PROVINCIAL COURTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19177, 17 November 1925, Page 10

PROVINCIAL COURTS.

SOME FINE DISPLAYS.

CANTERBURY'S ENTERPRISE

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] DUNEDIN. Monday.

The four provincial courts that are nearing completion at the exhibition are those of Otago, Southland, Canterbury and Marlborough, and the first-mentioned three attain a standard that does honour to the provinces concerned. One should say that the Canterbury court is outstanding in conception and in artistic treatment. 'Hie proud sentiment of "Peerless Canterbury" is proclaimed in every lino and tint of the decorations, and throughout scrupulous caro has been taken to avoid anything suggestive of what might be termed the winter show atmosphere. Apart from a refrigerator containing carcases* of mutton and sheep frozen "in the wool" that lie in natural positions upon real grass and a little shorn wool, there is nothing in the court that speaks of commerce. The whole effect symbolises the soul of the province. The front is impressive and highly artistic. On either side of the projecting freezer are alcoves in which pictures will be hung. The alcoves have a curved back wall, which adds greatly to the effect of the design. The colour is white, with blue and gold facing, finely executed. Embellishments of leaves painted gold and standing out in relief givo the keynote of the whole structure. There is one wide entrance, and passing through it one is at once struck with the brilliant, even daring, colour scheme carried out in the painted backgrounds and modelled foregrounds. Deep blues and browns make the * mountains a bright glow of sunshine. There is a riot of colour in the orchard scene. Otherwise the colour scheme is quiet and restful. A line from Chaucer is printed in old English lettering in gold above a delightful little lounge, beside which is a tea room. The chief features of the court are a combination of painted backgrounds running into modelled foregrounds, the painting being the work of Mr. McDonald McKenzie, and the modelling that of Mr. P. G. Reid, both of whom have displayed art of high merit. Features ol a Fine Display. A harvest scene is widely treated, the foreground being a • field of ripe wheat standing in real ground, part of which is cut and stooked. The arrangement of the stubble is perfect. A miniature reaper and binder drawn by an elec-trically-driven model of a tractor will run across the scene. Then there is a faithful depiction, partly painted and partly modelled, of the gorge of the Waimakariri, showing a dam and power house. It is part of Canterbury's propaganda toward getting a second hydroelectric scheme. Visitors are assured it is a vital necessity. A huge map of the province is exhibited, the central feature being the Lake Coleridge power house, and each town drawing its power from that source is electrically lighted. This is a unique effect.

Another model is that of Tiinaru and its harbour, "the finest unnatural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere," as one man naively put it. Afforestation is preachod, and tho value of Canterbury's plantations is emphasised in a splendid model, in the foreground of which are the blackened decaying stumps of.a natural forest, and in the background a plantation of living pinus insignis. The central feature is a sawmill, past which a tiny engine drawing a tiny log will run. The orchard picture is that of a spring scene at Loburn, und the foreground, not yet completed, will be a model orchard in full blossom, throughout which little beehives containing live bees will be placed. Ashburton will have a little court of its own. The centre of the room is occupied by a splendid model of a farm wit 1, I■ v n finish and trees, entirely the work of tho junior boys of the Rangiora High School. It is yet too soon to offer judgment as to the best provincial court, seeing that neither Wellington nor Auckland have marje a showing, but Canterbury has good grounds for confidence in its display. The Otago Court.

Tbo Otngo court has not the distinction of that of Canterbury so far, although it is rapidly nearing completion, but it is a good one. It has a large amount of space enclosed with a white wall decorated with stags' heads, of which there must be hundreds. The entrance is through a rough log arch. The interior is somewhat dim by comparison with some of the other ' courts, but nevertheless the elaborate painted scenes which panel'the walls are convincing work. In the centre of the court is a punga whare, typical of the homes of many of the pioneers. The painted scenes are of mountains, lakes and rivers.

southland has a rather dimmer court than Otago, a system of lattice work, painted red, having been used to hide the rough ceiling of the building. One is inclined to place it second to Canterbury for artistic effect and novelty. The centre of the room is occupied with a rocky pyramid, down each side of which waterfalls representing the falls pictorially presented about the walls will splash. Green glass, behind which electric lights will shine, has been let into the" rock and the waterfalls will thereby bo doubly realistic. The wall pictures attain as high a standard as anywhere in the exhibition. They are the work of a house painter, Mr. J. W. Rowney, of Roxburgh, who is regarded by Dunedin as "a find!" There are scenes showing Mitre Peak, Bo wen Falls, Lake Wanaka, the Sutherland Falls, Arthur River and Bluff. The foregrounds in most cases are rocks, trees arid native growth. A novel feature is a full-sized entrance to a coalmine.

The Marlborough court is a small affair, simply a series of show-cases exhibiting products of "Golden Marlborough," winch has not succeded in getting away from the winter show conception of display. The Two Laggards.

The combined court of Wellington, ITawke's Bay, Taranaki and Nelson is being plastered and with arched ceilings in this material ought to look well when the Scaffolding is taken down. A few scenes painted on canvas have been tacked on the walls, but the colouring is flat and not impressive. However, it can be said that the plaster is good; perhaps a dis pKy will be made in the course of a few vweks.

Auckland is in the position of Welling ton —full of good intentions. The court design eompaies well with that of Can terbnry. Concrete is the medium and the front is as impressive as anything the pro v.incos have done. There is more of the spirit of architecture about it that in any if 'he others. The entrance is'a wide arch, and the lines of the wide apertiiroin the wall harmonise. Concrete pillars throughout the court suggest stability and permanence, but the only work that is L'o ng on is that of fitting the muslin ceiling and the painting of small scenes on '.he walls. No good can be served in bewailing Auckland's delay in making a start, but it must be realised by the North that if a display comparable with those of Canterbury, and Obi go and Southland is to be produced great expedition and considerable ingenuity will have to be shown.