DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12252, 25 September 1925, Page 6

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

BRITISH PARTICIPATION TO WIN DOMINION TRADE ELABORATE PREPARATIONS Captain S. J. Graham and Captain R. E. J. Moore, of tli© Department of Overseas Trade in London, arrived in Wellington yesterday, having travelled by the Atlienio, which reached Auckland on AVednesday. They journeyed south by the ferry steamer last evening. They were in the Dominion a few months ago to make arrangements for the British Court, and have now arrived to put the final touches to the display of British manufactures, which will be an outstanding featuro at tho Exhibition. Chatting to a ‘ Times” representative yesterday they stated that the participation of the Home Country in the forthcoming Exhibition at Dunedin will be divided into two allied but distinct sections, occupying a single British building. One section will be devoted to exhibts of British commercial and industrial activities, staged by industrial firms; the other, for which H-M. Department of Overseas Trade ip responsible, will, as far as possible, he representative of general interests. Defence, trade, the arts, literature, engineering, and Imperial communications are the chief of the subjects which tho Department of Overseas Trade will endeavour to represent in graphic or model form.

Entering the pavilion from the grounds, the visitor will pass through a forecourt, the central feature of which is the statue of St. George and the decorative features the Royal and National heraldic devices. This forecourt will give direct access to the Hall ,of Empire, the central feature round which the whole exhibit is grouped. The designs of this hall were prepared bv Professor Richardson, F.R.1.8.A., and the decorative frieze, the subject ’matter of which is the history and growth of the British peoples, is the work of Mr Maurice Grieffenhagen, R.A. The total dimensions of this frieze will be 240 feet by 7 feet. The hall is 32 feet wide and 50 feet in length. At the far end, set in the floor, is the map of the world, similar to that in the Government pavilion at Wembley, but with New Zealand as the central geographical point. Girdling this map will be a scenic procession of warships in model fofm, from the early War canoe to the latest super-dread-nought, and in the adjoining court will be a shipping exhibit, including models furnished by shipping companies, and a special exhibit by the Port of London Authority. Along each side of the Hall of Empire will be the galleries of the armed forces of tho Crown, which will be m the main similar to those in the British Government pavilion at Wembley . Adjoining the shipping exhibit, in the right hand gallery, will be a selection of models, relics, and prints, secured through the good offices of the railway companies and certain- private owners in the United Kingdom, showing in hisrtorio review the development of the British railway from Stephenson’s “locomotive No. 1” to the modern express engine. This exhibit is peculiarly appropriate in that 1925 is the centenary of Stephenson’s great invention. , INTERESTING exhibits In the gallery on the opposite side of the pavilion will be an, exhibit of a similar character dealing with the printing trade. This exhibit, which will be housed in a replica of the

Old Curiosity "Shop, has been assembled by the Oxford University Press with the assistance of well-known firms of printers and engravers, and will give in epitome a review of printing methods throughout the past 500 years. Adjoining this will be an exhibit furnished through the courtesy of Messrs Platt Brothers And Co., Oldham, consisting of a series of textile machines, commencing with a facsimile of Arkwright’s original loom. The remainder of the gallery .will.be filled by exhibits of British arts and crafts assembled "by, the Biitish Institute of Industrial Art,.

Returning to the right hand gallery the visitor will find a collection of period dresses, prints, ’ facsimile plate and other exhibits of historic interest loaned by the courtesy of the authorities of the Victoria and Albers Museum. The gallery will be completed by an interesting series of models of more than 20 of the historic English cathedrals, which have kindly been lent to the dejiartment by the Dean and Chnpter of Canterbury. In addition there will be a small selection of prints and relics of famous public buildings, lent by H. 51. Office of Works.

On either side of the fore-court previously mentioned will be rooms containing facsimiles of historic documents contained in the Public Record Office. Amongst these are a number of reproductions of documents relating to New Zealand for which a special search was made amongst old Admiralty and Colonial Office papers, new in the keeping of the public record office.

It will be seen that throughout the whole exhibit every effort has been made to strike a general historic note. It was the particular will of the New Zealand authorities that the British Government pavilion should bo s o{ this character, and the department is greatly indebted to the various Ministries, departments, public bodies and private firms of the\ United Kingdom, who have given them such spontaneous assistance in their search for exhibits of the character desired.