THE EXHIBITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13856, 20 March 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

(Fnoj[ Ocn Special Cop.nr.srosDEXT.) § OHRISTCHDRCH, March 19. Iho international Fire Brigades' demonstation, which is on a larger scale than lia.3 ever previously ken seen in tho colony, opened on the Exhibition Sports (Jromid this afternoon. Unfortunately the day was drab and chill, and threatened ruin at any moment, On (his account the attendance of spectators wfis not. so large as woidd doubtless have been the case under more smiling weather conditions. Three different competitions wero commenced at once, and as there were largo ciitriea for each, and tho men had *seii training hard up to tho last moments, the public was able to enjoy an interesting exhibition of quickness and activity in h're brigade work. In the evening a magnificent illuminated water display wae given at the side of Victoria Lalic. Moro than a dozen lofty waterspouts wero . kept in motion by engines drown up round tho side of the "lake, and tho display was played upon by coloured lights, which gave a strangely picturesque effect, whilo fireworks were sent up and rockets firoil above tho lake. Both on its side and from tho temporary anchorage which had been formed in the centre, there was a very large crowd ot spectators, and tho display aroused much enthusiasm. Tho competitions will ho continued at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning, and in tho evening tho sensational act of " flighting the flames" will bo given on tho ifcorts Grounds in combination with tho display of the London fireworks. Groat attention is being given by farmers to the fino collection of seeds exhibited in tho Agricultural Department court by a Dunedin firm, arA (he collection of cleanings from Now Zealand-grown seeds shown by the samo firm. Another collection of very choice seeds, grown in Huufep's Bay, is also attracting much notice. The serious _ side of ihe Inhibition is being moro availed of as it draws towards its close. Visitors to ihe Art Gallery are oven more numerous than the* hav«'bceu before, and the high average attendance at the orchestral concerts and organ recitals has novel , boon so consislcntlv maintained. J'lr Webb Nelson, organist, will fiive recitals in Ihe concert hall on Thursday and Friday next, and it b nossible (bat arrangements may bo mado for '.mother organ concert.'to bo given by Mr Grcgson, a. London organist, who hae made such a- favourable impression. Tho papers rent in in the typewriting, (shorthand, and commercial correspondence section of homo indutttries competitions will all bo placed on view in the Homo Industries portion of the Exhibition. The commitl-oo in charge of this section inlomls also to make an exhibit of home-made- (milts and counterpanes in the northern gallery, ivliioh hitherto has not been very largely occupied. It i« pxper-lod that a. new detachment of nauganui Maoris will arrive in the pa cither at, tho end of llio present week or llin beginning of next weok. The poi diincors from the Turakina. Maori Girls' School. _ who made a previous visit to the Exhibition, aro oxi:ected to return for a weok about tl'o same liiii!>. 'J'hivo gentlemen of hii>!i Mundins: in art ciiclC'S-Messre Sydimy L. Thompson (artist), Ifcrdinaii Smith (director of Ihe Christchurch School of Art), and Ilemas (phclo-praphorl-havo agreed to act. as .judges of the physical development competitions to bo hr-ld in Wonderland on Friday next in conjunction willi Ihe hunt [or buried treasure. Large entries havo been received for competitions.