35,000 ATTENDED WINTER. EXHIBITION

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1948, Page 7

35,000 ATTENDED WINTER. EXHIBITION

ATTENDANCE for the Whangarei Winter Show’s five days and nights reached comparatively astronomical figures this year. Nearly 35,000 people attended, an all-time record. Gate takings were about £1750, nearly £2OO more than last year. Approximately 31,000 people passed through the gates in 1947.

“On the eve of the closing of the Whangarei Winter Exhibition for 194!! I would take this opportunity of expressing to all stewards and workers the deepest appreciation and thanks from the show committee for the wonderful manner in which you have worked and cooperated.’’ The president of the Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral Society (Mr S. J Snow), said this in an address before the exhibition closed on Saturday night. ‘T thank and compliment the stall holders for the thought and effort they have put into their various stalls.” he continued. A combination of stewards, worker s and stall holders has been responsible for making this show a. record in every way. “To my friends of the Press, and of the side show pitches—from the elephant tamer to the donkey boythank you—your assistance and cooperation have been greatly appreciated by my committee and myself.

Wendy Adams and Barry Mcßae sang together “Let the Rest of the World Go By,’’ and Barry also sang “Now is the Hour.” Interspersed were sketches by the company, which included Peter and Paul Newberry and the well-known Be Mon Troupe. The troupe's firstclass balancing exhibition almost stole the show. Hardest work was done by Mr Harrison, who also found time to sing “An Irish Lullaby” and “The Rose of Tralee.” Mrs Parks was accompanist for the night. During the week the accompanist had been Miss Scylla Calkin. % Mr Harrison thanked all artists who assisted to make the 1948 Winter Exhibition Variety Hour such an outstanding success.

“May I in conclusion say for myself, as your president; you have been a wonderful team and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been your captain for this show ” Mr Snow said.

“Ladies and gentlemen, sincerely, I thank you.” THE CLOSING SCENES

The show buildings presented a scene of furious activity this morning as representatives of most of Whangarei’s larger businesses dismantled exhibits and carted them away in trucks.

Although the tented showmen were not stealing away quite as silently as the well-known Arabs, they were certainly getting away fast. To the accompaniment of hammer blows and sounds of wrenching timber, truck after truck roared away, followed by trailers piled high with baggage and canvas.

In the Drill Hall, where most of the arts and crafts, besides edible exhibits, were displayed, proud owners gazed at some outsize carrot or pumpkin for the last time in its exhibition setting. Festooned with broken electric wires and littered with discarded paper, the main building was gradually becoming denuded of tractors, cars, radios, refrigerators, milking machines, farm implements, models and all the other various display pieces. REMARKABLE It had the definitely worn air of a building on which 35,000 people had descended in five days, and it seems remarkable that such a few acres of ground should stand up to a transient population far greater than the number of residents in the entire Whangarei borough and county. The tumult and the shouting is dying, if not yet dead, and the empty spaces are growing larger. Still standing unclaimed is the refrigerator raffled by the Whangarei A. and P. Society. Drawn at 10 p.m. on Saturday, the winning ticket was No. 5128.

Variety Hour Almost Stole Show

There was no need for a man with a microphone outside the big marquee at the show grounds on Saturday night, unless it were to tell people that the interior was packed, out, a fact which could be clearly seen anyway.

The prolonged applause for the variety “show programme also spoke for itself.

Organised and compered by Norm. Harrison, the show, which began at eight every night staged a grand finale.

The troupers, although a little tired, turned on their best, and recalls were frequent. For those who liked tap dancing there were the Bisset sisters, Rae and Joy. Clad in attractive green and white dresses, the girls were recalled twice. FOR ALL TASTES Bob Carlson’s skilful fingers rambled over the keyboard of his pianoaccordeon, and delighted the audience with the music they produced. Young Beverley- Collison’s song and dance, in which she exhorted the powers to “Let it Snow, Let it Snow,’ did nothing to affect the applause which was, indeed, very warm. Always to be relied upon for a good duet were Mr S. J. Feters and his daughter, June, who were required to give two more. Mr Alec Cameron’s rendition of “The Road to Mandalay”, had feet tapping to the melody.