AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14, 17 January 1914, Page 8

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

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Among the large number and variety of exhibits in the Auckland Exhibition there are a number Which are quite out of the ordinary, not only in tho Exhibition itself, but among the side-shows. The amusements include a number of stirring side-shows, tho thrill o? which arises largely rrom the. methods by which the patrons are , allowed to drop from a high level to , 41 lower one, in some sort or a truck, . or a boat. These are everlastingly at- j la-active, and are constantly .busy. One of the novelties is a collection ot j veritable possessions of the ill-fated ■Scott expedition, displayed m a small wooden imitation oi: a snow-covered hut. Perhaps the. outside exhibit of the most unusual nature is' one. that t lasted the least time. This was a well-grown Queensland alligator, imported with considerable trouble in a box and clad with a reputation as a man-eater.^ Unfortunately; no volunteers were willing, to sacrifice themselves 1 to the beast's proclivities for human flesh, and for various .reasons, including hunger and fretiting for its natural streams, the beast lay sadly in its little pen, with its tail,,in six inches of water, and pined away. A snack, consisting of a couple of live ducks, the first food it had taken for many weeks, livened it up a lititle, and it then a(e a terrier with much gusto. But the ducks and the dog did not seem quite what it wanted, oand it died amidst demonstrations of much sorrow on the part of the berekved owner. The stall was closed "for repairs" while the body vyas skinned, and- the carcase was buried safely away. .' . There "is n multitude of exhibits which do rob lay much claim to aiqvelty, though some particularly attractive displays are made, by various prominent business firms in large ■■number. But among them are many objects of quite, unusual interest. For •instance, one ■ big .engineering firm representing a famous British concern displays some 12-inch and 13,5-irich armor-pierciK.;*; '■■ shells,; . which are labelled as haViiigljeen fired througli a, foot of Ivrapp armor, and which havre'-'wme'-i&rougliv-ih •Jiardly visible damage. These- shells ' oorjstantly attract attention. Closely allied to this .style of exhibit, inasmuch as flhey concern the engineering aspect of life, ore the splendid collected exhibits '•■• of electrical appliances, including a very large assort 1 rnent of electric cookers of all sorts^ nearly all to fx> seen in actual use. A "very striking novelty,1 Jand one' of which the crowds never se&m to tire, is. a magnificent -and beautifully ..finished model of-3^M.Sv;:-Hercules, •about one-fortieth of/ tJie scale of the actual ship. - The/ Postal is responsible for a very- fine show of instruments, among which is a working wireless installation; but of all the "works" shown in their big si and tho item that attracts most people is a demonstration set of automatic telephone apparatus, willingly set in operation and explained by a very patient-operatm-. Ac, a matter-of'fact, thq mechanical and electrical side ol the Exhibition is very strongly. developed, except perhaps in the "direction of attention to farming machinery, and those interested in engineering developments can find a : gre.it deal of intCTe^t to them. The Exhibition ; has so far had i\ most RiiccesSvui run., and th 9 holida\ •attendances vn<re fully tt[f te expect tions. Th-eve is nofhinor to indicate that the rest of the season will not Ik •equally successful, as at present then are a very large -proportion of soiilli■ern visitors among its patrons