EXHIBITION NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 39

EXHIBITION NOTES.

The electric light lamps have been placed in position on the cycling track, and were lighted on Friday for the hrst time. Several cyclists rode ronnd the track, and expressed themselves pleased with the light. The 5000 candle-power lamp to be erected at the main entrance to the Exhibition will be the strongest light-giving lamp in New Zealand. From its position it will light up jervois quay, Victoria and Cuba streets for a considerable distance. The iron pole from which it will be suspended, is already erected, and the lamp will hang at a distance of 31ft from the ground. The workmen were busy on Friday placing ill position part of the fountain, which is just inside the main entrance. The fountain will, when erected, be 12ft high, and it is said to be a splendid piece of workmanship. The exhibitors are already commencing to get their stands in order. Everywhere glass cases, counters and stands of all descriptions are to be seen, and in the machinery hall the foundations for various machines have been laid down. The gallery in the concert hall has now been finished, and it is estimated that it will hold 300 people. Mr Parker says that the acotißtic properties of the hall are good. Nearly 1200 people can bo accommodated in the hall, besides 300 on the platform and stage. On certain days during the Exhibition a squad from each of the public schools will give a display when the children from the particular school will be present. On one day all the schools will meet, and a grand display is to be given on the sports ground, When all the school children will be present.

On the opening day of the Exhibition two bicycle races will bo held, .£lO having been Voted for that purposo by the Exhibition Committee. A large map of Wellington harbour is to bo placed in the Exhibition. Arrangements have been made for 300 childron from Palmerston North to visit the Exhibition. it is probable the Kinetoscope will bo shown. It has been decided that the building should be opened at 2 p.m. for the admission of the public on the opening day, and that the ceremony shall start at 3 o'clock. The charge for admission on the opening day will be 2s 6d in the afternoon and Is in the evening to the building. Two shillings will be charged for reserved seats in the concert hall, and Is for unreserved seats. The season tickets will admit on the opening day. Accounts amounting to .£BBO for timber, iron and wages were passed for payment by the Building Committee last week. The question of lining the roof in the concert hall was referred to the sub-committee. The programme for the sports to be held on Saturday, 14th inst., by the electric light, was passed.

Mr W. Gill occupied the chair at a meeting of the Exhibition Musical Committee last week. The sub-committee reported that, with regard to the orchestra band, they had no data to guide them as to what was required for evening entertainments. As most of the evenings were already arranged for, they suggested that small oichestral selections be given from time to time as required. The committee also reported that they had fixed the dates of entertainments from November 18th to the end of January. It was decided to write to those ladies and gentlemen who had not been allotted definite dates, asking them to hold matinees. A letter was received from Mr Tankard, of New Plymouth, stating that the arrangements for the gymnastic carnival were in a forward state. The Chairman reported that on the previous day Mr Robert Parker, who is training the school children for the opening ceremony, held a rehearsal in the Exhibition building, 350 attending, and, so far as could bo judged, the acoustic properties of the building were first-class. A rehearsal for Mr Maughan Barnett's concert is fixed for Tuesday. Mr Croft commences the erection of his organ to-day. Mr Brookes, of the Dresden Company, offered to lend a grand Erard piano for the use of the artists, and an upright grand for ordinary entertainments, on condition that he be allowed to display an artistic advertising banner. He also undertook to supply the whole of the programmes throughout the currency of the Exhibition free of cost. It was resolved to recommend that the generous offer be accepted ; also that Mr A. S. Paterson be appointed to confer with the Commander of the Garrison re the reception of the Governor by the Volunteers on the occasion of the opening ceremony.

The Exhibition building, which has been ready for a week for the reception of exhibits, is daily the scene of the greatest activity. Workmen are busy all over the place preparing for the opening day, the ISth inst., Wednesday week. None of the exhibits are yet complete, and the coming week will bo a particularly active time. The main entrance to the Exhibition is at the striking, if not handsome, tower at the corner of Victoria and Cuba streets. Just within the entrance, opposite the boxes for the money-takers, will be five self-registering turnstiles, through which the visitors will pass. Immediately behind these will be the fountain. This fountain will stand about 18 feet high. It will take the form of a nikau palm with a Maori girl carrying a basket of pipis, and the figure of the girl will be supported by four workmanlike dolphins, already in position. The pond is of a sizti proportionate to the remainder of th-s fountain. This fountain is being built by Messrs Hutson and Co., a sufficient guarantee that the work will be well done.

The only indications of the great display to be made inside the building are the numerous empty show-cases, and part of the New Zealand Farmers' Dairy Union model dairy. This model dairy is to be one of the features of ti e Exhibition. It will be shown with dairy appliances at work, and city people will be able to see with what neatness and despatch, nowadays milk is put into a separator and treated. They will also be

able to examine all the latest methods of milk-testing, and the preparation of the fresh, cool butter of every morning's breakfast table. The Dairy Union has taken a space 15ft x 20ft, and this model dairy, which will be in the line of the central transept, in one of the best spots of the Exhibition btxilding, is sure to attract a large share of public attention. Near by, further to the southward of the building, but also opening on to the main transept, will bo another exhibit which should prove extremely interesting—an insulated chamber and the freezing machinery in connection therewith. The concert hall is almost ready for the opening ceremony. In this hall may now be seen proceeding the building of a New Zealand organ from New Zealand woods. Mr G. Crofts, of Petone, started four and a half years ago the work of constructing this organ, and it is entirely the work of his hands, except some of the metal pipes, which have been imported, and the keyboards. The front pipes he himself made; they are of zinc, and Mr Lawson, Cuba street, is I decorating them, a work which will add greatly to the appearance of the instrument. The engraving of the stops was the work of Mr S. G. Ross, of Willis street. Experts, amongst them Mr Robert Parker and Mr Triumell, have tried the organ, and have spoken of it in very favourable terms. On Monday it was tested by a representative of the New Zealand Mail, who found its tone full and mellow. There are two manuals and twelve stops, and the pedals are to the scale adopted by the College of Organists. Mr Crofts expects to have his work completed this week. The concert hall will seat 1025 people comfortably. Near by is the refreshment room, which is under the capable charge of Mr Shout. The work at the Exhibition _ buildings is going on under the direction of Mr

Meadows, the superintendent, who states that everything will be in readiness for the opening day.