DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 931, 3 January 1890, Page 19

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DPnedin, Deeomber 2f>. The Exhibition has been thrown open to the public from 1 to 10. SCI . Christmas Dayproved a greatjsuccess. The total number of admissions was li,-599, and only a small percentage of these were townspeople. All the side shows did an immense business, and the Eiffel tower and Switchback were very largely patronised. In ' the evening tka “Messiah” was a great success. A good story is told about the country folk. They remained in the building during the tea bout and rushed the concert hall early. Tho consequence was that when the Dunedin people entered the hall they found their places taken up, and the question is nowbeing considered whether the Exhibition should be thrown open on Sunday afternoons. December 27. On Christmas and Boxing Days tho total attendance at the Exhibition numbered over 21,000. The Christchurch Liedertatel concert tonight promises to be a great success. As showing the magnitude of some of the exhibits at the Exhibition, one of these, the goods manufactured by the Mosgiel Woollen Factory, have just been sold to theD.I.C., the price in round figures being £4OOO. Notwithstanding the largo influx of visitors during the Christmas holidays, the total accommodation has not been at all taxed. In fact double the number could easily hs accommodated. According to Mr Bilbrough, manager for Thomas Cook and Son, there is ample accommodation at prices ranging from 6s to 12s per day, the last being the highest oblige made. Dunedin, December 31. All arrangements in connection with the Exhibition may now be said to be nearly complete. In the Canterbury Court the late additions of wool and feathers from Matson’s Ostrich Farm have made the court as complete as it can now be expected to be. Mr Kinsey has caused to be distributed gratis statistics with reference to Canterbury- and its resources, and these have been readily availed of by the public. During the festive season there has been a large influx cf visitors from all parts of New Zealand and Australia, and the general verdict is that the Exhibition surpasses all expectations. Surprise is expressed that more has not been done in the way of advertising the Exhibition in various parts of the Colony and Australia. Messrs Koekoek and Sons have added about one hundred valuable pictures of different characters and from different schools, and they have made a verv attractive addition to the gallery, as some of the pictures are of great merit and value. It is found that at various Australian bars tho wines of those colonies are coming much, into favour, and each of the representatives is thoroughly satisfied with the demand, both in the Exhibition aud the city. Penfold’s wine trophy, now being completed, makes an attractive addition to the South Australian court. The Exhibition will be opened till midnight to night, and again all day to morrow. A social party will be held this evening in the Canterbury court, where the transition from the old to ttea New Year will bo celebrated in true English style. There is to be a patrol of Scotch pipers through tho avenues to night and to-morrow. The Committee have arranged for a Scotch concert, in which a number of leading Christchurch amateurs will take part. Mr Roberts, President cf the Exhibition Commissioners, returned this morning from the country, where he has been taking a few day’s well-earned rest;, Tho Railway’ workshops’ exhibit of carriages is greatly admired. The Napi-r Garrison Baud will take part in the baud contest hero. Signor So arise (leader of tho Exhibition orchestra), Herr Alfred Pieyer (o: Melbourne), and Mr G. D

Mackintosh (of Wellington), have been appointed judges of the Exhibition Baud Contest. The time for receiving entries haa been extended to ■January 14. Oscar David’s gymnastic display, under she auspices of the Education Committee, takes place in the concert hall on January Bth„ The performers will include 35 young ladies. Miss Spensley (Christchurch), Julia „Xnight (Auckland), L. Appleby and G. H. '.Normington (Christchurch Liedertafei) will be the principal soloists at to-morrow night's Scotch concert. The Earl of Kihtore leaves Melbourne for Dunedin on January 16. Bain has been falling in torrents all the afternoon, but the attendance has been large. It is estimated tbat about 3000 country people reached town to-day. January 1, To-day being extremely wet and tempestuous, the Caledonian games and other sports had to be postponed, and the result was to drive tbs people into the Exhibition. There was an enormous attendance during tha afternoon, by far the largest that lias ever been known since the opening day, and to-night there will be another enormous crowd. The Commissioners having repeatedly warned some exhibitors against selling goods in the Exhibition not manufactured there, notice was servsd on them that they had forfeited their space. This morniDg hoardings were placed round their spaces to indicate that they bad forfeited them, and that they would have to remove their exhibits. These ejected exhibitors ore very irate, and there is likely to b-s some trouble in the matter, as actions at law are threatened. The exhibitors declare that permission was, at the beginning, givea to them to sell goods. The ejected exhibitors are mostly Turks and Armenians. Oscar Meyer, shortly after the arrival of Admiral Lord Charles Scott and Lord Carrington, will give a banquet on behalf of New South Wales. They are expected to arrive here in H. M. S. Orlando about January 16th, and tho Orlando will afterward visit the principal ports of the Colony. Dunedin was never before known to be nearly so full of visitors a 3 it is now, but despite the great influx there is ample accommodation at the hotels and private boarding houses. Auckland, December 31. A meeting of the Auckland exhibitors at the Dunedin Exhibition was held to-day at the Chamber of Commerce. Mr Holland, who has just returned from Dunedin, said there had been a subdivision of the exhibits, and it was resolved to telegraph asking the Exhibition authorities to delay judging the divisions in which Auckland ia concerned until tha new classification forms were filled uo. It was suggested that some Auckland men should be appointed amongst the jurors. The meeting decided to ask the Dunedin Harbour Board to waive the charges on the Auckland exhibits, and point out that this concession had been granted by the Auckland Board.