THE EXHIBITION

Otago Witness, Issue 2761, 13 February 1907, Page 38

THE EXHIBITION

{Faoif Our Speciai. CoHEEsrcxDE^i.i j CHRISTOHURCH, Februarj b. To-day was MaetertouS* day at the Exhi1 ltion, .-.pedal excursions bringing a large number of -\i=iror* from that town. Five hundred and <sixty people in all arrived at Lyttelton by 'fwo steamers "from the north this morning. Dr Bradshaw gave an organ recital in the Concert Hall this afternoon, which «o6 followed by an orchestral concert. Both entertainments were very largely attended. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the Hon. H. Weedon. M.L.A., Victoria, arrived in Cnn^tchurch 10-day. and after visiting the Exhibition expressed himself as follows: — '" As far as the Exhibition k concerned I am amazed at it-s proportion. I expected to find a \ery fair Exhibition, but it far exceeds my expectations. I may state that I am rather interested in exhibitions, and was connected with the Melbourne and Tasmanian Exhibitions. The organisation of these displays is work that is congenial to me. I was very much delighted with the picture gallery ; in Tact, I could" hardly get away from it. I consider it -the best and most comprehensive collection of British pictures that has come to the Southern Hemisphere. It contains some very fine examples of the work of the most prominent British artists, «.ncl in saying this I speaJt from varied experience of some of the bes, picture galleries and .paintings in art, in which I have taken an interest nearly all my life. The individuaj pictures have been chosen with discrimination and taste." The Children's Rest during the seven weeks that it has been open has 'been patronised by some seven hundred babies, and the arrival of the thousandth, which is expected within the next fortnight, or three weeks, will be commemorated by the award of the special prize. Later on it is hoped to hold a baby show on a large scale in connection with the Rest. February 6. The flower show opened in the main corridor of the Exhibition to-day. Begonias formed the chief exhibits, and the show is pronounced by experts to be without doubt the largest and -finest ever held in the colony. As much was said of the beautiful and extensive show held a few weeks ago, which -was adjudged to be one of the best ever seen in Australasia, but this one, it is agreed, far -eclipses that both in number and quality of exhibits, i The total of 265 entries for competition constitutes a record for the , United Horticultural Society, which is ' controlling the show. The exhibits cover > about 1000 ft of tables, and an additional 700 ft of floor space, the whole extent of j 4he large entrance avenue being required > for the display. Begonias, though not in- ; eluded in the list of popular flowers, were exhibited freely by a large number of growers, and cut flowers — especially i dahlias, gladioli, and roses— are very ( largely represented. There is also a good display of fruit and vegetables. A large , exhibit of Ghent azaleas in full bloom, I which only left Holland at the eiid of November, form a beautiful feature of the j show. The quality in all branches of ihe , exhibits k unusually high, and the chow, i to which no extra charge is made for admission, has been thronged with admir- , ing visitors all day and evening. The society intends to follow up this success , with a dahlia show on March 6 and 7, j which will be made the climax of these , horticultural exhibitions. Already such , extensive preparations are being made for j this event by growers that it is gravely ( ■feared that the entrance corridor will not be large enough to accommodate the numerous exhibits. The present flower show « ill be continued to-morrow. j Two hundred and fifty-four Cadets of Wellington No 1 School Cadet Battalion, ' under Major Burlinson, arrived at the Exhibition camp this morning. Three other battalions, consisting of corps from Weraroa, Levin, Otaki, Johnsonville, Hutt, and Petone, and comprising 290 boys, are expected to arrive to-morrow. Arrangements are bomg made for the Cadets to jrive demons! rations on the_sports ground next Thursday afternoon February 7. The influx of visitors to the Exhibition from other parts shows no signs of abating. Two steamers, which arrived from Wellington this morning, brought 600 passengers, and the Melbourne steamer brought 100 from Australia. m The Third (Wellington) Battalion of School Cadets, encamped at the Exhibition, was inspected this afternoon by the Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister of Education), who complimented the lads on their apappearance The battalion will renu>-!ri in camp till Tuesday next, and will probably be succeeded by a battalion from Greyniouth, others following later on. Seventy fi\e Maoi h from the Hawk's Bay district ai rived at the Exhibition pa tlu>- nioninig. Their tribe was specially complimented for haka-dancing by the Duke of Cornwall when they performed