DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 168, 19 June 1925, Page 11

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

As the visitor enters the spacious grounds, some 65 acres, formerly known as Lake Logan, the first thing that will surely strike the eye is the dome of the festival hall, at present in the course of construction. In ’the foreground, sandwiched between two ornamental lagoons, is tho bandstand, which will be graced by the famous Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Regiment. To the right is the British Government court, and if bold figures convey any impression of size, it might bo added that tho. dimensions as given by the guide are 390 feet by 100 feet, . ... , The British commercial exhibits will lie housed at tho rear. To the right is another building of the same design and acreage, and hero the Canadian, Australian and Fijian exhibits will bo on view. The motor section is evidently to be a special feature as to the left of the Canadian building is a huge structure ot about three acres in which the Motor Olympia of the Southern Hemisphere is to be held, and it is claimed that here will be seen one of the largest and most up-to-dato exhibitions of iinotor cars, trucks, motor cycles, bicycles, accessories, etc over soon south of the line. A peep into the structure, where carpenters no longer beat their ceaseless tatoo, suggest that it will truly be “some show At tho rear is. tho New Zealand Government's section which is as long as the Motor Pavilion but only half as wide. This leads into the Secondary Industries Court, a capacious “show-room” over twice tho size of tho one just visited. But capacious as it is, it is uot large enough to house all the exhibits that arc offering. At the north end the shell is already up of tho restaurant and tea rooms. Tho magnificent Festival Hull, which is to be the scene of much mirth and melody, is ut present the scene of very different activity. Here seem to bo concentrated all the wielders of hammers in Dunedin, and the rapidity with which it is assuming shape it is evident that the ca canny virus has not penetrated hero. The Exhibition Choir of 500 lusty voices will be making tho rafters quiver hero in a month or two. The Art Gallery is the most substantial structure of them all. It is in brick and will house treasures from many British collections, whilst French anij American support is assured. East of the gallery is tho spacious Sports Ground where optimists are hopeful of staging eriokot matches. Whether the turf, even on this magical spot, will be quite ready is a doubtful matter, but them will bo a wondrous variety of other attractions ranging from such hectic pleasantries as an Axemen’s Carnival and tug-of-war to spectacular military pageants. Ihe Amusement Park promises to be a miniature Coney Island affair, with a water chute as perhaps the most thrilling of the attractions on offer. From the Sports Ground one passes through tho General Kxhibits and Eiiucaitional Court, an impressively capacious place, but “far too small” you are rather dolefully informed. There is still the Machinery Hall to visit. Here massive engines will whirr and buzz in tune, or out of it, with tho hummings of innumerable dynamos and the clangours of sundry other mysterious contraptions, all dear to the hearts of young and old. There are many other places yet unnoticed. There is the Aquarium, for instance, where monsters of the deep, hitherto onlv heard of in romantio tales of the sea will ho there to refute the notion that these arc only myths. Ihe Muori House, which is already on the grounds, but only in piles which from tho disenchantment of distance might appear to be nothing more than meie firewood, will bo tho nearest attendant to the Aquarium. It has a romantic history Sthcy say, so many hundreds of years old and no doubt the Exhibition guide book maker will find plenteous copy in those piles of oc'nrcd and carved wood, there is tho inevitable fernery and already small armies of those skilled in the art of producing dnmure lawns, ornamental lakes garlanded walks and gorgeous patches of rainbow-tinlod flowers out of apparently nothing at all, are on the wur-path, or at least on the path to be. They are armed with trowels and spades and sundry other workmanlike implements and with the first suggestion of spring ono can look forward to finding that this verdureless spot bus undergone a fresh transformation.