THE FRANCO-BRITISH EXHIBITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 15

THE FRANCO-BRITISH EXHIBITION.

n (From Oub Own Correspondent.) t.ONUOJST, Nbrembn 33;

Yesterday the Duke of Argyll and mem- • bers of the Executive Committee of the Franco-British Exhibition received representatives of the British, foreign, and colonial* pres3> together with some of the leading exhibitors, at the Exhibition grounds at Shepherd' 3 Bush, where an army of work-_ men 'is rapidly erecting the many buildings which will go to make up an exhibition , which, it has been stated, is intended to be the moet spleiisdid. ever held on British soil. The most part of the 200 acres and grounds is at' present nothing but a quagmire owing- to- -the. multitudinous works benTg carried on, but very thoughtfully a special cinder path had been laid down, so that one was able yesterday to avoid the ditches of clay and the deep cart ruts into which the ground has been ploughed. But while there 'ia still a great deal of virgin, soil to be converted into; foundations,, or gardens, or lakes, the- 'buildings are beginning to rear their heads. And very picturesque some of them axe with Moorishlike domes and Eastern turrets. There is a perfect forest of upright and horizontal eteel girders, for while some of the buildings are already masked in white ebucco, others look like, the ribs and bones of great prehistoric animals. It. is evident that a very special feature is to be made of the aquatic side of the Exhibition. Deep watercourses, bridges, links, and piers have been constructed, and it looks as if one will be able to make a tour of the Franco-Britteh Exhibition by' boat. The wonder of the Exhibition at present .is the stadium, on' part of which, all the visitors, mounted yjes- ' terday to- survey the proce'se- of evolvingorder atfd architecture 6trtV of 'a' suburban Sahara. This is to bold 68,000 spectators for the Olympic games, and the portion of it not yet completed will be under cover. The cycle track, immediately" below it, built on the slant against* a ' brick wait, will also offer standing accommodation when the centre of interest is in the turf-covefed area. Then there- will be room for 150,000 people. Within the- arena the swimming ' bath has already been constructed!. This' is 100 ft long, and in the middle it drops to a considerable depth for those who will join in the diving competitions. It was stated that 20 of the nations of the world had' already agreed. to- senYl representatives to the great athletic contests, which are to form so striking a feature of the Exhibition when it is opened next May. From the -top of the stadium, Mr H. (O( O. 1 Cameron pointed out to me the site whe*e the New Zealand' court will stand, immediately opposite the Canadian exhibit and near that of Australia. The New Zealand Court will' front the fine avenue of trees, and undoubtedly haW been given a grand position — far better than was at first proposed, to which the High Commissioner" oi^ect^d wifch"'succes»-~ r . A -