before him at Rotorua, and they proudly retain the name which he gave them of the "Duke's Own."' Among the newcomers ure a number of women, who will dance pois. The singing of Native songs will also be a feature of their entertainments. They will remain for a week or 10 days, perhaps longer, and will be succeeded immediately on their departure by another large contingent from the same tribe. To-day they were welcomed with pois and hakas by the few Maoris who had been left in the pa, and they will be formally welcomed by the Fijians on Saturday, when the ceremony of kava-drinkini? will take place, and the representatives of both races will perform their national dattees. The begonia show in the main corridor •attracted a large number of admners again to day. . The attendance at the Exhibition generally lias been unusualry good all day. The fireworks display last mght was under the disadvantage of drizzling rain, which threatened every minute to be converted into heavy showers. There was, however, a large crowd to witness the pyrotechnic exhibition, which was fully up to the high standard which these displays have hitherto maintained. The sheep-yarding event in connection with the Christchurch Dog Trial Cub's events will take place on the Exhibition sports ground on March 23. It has been definitely decided that the orchestra will not visit Dunedin during the week of the band contest It will play on three afternoons in the concert hall, and on fhiee other dars it will play in the concert hall both afternoon and evening. The majority of the- band con-

test events will take place on the sports ground lotunda, leaving the concert hall i free at thc-e times The record audience for + he concert hall was attained to-night when West's Pic- ■ tures and The Breecians attracted an attendance of 1700 people. I At the inspection to-day by (lie Hon. G. Fowlds (Minister of Education) of the Tisird (Wellington) Battalion of School Cadets, winch i« encamped at the Exhibition, the following message, -which Colopel Loveday had just received from Lord Robert*, was read: — "As president of the , National Service League, I send you greet- | ing and the compliments of the season, and i hope that you will personally do your | utmost throughout the coming year to promote the movement towards the muchneeded national reform for which we are all working.— Robeets, F.M." February 8. The Xgatikuhungrinu Natives from Hawke's Bay gave their first performance of hakas and pois in the pa this afternoon before a largo number of spectators, and made an excellent impression. Thirty men and an unusually large number of women took part in the hakas. which were given with immense energy and enthusiasm. Experts pronounced the performance without doubt as the best that has been seen in the pa. The men were practically naked except for their piu pius, and the front rank especially had been realistically ''tatooed" for the occasion by Dr Buck. A partr of =^-yen «jirls danced a. poi danoe 'Try crracefully. The Lord Mayor of Melbourne was among the spectators, and was- formally welcomed to the Exhibition by the Maoris. Some glowing references were made to the Exhibition at the Mayoral banquet hist night. The Hon. H. Weedon (Lord Mayor of Melbourne) said it was a credit to New Zealand, and any parts of Australia would be proud to share in the honours that would fall upon New Zealand by reason of the Exhibition. It would be productive of much good to the colony, and even ii it cost the colony a fair sum the people ought not to grudge it. He would like to congratulate the visitors from abroad, and also New Zealand on its own splendid display. The special popularity of two features of the Exhibition is being proved "by the inability of Ohristchurch citizens, even at this early stage, to contemplate with equanimity the prospect of losing them at the close of the undertaking. These are the fernery and the aquarium. The former, in iegard to which the desire for permanent retention is particularly strong, is a singularly beautiful resort. Out of 130 specieß of ferns native to New Zealand, it contains more than 80, and it is so arranged with falling streamlets!, little cascades, and mcesoovered bridges as to resemble a perfectly lovely corner of tlhe natural bush. Probably never before has suoh a large proportion of New Zealand ferns been brought together in a public fernery One or two Nikau palms; fine ipecies of tree ferae, and a specimen of lancewood -add beauty and, dignity to the collection. Many of the ferns seem to be thriving almost batter than in the bush itself. Mr F. S. Steffan, a native of Austria, who lias been about 20 years in the colony, and for the past 15 years has been a wellknown deer-stalker and guide in the Wairarapa7 is on a visit to Chrktehuroh, and has taken a great interest in the collection of stags' heads in the New Zealand Government tourists' court at the Exhibition. Mr Steffan paid a visit to his