NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13297, 2 October 1906, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND EXHIBITION

. MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS. v [BY TKLKORAI'H.— OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] Cnnts-rcHURCH, Monday." Several Victorian organists have expressed their willingness to accept engagements , and give recitals on the Exhibition organ. The music by Mr. Alfred Hill, and the words by Mr. Johannes C. Anderson, of the "Commemorative Ode,"" to be sung at the opening of the Exhibition, j have been printed in piano score. The ode, according to a Press critic, opens with the " Chorus of Welcome," in which the composer has expressed with considerable power the main theme, and in a minor key the regret at, "Passing of the Pilgrim Fathers." This is followed by a charming soprano solo illustrative of the earlier : New Zealand, when the islands lay isolated and unpeopled. A boldly accentuated baritone solo written in the tune of the - haka, describing the conflict with the native race, follows. The growth of agriculture and pastoral pursuits is then described in a.tenor solo, quartette, and opening andantino. Another excellent 1 number is the succeeding chorus, "Open 1 Stand New Zealand's Gates." This is one of the best of the many excellent numbers in ■ the work. A tenor solo, fugue, and chorus, in which the triumph of labour is expres- ' seel, together with a hymn of praise for the fair heritage of New Zealand, comes next, and is an excellent composition. This is most powerfully written, the finale especially being markedly effective. Altogether Mr. Hill is to be congratulated upon having written music for the ode well worthy of the theme he has had to deal . with. . • The erection of the Maori pa is now 1 complete. It is a most interesting exhibit. Mr. Longden, who is in charge of the art section of the British exhibit, has completed hanging his pictures, in the first room. Too much cannot be said appreci.itory of the contents of the Exhibition art gallery. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Chbistchtjrch, Monday. _ His Excellency the Governor is issuing invitations to an official dinner party upon the evening of the opening day of the Exhibition (November 1). His Excellency expects to entertain about 100 guests. The work of arranging and installing exhibits is proceeding busily, and 80 trucks of exhibits arrived this morning. The main features of the Canadian court are completed, but the individual exhibits in the court have not yet been set out. The City Council to-night granted an application to run rickshaws, manned by Japanese, in connection with the Exhibition: THE HAWAIIAN EXHIBIT. Mr. F. Holmes, who will represent the territory or Hawaii at the New Zealand Exhibition in Christchurch, arrived by the Sierra from Honolulu last evening, and proceeds South by the Maheno to-day. Mr. Holmes also brought with him the 'exhibit from Hawaii, which includes a large number of descriptive photographs relating to the resources of the island, and special photographs and plaster casts of the fish abounding in the waters surrounding the island. In the course of a chat with a Hkr,at,i> representative, Mr. Holmes said the exhibit would be small, but representative. For the past 15 years Mr. Holmes has been connected with exhibitions in various parts of the world, including Paris, Chicago, St. Louis, and Buffalo. He has with him some very fine feather leis, which are worn by the best of the native Hawaiians, and some are from birds now extinct, and consequently are very valuable. The sisal industry has made great strides during the past two years, lie says, and the island's export of tropical fruit is extending. The people of Hawaii have recently opened up a large business with the Californian mainland in tropical fruits. Samples of the kona coffee will also be shown. While at the Exhibition Mr. Holmes will make a strong -point of the advantages to'toiirists of visiting Hawaii and Honolulu in 1 particular. There is a, committee in Hawaii called the Hawaii Promotion Commit tee, which extends the greateH courtesy and welcome to all colonial visitors. The Government of Hawaii is now, Mr. Holmes says, in a settled and' thoroughly tranquil condition. The native population is more contented and happy than has been the case since annexation. The various institutions and industries are in a flourishing condition. Mr. Holmes is an .enthusiastic Hawaiian representative, and speaks glowI ingly of the country he represents. ART EXHIBITS. Mr. James Jamieson, of Christchurch, and chairman of the Fine Art Committee in connection with the Exhibition, is on a visit to Auckland. In conversation with a -Herald reporter last night .MV. Jamieson said that he had personally inspected the collection of pictures for the Exhibition after its arrival in the colony a few days ago, and found it to be of the very best quality and a' thorough representation of British art. There are altogether 550 water-colours, 250 oil paintings, and 400 black-and-white studies. ' The pictures had been selected on behalf of the British' Government by one of tin; foremost art critics in the world (Sir Lsador Spielman), who bad acted in an honorary position. The Government had spared no expense to give New Zealand of the best, and lie (Mr. Jamieson) was fully satisfied, for, in his opinion, the collection is a magnificent one. The object the Fine Art Committee had in view was the retention of the pictures in the colony, and to this end they are working. He had that day approached the Mayor of Auckland with a view to the Mackclvie bequest trustees purchasing some of the pictures. He considered it in the interests of art in this colony that such a fine collection of pictures should not leave the colony. An endeavour will be made to sell the pictures privately and publicly. Art is Mr. Jamieson's bobby, and during his interview with Mr. Myers he suggested, independently of the Exhibition, that the Canterbury Art Society should make temporary exchanges with the Auckland Society, and thus by exhibiting selectI ed pictures from either society create inI terest in art generally. HEATHER FOR SCOTSMEN. [from our own correspondent.] v London, September 1. The following letter from the chief of the Scottish Society of New Zealand is published by The Scotsman—"Our fifth annual gathering of the clans will be held toward the end of the year in conjuction with the New Zealand International Exhibition, and we expect it will be the largest gathering of Scots ever held in this colony. We are anxious to have a good supply of heather, and will be obliged if you will announce in your columns that we will be grateful for contributions from our brother Scots at Home." The editor says: "A quantity of heather will be sent direct from the office of The Weekly Scotsman, but no think it would be a graceful and kindly act if some of our readers sent out small quantities lon their own. account. It would lie greatly appreciated by all Scotsmen in New Zealand. The heather should be divested of unnecessary wood, left to air for a day or two, and then packed, not too compactly, in cardboard boxes. Two-brace grouse boxes serve the purpose well. Meanwhile our readers have responded most generously to our requests for heather for transmission to Scots abroad, and we expect that by the time this note is published we shall have had enough."