DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12404, 25 March 1926, Page 4

DUNEDIN EXHIBITION

IMPRESSIVE PAGEANT RECORD EASTER TRAFFIO EXPECTED. Per Press Association. DUNEWN, March 24. Nearly 1000 day excursionists from Gore Friendly Societies saw tlie exhibition to-day in ideal weather. ‘ This week’s party of school children numbers between ?00 and 800. They come from the West Coast, K&ikoura, Waimate, Geraldine, Queenstown and Central Otago. The tourist booking Offce expects a record Easter traffic. The special train from Christchurch on Good Friday morning has been heavily overbooked, and a second is scheduled to leave 20 minutes later. The big pageant and military tattoo is drawing great crowds to the sports ground. At night searchlights and torches are used to produce impressive lighting effects. The pageant, by means of illuminated moving tableaux, depicts famous incidents in New Zealand history, from the first discovery by the Maoris to the final peace with the Pakehas. Then the picturesque ceremony of changing guard In which red and white uniforms of Queen Victoria’s time mingle with the shorts of senior cadets, ushers in the tattoo. The most impressive features here are the marching by of massed bands with torchhearers, drill and maze marching by cadets, Scottish scena with national songs, dances, round the camp fire, and full dress artillery, drive ending in salvo that shakes the .hills.at the finish. All the military forces Tine up while “Abide With Me” is played in the semi-darkness, and as the “Last Post” is sounded the last light disappears.

WADESTOWN CHILDREN DELIGHTED WITH EXHIBITION EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Times-") DUNEDIN, March 24. The Wadestown children's first day at the Exhibition was a never-to-be-forgotten event. The children wero delighted, especially so after, the long, weary journey of yesterday. Every liberty was given and it was greatly appreciated. Most of the afternoon was devoted to "Joyland," with its thousand and one fun-making machines, the scenic railway, the ‘ whip and dodgems" being the most popular. Tho children are well catered for by the management. They rise early, and drive in a ’bus to the Exhibition for breakfast at eight. There is a threecourse dinner for the girls at 12 o’clock, and for the boys at 12.30. The girls have tea at 5, and tho boys at 5.30. All have supper at 9 o’clock, leave at 9.20, and are in bed at 9.30. There are excellent arrangements for meals, the organiser of which deserves an Exhibition medal. For example, to-day 630 children were served with a three-course dinner in one hour and 15 minutes.

Tlie weather is helping the children’s pleasure; there has been glorious sunshine.

The whole trip is well worth the tiouMe, and the children arc a credit to the Envure Oit-v.