native country and Germany last year, taking home with him several heads from tihe "Wairaxapa. which were much admired by Continental sportsmen. After seeing the North Ota#o heads in the Exhibition, Mr Steffan. considers that, as specimens of the true red deer, they could not be equalled, and would hold their own with a similar number of Carpathian heads. The best of the latter are larger and heavier, but in symmetry the North Otago heads are equal to iheni. Mr Steffan agrees with surih an authority as Mr J. G Millais that symmetry must oome before mere weight, and -he therefore places Mr Harold Hodgkinson's inagnifipent royal, which is No. 8 in the Tourist Department's court, as the champion head m the whole collection. This opinion is most generally shared by the numerous hportsmon and others who have made a careful inspection of the heads in the court. Of the other North Otago heads. Mr .Steffan plaoes Mr Hardoastle's 14-pointer (Xo. 24) next, and Mr D. Middleton's royal (No. 23) as third. Of the Wairarapa heads, judging by perfection in shape.. Mr Steffan g've? preference to Mr Donne's royal (No. 82), Mr Skerreit's royal (No. 66) and Mr Donne's 14-point.er (No. 60). in that order, Mr Skeri>ett's loyal showing the nearest approach to the true Scottish type of head of all those in the Wairarapa collection. It is now well' known that the Wairarapa herd of red deer is of mixed breeding, Gorman and Scottish blood apparently beinj* jjredainiiiant, and most of the heavy heads aliow the German type more strongly, and are similar to heads that may be seen jn German collections The Exhibition at^-endjnoe- for the week Totalled 64.704, making the aggregate to date 1,126.168. February 10. There was a large attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday, including bandsmen from all parts of the colonies, and in all varieties of uniform. The city is at present full of bandsmen, who have assembled to take part in the great contest, winch will continue daily from Monday morning till Saturday night. Ten bands from the north arrived on Saturday morning, seven from the south arrived by Saturday night's <*xpres.=, and .about 1Q more from the North Ida rid were passengers by to-day's boat from Wellington. Of the 37 bands entered the following will not take part in the contest :— Feilding. Hokitika, Graniiy. Buller, Elite. Dannevirke, Lyttelton Marine, Oamaru Citizens', and Auckland First Regimental Mounted. The following officors will act as judges of the military portion of the quickstep competition: — Lieutenant-colonels Hawkins and Jowsey, Captains Foster and Meddings, Sergeant-majors Farthing and Hoare. Mr •T. D. Hunter, of Dunedin, the official timekeeper of the North Island Brass Bands' Association, will act in that capacity at the competitions. The remainder of the attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday consisted mostly of country visitors and residents from other parts of the colony, who were attracted by the cheap steamer and railway fares. "Visitors by steamers are still arriving- in large numbers. Of the three boata which arrivrd from the north yesterday, the Mararoa brought 660 excursionists, the Pateena 154, and the Manuka 288. The principal feaFuros of the day were an organ recital by Dr Brathhaw, an.

T orchestral concert, and a combined perform* anco by the Fijians aad Maoris. Over 1400 persons witnessed the performance by the Nati-ves. Repreeentatives of the Hawke'a Bay Natives and of those who came before them made spee-ohes, in which they cxi pressed .regret at the impending departura 1 of the Fijians. Dr Buck translated theiu remarks into and the reply or Ratu I Fermi, on behalf of the Fijians, was translated by Mr W. A. Scott. I Fermi welcomed t u e rew Natives to the Exhibition, and cupslbf kara — the Fijian national drink — were then offered to the leading Maoris, by whom their contents, or partial contents^ were swallowed with laugha-ble grimaoesv The Maoris then danced a number of hakas, war dances, and pois in firet-class fashion, and the Fijians gave- exhibitions of their fan and club dances. Into the latter — which concludes with a ferocious combat withl clubs, a-s a result of which -first one side and then the other, and finally both, lie prostrate on the field — much humorous byplay was imported, some of the Maoris entering immediately into the spirit of the joke and adding little touches of their own. Finally the members of both races squatted in company on the ground, and the Fijians sang some of their nati\e songs The whole eut-ertainment was most picturesque and enjoyable. Works in the British section of the Art Gallery are spll being disposed of at satisfactory prices. The most important transaction recently has been the disposal of Mr "W. B. Leader's £000 oil painting, " Southward From Surrey'.