’Neill’s silver cup .will also take place.

A DUNEDIN CRITIC. [Fhoii Our. CoiuiEsroxDEXx.] DUNEDIN, February S. Tbe Hon W. M. Bolt, who has just returned from a visit to the Exhibition, sa vs :■ — ; As illustrative of the industries of the several countries exhibiting, the Exhibition is decidedly interesting, and tlie arrangement of tho exhibits is excellent. ,1 think, however, that the building covers too great au area. ' The whole display would have been seen to better advantage if it bad been placed in a more compact form. The corridors are too wide. I think, too, that far too' much is made of the side-shows. Tho tendency is to divert the people’s attention from the real advantages of the Exhibition. The sideshows ought to have been in tho hanc.s of tbe Government. The country has advanced a lot of money to make the Exhibition a success, and some of this would have been recouped from the side-shows, which are paying well. To my mind exhibitions are not of such advantage to the country as some people think they are. An exhibition cf scientific discovery and invention would have been of great value from several points cf view. For one thing, our people would then be able to make a comparison in that respect between their own efforts and those of the people of other lands. This would bo likely to lead to new developments, which would bo an advantage not only to this country, but to tho world at large. The exhibition of the products of various countries, which are now so closely linked together by facility for travelling, does not appear to me to be so important a-s it was in 1831, when the Crystal Palace was opened.” TO THE EDITOR. Sir.—Permit me, through your valuable columns, to urge the responsible authorities to take steps to have tbe next Exhibition flower show duly advertised in tho Christchurch daily papers. I carefully perused the Christchurch dailies last Tuesday and Wednesday, but found not a. line advertising the begonia show held on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and it was only by chance that I had the pleasure of witnessing the very fine display in the main corridor of the buildings. Being an enthusiastic horticulturist, and a prospective exhibitor at next show, I endeavoured to secure a copy of the horticultural show catalogue. but after being referred from one official to some half-dozen others, and wasting fully half an hour in the quest, I was told that there was only one catalogue left, and that I might have the earns for a few minutes, provided I was sure to return it. Surely tills points to mismanagement somewhere, and. I trust that for the next show tho authorities will consider tho public, and give duo notification of tho function. 1 know of numbers of people who were disappointed at not being able to attend the last show owing to ignorance of the date of tho affair.— I am. etc., VISITING HORTICULTURIST. PARAGE APH ANNOUNCEMENTS. Business paragraphs intended for inEcrtion in this column must be arranged tor with the advertising department. (PUBLISHED BY ARRANGEMENT.) GREAT SALE OF EXHIBITION . JEWELS. WATCHES AND PLATE. S. Smith and Sons’ agent in the New Zealand Exhibition, has received instructions to sell the whole of their Ex-

hibition Stock at a discount of 20 per cent, or 4s in tho £l. This most exceptional opportunity to purchase Jewels, high-class watches. Silver and Plate at loss than manufacturers’ cost is occasioned by tbe desire to avoid the necessity of transhipping, packing, freight to London, and obtaining Custom’s rebate. An early visit will secure you a superior choice of goods. The sale has now commenced and will continue daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p-m. Stand near Fernery, opposite Fire Station. EXHIBITION COMPETITION. A PRIZE OF £2 2s. In connection with the Australian Eucalyptus Co.’s exhibit, situated on the east north side of the British Court, a prize of £2 2s is offered for the best two-inch advt. setting forth the merits of Gum Leaf Brand Eucalyptus Extract and Euseptol disinfectant, one of the strongest disinfectants known to science. Purchasers of a Is bottle of Eucalyptus or a large bottle of Eusoptol at Is 3d are eligible for tho competition. Retail at chemists and grocers, wholesale from Kempthorne, Prosser, or H. F. Stevens, or from the Agent, Box 309, G.P.0., Christchurch. NEW SOUTH WALES GOVERNMENT EXHIBIT. The New South Wales Government has sent a special exhibit of the above firm’s manufactures to the Exhibition ; this in itself is sufficient testimony to their excellence. Tho purifying and health-giving properties of Euseptol should find it a place in every homo, in New Zealand. At tho timo of tbe Plague in Australia the use of Euseptol was ordered by Government, and since then its progress in public favour has gone on by leaps and bounds. NEW ZEALAND GIANTS. Read this amazing- record of Wilfrid’s growth: Six yearn ago he weighed 7 stone; lie has gained 2 stone a year since, and to-cay tips the scale at over 19 stone; he is the tallest, heaviest and strongest boy for his age in the world ; he has gained 8 pounds since the opening of the Exhibition, and still j-ides hie bike. Ruby, hie sister, is aged 33 and weighs over 16 stone. You should see this remarkable family, father, mother and 7 children, at the Exhibition. EXHIBITION MINT. The visitors to the Exhibition greatly appreciate the tasteful and prettilydesigned medals that are issued in connection with tbe Exhibition, and since the supply of commemorative stamps have run out, many are collecting a full set of the Exhibition medals, which are 6 in number, and which are sold at os the set. Remember that by purchasing a ticket for West’s Pictures and the Brescians from Tho Dresden, or at the Exhibition gates you are admitted with it to the Exhibition free.