THE EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6137, 18 February 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION

CHRISTCHURCH, February 17. Desnito continuous heavy showers of rain, the Exhibition on Saturday attracted an attendance of J 1,004, bringing the total for the week to over 80,880, and making the aggregate to date 1,228,001. The quickstep competition proved the most attractive feature of the band yontost. The performance by combined bands, which was to have taken place on tke sports ground, was unable to, lie held there, owing to rain, but about tour bands played together in the mam corridor in the presence of a very large audience. . 1 . , The presentation of cash prizes and l medals to the successful bands and ■ bandsmen took place in the main avenue ,in the evening. Mr Munro, before proseating the prizes, in a short speech congratulated the successful competitors, and expressed his sympathy with those who were unsuccessful. He thanked them all on behalf of the Exhibition for participating in the contest, and assisting to make that feature of the Exhibition the success it had been. At a Ministerial supper given to visiting bands on Friday night. Lieutenant i Bentley, judge of the grand selection and quickstep competition, paid a high tribute to the orchestra, which was, he said, in his opinion, the finest thing in the Exhibition. The Government deserved the thanks of the whole colony for bringing together such a magnificent . body of players, which he hoped all centres of the colony would bo afforded the opportunity to hear. The presence of the orchestra would cover quite a multitude of sins of omission, if such existed. The Hon. J. McGowan, in replying to the toast of the Exhibition, said the fact that it was in such a forward state when it opened was due to the ability and energy of the general manager, Mr Munro, who had been a tower of strength to the Government and the committees. Mr Munro had the welfare of the Exhibition at heart, and it was mainly due to his efforts that the undertaking had turned out such a success. The Minister also paid tribute to the excellent work of the various committees. Tho Hawke’s Bay natives at the pa are expected to return homo early this week. : They will bo succeeded by a detachment of about forty of their follow tribesmen, whose visit will be succeeded about March 20th by that of a contingent of Wairarapa natives, fifty or sixty strong. The visit of the Ngatiporou Maoris will probably not take place till near the end of tho Exhibition, asjinost of them are too busily engaged to get away before. The first display of daylight fireworks, which proved a great success at tho St. Louie Exhibition, will take place at 5 p.m. on Saturday. March 2nd. The rockets and bombs are fired from mortars, and when they burst, instead of the usual coloured fires, small flags, parachutes, fishes, birds, and all manner of other things are set floating in tho air. The displays are specially attractive to children,,- and arrangements are being made for special trains to transport little people from all convenient places. It is a form of entertainment absolutely now in New Zealand, and tho General Manager anticipates that it will draw tho greatest gathering of children ever seen xn the colony Thei-e will bo no charge for admission to the day fireworks display. The principal attractions for this week at the Exhibition are another free grand display of fireworks on Wedneeday piglit, the baby show on Thursday, and the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association’s sports on Thursday and Saturday. The final display of fireworks will bo given on the' night of Easter Monday, when a specially extensive and elaborate exhibition will be given, as Mr White, representative of Pain and Sons. Dondon. intends to fire off then his entire remaining stock of fireworks before his return to England.