THE NEW WEMBLEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19062, 6 July 1925, Page 6

THE NEW WEMBLEY.

-j!'' . • NEW ZEALAND PAVILION. i-ly -f. U'i• */"* vV:*i3 1 1 .v. •j ' * . | r DOMINION'S BEAUTY SPOTS. (: j ■• \ . . ■ ..' •' ' ' ■• • ■ , ■ • 1 • '• ' - SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT." [from ottr own correspondent.] LONDON, May ,14. Tine Empire Exhibition, 1925, is in being. In contrast to last year, it is at the outset practically a complete exhibition. Thero were 111,103 pcoplo present on„the opening day, compared with 63,000 on the first day in 1924. Given good weather, these figures may ho taken as a happy augury for the success of tho new Wembley, which has been supplied with a good many novel features that should make for its attractiveness as a whole, especially from the al fresco point of view. Certainly, Now Zealunders will have something to write home about this time! And they will bo unanimous in E raise of what Mr. A. F. Roberts and is staff of enthusiastic workers have accomplished. Tho only regretful thought one has is that so many "visitors from the Dominion who felt acute pangs of disappointment in 1924 cannot lie here this years to see their pavilion as it is now equipped and arranged. Those who are Still here are delighted, and they go about proudly holding up their heads and talking with animation of "the hundred per cent, better show." New arrivals are ■ greatly gratified, too, and many of them ,115k: ""Wasn't it like this last year?" Well, emphatically —no, it wasn't. Of course, one had to make allowances for many of tho shortcomings of but they have-been more than wiped oat now. Mr. Roberts has been on the spot al! the winter ; last year ho was badly handicapped by tho backwardness of the building and by the late arrival of himself and his exhibits. This time he has been able to visualise what the vast visiting public expected to see, and he has laid kimself out to gratify their expectations. £fe has spent tho intervening months thinking out new arrangements, and that he lias pleased everyone thero is not the shadow of doubt. | One of tho " Show " Spots. Everyone expects the New Zealand Pavillion this year will obtain wide publicity, for it appeals to everybody as ono of the "show" spots of tho year. lint scenic effects have not been allowed to overshadow the display of products rather do they enhance the general interest in the latter. Tho touring public wants to got an idea of the country and of the life of tho inhabitants, and this time it will leave with a feeling of satisfaction at having been , able to see the conntr? from various aspects. Only the man on tho spot can gauge the public pulse, w .. Indeed, whereas in 1924 there was. too frequently a vaguo inquiry: "What is there to see hero?" in 1925 the feeling will be: "There seems to be a lot to look at, where shall we start?" There is something to catch the eye tho instant ono enters, and tho interest is sustained from end to end of tho building. The approach to tho pavilion is very attractive, Thero has been fresh turf and more of it, and it has been planted with New Zealand native trees and shrubs. Tho exterior of the building has been painted to give the appearance of Portland stone, so whereas a year ago it was a soft grey-green, this year it is more of an art buff. It looks very well. . The main hall is bowered with tree ferns and palms; a fountain near the entrance leads to the waterfall at the end. , The scene there presented is not of any special placs, but it lis intended to be typical of a bit of tho bush. It has been painted by Mr. J. L. Scott (formerly of Dunodin), and its lay-out was the work of Mr. A. R. Fraser. These New Zealand artists together have carried out most of the scenic, work which is on view. Flax bushes and ferns have been planted in this section, and nikau palms will bo added as soon as possible l . The mnning water has a refreshing sound, falling" from a height of 10ft. into tho pool beneath. Royal Loan Exhibits. The first exhibit of interest, on the left of the entrance hall is a large case containing Maori carvings, greensione, and other trophies belonging to the King, and which were presented to him in the i Dominion, and numerous Maori mats, which belong to the Prince of Wales, and ' which make an ideal background for the King's possessions. Fine taste has been displayed in their arrangement. * On tho extreme right is a companion case containing exhibits from Samoa. These, too, havo been set out by someone with an eyo to good effect. Next, on either side, there are two coloured and lighted representations of the chief cities—Auckland, Wellington, Christ - church and Dunedin—set in alcoves. They have all been rnado in London by tho British firm of John Bull, scenic artists*, whoso workers wcro supplied with recent photographs, so that the leading buildings stand out with good effect, and New Zealanders find an interest in indicating the homes of their friends—proof sufficient that tho presentations are true. The colouring and lighting are good, and each alcove gives a true idea of- what its city in the forefront, and its seaways in tho distance, look like. The scale is 15ft x sft. In this entrance hall the pew ballooning of the roof, here in pleated creamtinted cloth, appeals to the eye, and sets off in the best possible way tho 16 fine scenic paintings of Mr. Nugent Welch, placed eight on cither side, They are seen to much better effect than the.V were last year, and they are attracting particular attention. Visit by Queen Mary. Tire new Wembly is scarcely three weeks oid yet. Queen Mary been there four times. 'Her interest is genuine and her enthusiasm is unlimited. And neither is yet satiated, for her Majesty remarked: " 1 want to do Wembley well, and it requires several visits to do so. I am glad I came today The exhibition is looking its best." Wfcnn making some purchases at one of the pavilions Her Majesty said: 'I must send presents from Wembley. Her Majesty yesterday paid what is described as a " surprise " visit. She arrived early in the morning attended by Lady Ampthill, Lady Mary Trefnsis, and Mr. Harry Verney, and, before luncheon sho had been through the pavilions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaya, and Southern Rhodesia. .After luncheon tho visitors went on ,to Hongkong, Ceylon and South Africa. At the time of tho Queen's arrival the exhibition grounds seemed to he full of schoolboys. Tho news that tho * Royal visitor was there travelled fast and tho cry "The Queen's here!" was to be heard everywhere. Then the young enthusiasts scampered about in their keen Search to find her, fhe reality of Rotorua appealed at ouco to Queen Mary and she immediately recalled her own visit th«re 24 years ago. The seething steam, tho boiling mud, the fearsome geyser, and the realistic grouping of tho Maoris about the various pools reminded her that when she was at Rotorua there wore two well-known Kuides who conducted herself and the King—then, of course, tho Duko of York—in their tour of the thermal district. " Let me see," she said, " I think ono was named Sophia, and wasn't the other ono Maggie?" Answered in tho affirmative by Mr. Roberts, tho Queen inquired, " Are lliey still alivo ? " Passing round to the panoramas showing Tvlilford Sound, Mount Cook, Wanganui River, and the Southern Alps, the Queen inspected each one separately With tho keenest interest. When she camo to tho one showing Milford Sound sho remarked somewhat regretfully: "I am sorry I missed such splendid' scon- ' ' ery, but, of course, it wart the wintertime when wo were there."