^. Pleasant Hills," to Mrs S. A. Rhodes, of "Wellington. February 11. Bandsmen and their relatives and friends, to the number of some thousands, formed a large proportion of the attendance at the Exhibition to-day, the principal event being the opening of the international band contest. This will be the main attraction ab the Exhibition during the present week. The solo competitions commenced to-day, and will be continued on Wednesday and Friday jn the Concert Hall, and the grand selection and quickstep will be held in the sports ground on Tuesday* Thursday, and Saturday. In connection with the contests a grand torchlight tattoo will bo held on Friday night, which should prove a most picturesque affair. It is suggested! that the whole of the competing bands shall take part, together with the military forces and cadets, the Maoris of the pa, and the Fijians If they are still here. Theproceedings will commence with gun fire and the playing of the first post by the buglers of the Volunteer forces. The bands' will then march on, accompanied by torchbearers and playing a quickstep. Each band* entry will be announced by the firing of a rocket, and an exhibition 06 gun drill T>y the artillery of the Naval Brigade will follow, and then the massed bands will play the march set for the contest, under the direction of -the adjudicator* (Lieutenant Bent ley). An attack f by the Military on the Araiteurtt pa, which w ; B be defended by the Maoris, who will give a wax dance of defiance, will be the nexfe event; after which the massed bands will play the National Anthem ; and the gun fire and the playing of the "Last post* by the buglers will conclude the programme. Some of the arrangements have not yet been completed, but it is hoped! that it will be found practicable to carry out the tattoo on the lines indicated. An international football carnival on the sports ground, to occupy a week or 10 day?, just before the conclusion of the Exhibition in April, is the latest suggestion i» the way of entertainment. It is pointed out thai} the sports ground would provide a splendid) football field, with seating accommodation for 1800 people and standing- space for many thousands. Teams could be attracted from all parts of the colony, and even from Australia, and sufficient players would probably arrive to allow the carnival to be continued for the suggested period without playing any team more than twice in the week. Attractive cups and trophies would, of course, be provided. Miss M. O. Stoddart, who is recognised as a fine landscape artist and the best painter of flowers in this colony, and who has just returned from nine years' 6tudy of art in England and the Continent, when asked her opinion of the picture gallery at the Exhibition, said: — "I think on the whole the picture gallery is an exceedingly interesting collection. There is somg very fine work the^e. Ifc would be unreasonable to expect perfection in a coHee* lion of the kind. I think the level of water colours is rrore sustained than that of oils. ' The Smugglers,' "by Napier Henry, is one of the finest of hi? works X have seen. I am glad to notice that Ms Terrick Williams has sold- so well, because he is one of the comifig men. Taker* altogether it is a most interesting and) instructive show, and the people of the colony are fortunate in having an .opportunity of comparing the many styles of panting." It will be good news for the many who are waiting for the cheap excursion trains at special rates to start to learn that thj first train will leave Dunedin at 9.55 a.m. on Monday, February 18. for Christchurch, arriving there at 7.30 p.m. No dining ca? will 'jo attached to the train, so that those travelling by it will have to take their own hampers with them. No passenger^ will be .picked up on the way. Thosa ■who intend leaving! by this train, andi who wish to avoid the crush on the Mon« day. nan obtain their tickets on the 15th; and 16th inst. The special excureion fares', as has previously been published, have been fixed at 18s first class and 12s Sd second class. Mr John Ballantyne, of Waikaka, has ait exhibit in the home industries court that* has attracted a. considerable amount of attention, consisting, as it does, of aomri very cleverly-executed handwork by <n blind man. ' There are tatting- needles* spoons, shoe-borne, dice, rings, knitting needles, and other useful articles all medd out of bone, and shown in * faandßomo case The goods all bear evidence .oJ careful, patient workmanship, and -thdj exhibitor has been paid many compliment^ by spectators for his really splendid workA battalion of about 300 School €adet«| will leave Dunedin for the Exhibition en Friday, 15tb ins*., for & week under canvttffc The camp will be pitched in Hagley Park* and Major Murray will be in comman&i Striot military discipline will be observed duiing the camp. There are now 24 district coutZ centres yS the colony, and with two exceptions Juara Haselden hae lurisdiction in the whole of -rhom. The otilv other District Court judge is Mr Ketiie, who sits at Hamilton afid ia4 Thames.