THE EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15412, 22 September 1913, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

A REVIEW OF PROGRESS. CITY'S 'ACCOMMODATION. INFORMATION FOR VISITORS. The official accommodation directory, issued by authority of the Exhibition executive, for distribution among possible visitors to Auckland, has been published. The booklet, of about 80 pages, contains a. large amount of information useful to tourists and other visitors, whether for short or long periods, to the city. The bulk of the information relates to the boardinghouses and hotels, and in general gives a brief description of the houses, and the amount, of the accommodation, ! with the tariffs chargeable. From the visitor's point of view, no doubt, the most useful section is one in which the accommodation is classified according to tariffs. The introductory note to this 'section contains the following statement:" The visitor can absolutely rely on the fact that the tariffs quoted in this guide by the different accommodation-houses (whether public or private) will be the prices charged, except in the cases where the tariff is stated as from 7s 6d, or any other amount, as the case may be. Where this is so, the visitor is advised to find out the charge before booking, as the prices vary ' with position of room, time required, etc." . The tariff classification divides the accommodation under the following heads: — 15s to 8s per day (83 houses); 7s 6d to 7s ', per day (40 houses); 6s 6d to 6s. per day (55 houses); 5s 6d to 5s per day (25 houses). Weekly rates only: 20s to 27s 6d per week (four houses) ; bed and breakfast only, two houses; beds only (various , tariffs), 11 houses. There' are thus over , two hundred hotels, boardinghouses, and , private houses with room to let, in the , list. For the assistance of those taking residential chambers and requiring meals : outside, there is also a list of 12 cafes and restaurants, giving the prices of all meals. ■ Throughout the list, the particulars given include the name of the proprietor, the > name and full address of the house, the . number of rooms available, and the tele- ; phone number, so that the directory is in : this respect thoroughly comprehensive. The guide contains as well a large amount of useful information regarding places of ■" amusement and trips about Auckland by road and water, including schedules of launch and motor-car fares. Post- and 1 telegraph rates, railway excursion and • tourist ticket charges are also included. Exhibitors Come in Next Month. > Only about a fortnight still remains ■ during which the builders of the Exhibi- : tion will be in sole possession of their • domains. On October 6 exhibitors will be • able to send in their constructors to erect i stalls and partitions, and on November 3 i goods will be received. Thereupon will : ensue a period of great activity, for it is i intended that all the materials for the exhibits shall be in the building at the 1 earliest possible moment, with a view to • having the whole of the displays ready by November 22. This policy should result 1 m everything being thoroughly in order, '■ to the last tack and the last touch of gold ' paint, well ahead of the opening dav — December 1. * ' In connection with the receipt of ex- ; hibits, notices are now being sent out to the various exhibitors telling them when ; the buildings will be ready, so that the executive will have done all it can to , ensure the early readiness of all the exhibits In the case of exhibitors outside Auckland, address labels are being sent, so that the exhibits will enjoy the con- , cessions in freight granted by the Railway ( Department and the steamship companies. ' The State Displays. The members of the executive have expressed keen appreciation of the attitude of the Government towards the Exhibition, . and of the activity displayed by the departmental officers in the preparation of displays. There now exists a "special board comprising the heads of the Departments which are to exhibit, to look after the arrangements. Mr. H. J. H. Blow, of the i Public Works Department, is chairman, • and has just spent some time in Auckland, r inspecting the buildings and planning the , lay-out of the State exhibits? He states that all the Departments intend to make displays such as will do credit to them and to the Exhibition. The "Mines Deparfcs ment, in particular, he said, was preparing , for a show on a larger scale' than it had > ever before attempted. Among the other i Departments to be represented will be . those of Agriculture, Railways, Post and i Telegraphs, Education, Tourist, and Lai hour. " Tie Agricultural Department's outdoor ' «jatat. which is in addition to its big i indoor display, is progressing very rapidly i and quite a large number of the small plots' • have already been planted with grasses. ; In order to shelter the plots,- many well- , grown clumps of flax of various kinds have been brought from Ruakura, and two i great clumps of ornamental bamboo will [ figure among the additions to the plots. I One of these has been planted. It weighs . over half a ton. 6 A Great Athletic Meeting. A great athletic chamoionship meeting of Australasian scope is to be held at the Exhibition, probably on January 10. It is regarded in athletic circles as being as - important a fixture as any yet held in ; Australasia. A feature of 'it will be the i visit of an American representative team • According to a letter received bv the I secretary of the Exhibition (Mr. W. R i Holmes) from the secretary of the New , Zealand Athletic Association, Wellington . the American team is already bein* i •selected. If is possible that the manager ; of the American team will be prepared to ) gave an illustrated lecture or lectures on I the methods of training adopted by ath- » letes m the United States. In view of the l unusual importance of the meeting it a , urged by the writer of the letter that New I Zealand athletes who intend to compete ■ should begin training in ample time. , Guarding Against Fire. 3 The first of the buildings to be under • lock and key was the Art Gallery, which has not been touched now by the builders 1 for a considerable time. It still remains, • however, to be lined, and suitable fabric— a coarse material like a rough canvas— selected by the president on Saturday. Similar material, but of a different colour, was chosen for the big restaurant. The visitors performed an interesting experiment with this material, and one which may reassure some nervous people. A bit of fabric of the same texture as will be used was lit with a match, and burnt greedily— before treatment." But a piece of the canvas which had been sub- ! jected to a chemical bath was encouraged i to burn, and sternly refused. It could . scarcely be persuaded even to smoulder : and could scarcely be singed. All the , hangings and decorations in the buildings will be fireproofed in the same way, so > that the risk of chance fires from dropped , matches or other such anises will be very ! slight. J > The buildings themselves will, of course • be .amply provided with fire-fighting api pliances. A detachment of the fire brigade ; will be stationed permanently there, with • hose-reels and hydrants, and big high- > pressure mams are laid throughout the ■ grounds and buildings. Some of the fire- • prevention apparatus is in the buildings ■ already. ° ' The railway excursion rates which have been arranged for in connection with the Exhibition will come into force on November 28, and will continue during the whole ■ period of the Exhibition. The tickets will be available for return for two months and will be issued at all stations in both ' islands. There will not be a concession on other than return tickets. ' Several minor buildings—a photographic studio, a shooting-gallery, a saloon for ■ slot machines, a preserved-milk kiosk among them—are now being erected.