THE CENTENNIAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 14

THE CENTENNIAL

EXHIBITION WORK APPROACH OF OPENING OUTSTANDING FEATURES A reminder that the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition 'jn Wellington will be opened in about 16 weeks was given by the -general manager of the exhibition, Mr. C. P. Hainsworth, in an interview yesterday. He said a visit to the grounds at Rongotai confirmed the impression that the final stage oi construction in the huge buildings was well under way. ] Mr. Hainsworth said the exhibition and its 55 acres of grounds would be a complete township, with all the facilities for the every-day activities of the community. A police station, a fire brigade station, an ambulance service, customs and postal and telegraph facilities, and many other organisations to cater for the needs of every section of the community in all circumstances would be available. Varied Displays "The largest display unit," said Mr. Hainsworth, "will be the Government court, where 26 State departments will be represented in it building with a floor space of 100,000 square feet. Here visitors will see the working and administration of their country as a whole brought into one compact but vast exhibit. Another special feature depicting the life of the country as a whole will be the Dominion court, where every province is represented. Here fascinating models will portray typical scenes from the town and country life from all parts of the Dominion. "Great Britain, Australia, Canada and Fiji will bo represented by special displays at the exhibition. Great Britain and Australia are erecting their own pavilions. Already the' massive simplicity of the British Pavilion and the striking and dramatic lines of the Australian buildings can bo seen in the preliminary structures. Canada is arranging a national display that will occupy a floor space of approximately 11.000 square feet in the main exhibit building, and Fiji will bo represented in a colourful and interesting exhibit in the Motors and Transportation Buildings. Amusement Park "A separate building is being erected for the Port of London Authority, in which will be incorporated dioramas depicting the Port of London through the ages, during its history of not less than 2000 years." Adult entertainment was well assured in Playland, the 10-acre amusement park, where an area of one acre had been set aside for equipment for the amusement of children. There was also a section of the exhibition devoted to the interests of women, and a fairly large area had been set aside where all branches of women's work would he displayed. Fine arts, arts and crafts, domestic science, nursing and child welfare, and, probably most interesting of all, a loans section, would be included. Lighting would* be a special feature, added Mr. Hainsworth. The outdoor effect of the exhibition buildings at night, a mass of colour reflected in the artistic pools, and the brilliance of the illuminated fountain would all combine to make an effect of rare beauty. Music would bo provided daily by the band of the Welsh Guards. £IOO CONTRIBUTED WAITEMATA POWER BOARD A payment of £IOO will be made by the Waiteniata Electric-Power Board to the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council as a contribution toward the cost of the actual Centennial celebrations. A letter received by the board at its meeting yesterday from the Cen'tennial Council suggested that consideration should be given to a contribution of £250, but the chairman of the board, Mr. S. E. Konnings. moved that the amount contributed be only £l5O. His motion was amended by Mr. G. Trevithick, who recommended that the amount be further reduced to £IOO, and the amendment was carried. The board had already given £SOO to the Waitakere Park scheme, which would be Auckland's Centennial memorial, and £IBO toward the cost of an electrical court at the exhibiton in Wellington, said Mr. Tvenning?, and. as it would be impossible to subscribe to the celebrations of all the local bodies in its district of 1300 square miles, he thought it would be wise to centralise the matter and make some contribution to the Centennial Council. HORTICULTURAL FIXTURES DECISION AT HAMILTON [from our own correspondent] HAMILTON, Monday A Centennial Show and a special oneday rose show will be held by the Hamilton Horticultural Society, as the result of a decision made at a meeting of the society. It was decided to incorporate the Centennial Show into one of the usual fixtures and the dates chosen were February 22 and 23. The rose show will be held on November 14 of this year. It was decided to apply to the Royal Horticultural Society for a grant of the Banksian Medal, to be awarded for the most outstanding exhibit at the Centennial Show.