The Exhibition.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9478, 4 February 1907, Page 1

The Exhibition.

By 'Telegraph. Christchurch, February 3. The Exhibition attracted a large number of visitors on Saturday, and for local residents it has now become seemingly an indispensable resort, while visitors from other parts of the colony and from Austialia continue to arrive in satisfactory numbers.

The ioiig-negleitcd orchestra is now one of the most potent attractions, and an excellent concert given on Saturday alterinon was enjoyed by a large audience. l)r Findiav." Attorney-General, who is acting as Miuisier-in-charge at present, has come to the conclusion, after tours of inspection of buildings, that, the present ventilation is inadequate, and he has taken steps to have the defect remedied at once. The windows, which are nearly all fixtures, and cannot be opened, are lieing altered, and the Toof is also being altered in parts to admit more air in the Art Gallery, which was generally agreed to be the stuffiest part, of the building. Electric fans are being piaced, workmen having commented the task on Saturday. When these improvements are effected, one of the existing complaints again the Kxluhition, that the atmosphere of its interior is too cose for comfort in hot weather, will have been removed.

Mr S. Kirkpatrick. of Nelson, having spent a great deal of time in inspecting the various exhibits at the Kxhibition, lias found another complaint, which is attho same time a compliment. Mr Kirkpatrick considers that while the Exhibition is most attractive to those seeking in- j formation and recreation, the side shows, and Wonderland in particular, have been very keen competitors of the Exhibition, lie'lias been much 6truck. he 6ays, with the way people have filed into the big building, and immediately rushed through | to Wonderland, with the result- that the i exhibitors do not Teap the advertisement or reward they are entitled to. Mr Kirkpatrick suggests that after the arranged closing date of the Exhibition and side shows, the former should lie rc-openedas a free show to the general puMic. Not onlv in the interests of the exhibitors would this be a benefit, but from an educational point of view. Mr Kirkpatrick and many of the exliibitors consider such a. continuation of the Exlubition proper would lie in the right direction. The side show attractions would be closed down, and people would have nothing to distract their attention from the merits of the Exhibition, which he considers very great. Apart. from the practicality of this proposal, there is no doubt that many departments of absorbing interest in the Exhibition, such as the educational, sociological, and other exhibits in the British Court are far too lightly 6kimmed over by the crowds of visitors, who would find themselves very richly rewarded if they gave even a moderate "amount of study to the exhibits. _ The Exlubition covers so many fields of science, art and industry, and covers some of tliem in such a complete manner that onlv the most exceptional individual could fail to find two or three departments at least calculated to interest liim in a very higli degree. Details of tile International Band Contest, which will be held from February 11th to 16th, are well in hand. A local expert wriies that before next Saturday night all the competing bandsmen will be billeted in Christchurch. Never before has there, been such a galaxy of talent. Each contesting band will doubtless be in their best playing form, and in "Lombardi" and their "own choice" will be heard the best bands of the colony fully extended during the contest. The Newcastle City Band won the recent large contest conducted by the Bands Association of NewSouth Wales, one of the conditions 'being that the winning band should undertake the trip to New Zealand to compete at the Exhibition.

The 25,000t1i visitor went in the tower elevator on Saturday and was presented with a coiiuuemoratire gift. Kvery visitor to the tower on Saturday war. iUu presented with a postcard showing a view ui Christchurch taken from the top.