AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 9

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

HtVltW OF PRUUKtOO. GOVERNMENT'S DISPLAYS. MAKING LARGE EXHIBITS. OPENING DATE DECEMBER 1. The Auckland Industrial Exhibition, which will be opened on December 1, is arousing great interest throughout the Dominion and in many countries overseas. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) has kindly consented to accept the office of patron of the Exhibition, in place of Lord Islington, who resigned the position when he left the Dominion. Lord Liverpool has also consented to perform the opening ceremony. The Palace of Industries, machinery hall, concert hall, art gallery, cafe and restaurant, and tea kiosks are all well under way. The iron roofing is being placed on the Palace of Industries, and as far as can be judged from the courts that have already been covered the building will have a fine, subdued light, and will be pleasantly cool. A fine look-out will be provided from one of the twin towers of the building. A staircase will be built to afford access to the top. ' An ample water supply, especially for fire prevention purposes, is a vital necessity for the Exhibition, and arrangements are now being made with the City Council for Sin mains to be run into the building. There will be a complete equipment of hydrants, hose and other apparatus for fire extinction. The main roadway from the gates of the grounds to the main entrance is under construction, and when finished will be a fine smooth-surfaced way, with a graceful; curve, and 60ft wide. The scrub and undergrowth on each side of the Domain Drive from Stanley Street to the Exhibition grounds is to be cleared away from the trees for some distance on each side of the drive, to enable those using the thoroughfare to have a clear view of their immediate surroundings. Government Exhibits. The New Zealand Government will make several important exhibits. The Post and Telegraph, Railways, and Marine Departments will be well represented. Having many and varied instruments, the Post and Telegraph Department is able to make a particularly effective and interesting display ; and the Railway Department possesses a considerable number of models in addition to the specimens of rolling-stock and other appliances which are available. The Department's section in the Christchurch Exhibition, a few years ago, was the finest in the Machinery Hall, and included a huge locomotive and other exhibits, which had to be brought in over a specially laid railway. It, will not be possible to lay such a track into the Auckland Exhibition, but that will not prevent the display of a striking variety of large exhibits by the Department. • , The Marise Department has offered a complete lighthouse equipment, for which it is proposed that the Exhibition authorities shall provide a temporary tower of the regular lighthouse form, so that the; public may; see virtually a real lighthouse in operation in the grounds, . with a first order light blazing out over the surroundings. The Provincial Courts. The town clerk of Nelson has written to the secretary of the Exhibition Executive stating that a representative meeting of members of various local bodies in the Nelson district was held on March 6 to discuss the* question of arranging for an adequate display of products of the ..province. ~He stated that he was communicating with the local rating bodies in the district to find whether they would be prepared to join in the cost of making an exhibit. As the bodies, concerned were somewhat scattered, it would not be possible for him to receive their official replies for some time. In the meantime, he asked that Nelson should have the privilege of selecting a prominent position for the proposed court, upon the understanding that if the local bodies should decline to join in immediate notice should be given to the executive, and that in such a case there should be no further liability for payment. The writer added that it was fairly certain that the proposal would be favourably entertained by the bodies concerned. The secretary , replied that the best course to be followed was for the town clerk to make * application for space at once, so that a suitable area can be allotted. The local secretaries in Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin are very active, and applications are coming in frequently for space and rights. Mr. E. J. Mirams, the Dunedin secretary, has been given authority to goto InvercargiTl with a view to inducing Southland to make a good provincial exhibit. A very fine combined exhibit is expected from Westland, especially in the representation, of minerals and timber. A few days ago the executive was offered (for sale) a* block of greenstone weighing a ton and a-quarter, but the proprietor was told that it could not, be purchased, and was recommended to enter it as an exhibit in the Westland Court. Mr. P. Hercus, president of the Christchurch Industrial Association, was recently in Auckland, and told Mr. Holmes that his association would be happy to place its rooms and staff in Christchurch at the disposal of the Exhibition Executive if they could be of any service in furthering the interests of the Exhibition. Go-operative Displays. An excellent arrangement has been made by the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association for the assistance of email manufacturers and tradesmen who would find the expense of making and maintaining separate exhibits too great to ,be worth while. The association has decided, after consultation with the executive of the Exhibition, to take a large space on its own account, and to divide it up amongst manufacturers requiring the facility. Likely applicants are now being seen, 'so as to secure exhibits of merit to fill the The presence of a number of would-be small exhibitors in Christchurch has raised a similar question there, and the situation has been anticipated by a private person in that citv. He has applied for the right to subdivide a space so that various people may exhibit in it, retaining the custodianship of all. Negotiations are now in progress between the Exhibition Executive and the Christchurch Industrial Association, through the executive's Chnstchurch agont (Mr. F. N. Meadows), to see if the association can make the same arrangement as the Auckland Association. This is an actilrf in line with a policy of the executive, intended to secure large exhibits rather than small, on an extensive principle. Intending exhibitors of closely allied manufactures are, when the circumstances allow, being urged to make combined displays instead of individual exhibits. ... . . i *• „ Probably one of the most interesting and attractive exhibits in the Hall of Industries will be a big joint display by several Auckland nurserymen. They have decided to set up and maintain a fine floral show, including pot plants and cut flowers. It will be on- view throughout the Exhibition, and will be, in fact, a miniature horticultural show. Some prominent city merchants are thinking of calling gardeners to their atf by having laid out in the grounds, in ." carpet-bedding," advertisements of-special lines in which they are interested. Music and Entertainments. A big band contest will be held at the Exhibition, opening on February 9. An unusually large amount of money is being allotted as prizes. It is proposed to hold also a pipe bands contest. Nothing definite has yet been decided about the proposal tearing a British, regik * ' 4 '■■■'■ ■'.""''

mental band to the Exhibition. Doubts have been expressed by the Imperial authorities whether they can see their way to allow a band to be so long away from Home as five months. The executive is nevertheless still hopeful that successful arrangements can be made. , The sideshows are now practically all aranged for, and the allotted space is being well filled. Other applications are expected tto come in between now and tho opening date. The executive will probably allocate some time next week the various spaces for the amusements syndicate managed by Mr. B. Doyle. The principal attractions in the group will be a "figure-eight" railway, a light railway round the grounds, a captive balloon, pierrote, a cinematograph theatre, illusions, a circus and buckjumping show, and a voyage in the Norwegian fjords imitated by a panorama. Miscellaneous Arrangements. Mr. Holmes has just written to Mr. J. J. Kinsey, of Christchurch, the New Zealand agent of the late Captain Scott's Antarctic expedition, asking if he can lend the Exhibition a collection of articles and specimens representative of the expedition, ( such as sledges, camp equipage, and photographs. He mentioned that nothing of the kind had been seen in Auckland, and that it would be of great interest. If the collection can be procured it will be given free space and maintenance by the executive. The Prime Minister has advised the Exhibition executive that, in order to enable local bodies to vote the sums necessary for the equipment of provincial courts, special authority will be passed during the coming session. Exhibitors should remember that applications for space will close on March 31, and that the Easter holidays intervening, lessen the time available for making application. Preparations are being made already by the Railway Department cope with the heavy passenger traffic, which will spring into being when the Auckland Exhibition opens. The travelling public will, the secretary of the Inhibition executive spates, be very liberally treated in regard to fares. *