PANAMA EXPOSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15864, 10 March 1915, Page 3

PANAMA EXPOSITION.

READY ON OPENING DAY. A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE. [i'ROM OUR OWN correspondent.] San Francisco, February 2. On the 20th of this month tho doors of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, situated on a superbly-picturesque site on the shores on the Bay of San Francisco, just inside the Golden Gate, will be thrown open to the public. February 20, 1915, was the opening date set nearly four years ago, and the management has never wavered in its determination to adhere to it, asserting that, for the first time in the history of international expositions, this one would be found ready on its opening day. The exhibition palaces, courts and national pavilions were completed some months ago, except for final deceptive touches and landscape effects. The electric decorations are on a scale of magnitude and elaborateness never before attempted. One night last week, as a test of the scheme, the whole exposition was lit up. Experts in lighting say that nothing like the effects have ever before been obtained. As showing the attraction of the structures and grounds themselves, irrespective of the exhibits now being installed, it is .noteworthy that in the last two years, by charging sin admission fee of 25 cents (Is) to sightseers, the exposition management has taken some £20,000. By train and ship many tons of exhibits are arriving in San Francisco daily. To enablo them to be expeditiously installed, visitors are no longer allowed within the exposition gates. The Australian and New Zealand exhibits are virtually all here and in process of being arranged. The national pavilions of the Commonwealth and the Dominion have been completed. They make a handsome and creditable appearance, although naturally not imposing in the vicinity ot immense palaces and the pavilions of some of the moro wealthy American States. The war lias admittedly detracted from the exposition somewhat in its international bearings. Still, the nations engaged in the war will not be entirely unrepresented. The French building at the exposition has a unique interest. Even after the Government of France had been removed from Paris to Bordeaux directions were giver, for the erection of a French building in duplication of the Palais de la Legion d'Honneur in Parte, and a cablegram 10,000 words long conveyed these directions. The moulds for the ornamental staff work made in Pans were rushed to New Y&rk by fast steamer and to San Francisco by overland express A staff of 200 men was put to work, and in two weeks' time the building was nearing completion. Stung to rivalry by this display of energy by the French, German residents of San Francisco met and subscribed a large sum for the erection of a German pavilion. , But, on the whole, Europe will not be represented in the volume and variety originally contemplated. The great appeal of the exhibition will be as a collection of the natural and manufactured products and the arts of the United States, the Oriental nations, the South American Republics, and Australia and Now Zealand. On January 20, just one month before opening day, more than 100,000 tons of exhibits had been received In the mam exhibit palaces there will be from 50,000 to 60,000 individual exhibits. It has been computed that to walk along each aisle and to visit all the foreign nation buildings and the amusements would involve a walk of 75 miles. An interesting feature of the exposition is that during the ton and a-half months in which it will remain open more than 400 conventions will meet in San Francisco. The delegates to these gatherings will number between 600,000 and 800,000. Some of them are world congresses, and almost every, American organisation of national proportions . will hold its annual convention here. During tho 288 days of the exposition there will be on an averago six conventions meeting each day. There is a movement on foot to have Congress visit the exposition as a body. The visit of President Wilson and the arrival of the naval fleet after passing through the Panama Canal at its formal opening have been postponed from March to July.