EXHIBITION NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 17

EXHIBITION NOTES.

The concert hall of the Exhibition building was used on Tuesday for a rehearsal by Mr Maughan Barnett's Society, with highly satisfactory results. The hall seems well adapted for sound, and is brilliantly lighted. The choir sang with spirit and enthusiasm. There is every promise that the musical ceremonies on tha opening day will be in every way successful. The programme for the opening ceremony is now completed. His Excellency the Governor will open the Exhibition, and speeches will be delivered by the president, the Premier and the Mayor. Organ selections will be given by Mr Ecbert Parker, and a chorus of 300 children, under the conductorship of Mr Parker, will render part scags. Immediately after, there will be sports on the cycle track.

In the evening there will be a grand musical treat, when at 8 p.m. Mr Maughan Barnett will open with a concert overture, to be followed by Messrs Adams and Hill's Maori cantata, " Hinenioa," tendered by Mr Maughan Barnett's Musical Society of over 200 voices and full orchestra. This will bo followed by the Choral Festival Society, in original music, by Messrs Parker and Trimnell. The National Anthem will be rendered by the combined choruses of 400 voices under the baton of Mr Tallis Trimnell. It is notified elsewhere that reserved seats can bw booked at the Dresden rooms to-morrow morning, and as there is likely to be a run on tickets for the evening performance, early application will be necessary in order to secure seats.

One of the most interesting departments of the Exhibition will be that of home industries. The children of the schools have been preparing for some time past, and the display is certain to be very attractive. The home industries display and the exhibits of the Education Department will take up one side of the building. A space 80ft by 20ft has been secured by the New Zealand Government Eailways Department opposite the Home Industries Court. The railway display will doubtless prove one of tho chief attractions of the Exhibition.

The large and fascinating portion of the community who drink afternoon tea will be interested to know that two stately kiosks are to be erected —one by Messrs A. Briscoe and Co. in the form of a Chinese pagoda, and the other by Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co., also of a special character.

Tho Canterbury Industrial Association will have a court to the right of the main entrance, and this is likely to be a rendezvous for Canterbury people during the Exhibition. In the court will be displayed pictures of places of interest in Canterbury.

A power loom at work will be shown by the Wellington Woollen Company, who have taken a space 80t't by 10ft. The A.M.P. Society will have a furnished room, 15ft by 10ft, near the main entrance. Messrs George and Kersley have made a beginning with their exhibit, and two tasteful pillars mark their space, 30ft by sft.

Amongst other leading exhibitors will be :—Scoullar and Chisholm, 40ft by 10ft; Wilkins and Field, 40ft by 6ft; Wright, Banish and Co., 20ft by 18ft; D. 1.0., 30ft by 10ft; Roid and Gray, 20ft by 10ft; S. Luke and Co., 40ft by sft; New Zealand Candle Company, 20ft by 10ft; To Aro House, 20ft by 10ft; H. Hughes, 20ft by 10ft; J. Alexander and Co., 20ft by sft; T. Ballinger and Co., 20ft by 10ft; Wellington Gas Co., 20ft by 10ft; Kirkcaldie and Stains, 12ft by 10ft; Davis and Clater, 12ft by sft; Gear Meat Co., 16ft by 10ft; Christchurch Meat Co., 40ft by sft; Scott Bros., Christchurch, 40ft by sft ; Crabtroe and Sons, 22ft >by sft ; Yerex and Jones, 18ft by: 20ft; United Farmers' Association, 20ft by 20ft; Whitcombe and Tombs, 26ft by 10ft ; Greymouth-Point Elizabeth Coal Company,: Kaiapoi Woollen Company, and scores of others. -.•.■■ i

There is no arrangement or sequence as to courts, or order of trades or industries';' Places have been allotted just as space permitted, without any fixed rule being observed. •' '-.•'■■ •.. -

There will be eight long avenues running almost the whole length of ' the Exhibition building. When the spaces on either side are fitted with exhibit's the scene should be very striking, especially at night, under' the electric light. The centre transept, running across the building, will also be ' well decorated and lighted. At the end of this transept a eovered way leads to the Technical School building, which is to be used as the art gallery. Valuable pictures from the' best Australian' and New Zealand artists are daily coming to hand for this department of the Exhibition.

At the end of the centre transept there is also a small hall 60ft by 30ft to be used for the kinematograph, limelight entertainments, &e.