THE ROUND OF EVENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 28

THE ROUND OF EVENTS.

COMING EXCURSION VISITORS. Friday momma the hundreds of visitting school children departed after a glorious week at the Exhibition that will live for ever in their memories. They bade farewell to the pavilions, the groat dome, and the entrancing Amusements Park on Thursday evening, when, under the direction of Mr 0. A. Strack, the lSducation Court manager, and the teacher* under whose care they journeyed

from Canterbury, they marched through the grQuntls singing hapnily. The Canterbury Court was visited, where a final chorus was given, and the juvenile hundreds cheered their goodbye. ‘‘The visit has been a great success in every way,’* said Mr Strack on Friday “There has been no illness, no trouble, and both children and teachers have been delighted.” The gap made by the absence of thv children on Friday was filled by the crowds of ixaitangata visitors who arrived in an all-day excursion to the Exhibition. The weather was particularly kind, and every part of Logan Park was visited. This excursion was the first of many that have been arranged for the next few days, and the following is a list of the coming arrivals:— March 3.—lnvercargill Diapers, 1000; Lawrence friendly societies, 500; Rotary Club, Christchurch, 250. March ,5. —Winton friendly societies, 700. March 6. —Christchurch-Ashburton day excursion, 250. March 10.—Wyndhara Oddfellows, 950. March 13. —St. Joseph’s School, Milton> 300; Waimca Plains and Switzer’s branch, 950. INo lowering of the attendance total was perceptible during the day, and pavilions, courts, grounds, and Amusements Park were crowded with visitors. The Exhibition Orchestra played in lhe Auckland Court, where a large gathering assembled, and the tenor horn solos of the band contest were heard in the Festival Hall. In the evening, however, the coming ol the rain lessened the numbers who streamed through the main gates, although under the circumstances the attendance recorded was an excellent one. Despite the pre vailing conditions, big business was done in the Amusements area after the daylight had faded and the Exhibition was lit by massed thousands of electric lamps. Until the hour of closing came the exhibitors and stall-holders in the pavilions were kept hard at work attending to the wants of the throngs who passed and repassed through the swing doors, and the Friday evening session wa3 voted an excellent one. One prominent visitor during the day was Mr John Pease Babcock a distinguished Canadian, who is chairman of the International Fisheries Commission and Commissioner of Fisheries for British Columbia. He paid a visit of inspection to the New Zealand Government Court, and at the request of the Commissioner (Mr J. W. Collins) has promised to deliver a lecture in the Kinema Hall this evening at 8 o’clock. Mr Babcock will refer to the life and value of the Pacific salmon, and the posibilities for quinnat salmon in New Zealand waters. The lecturer will be introduced by the Canadian Commissioner (Mr D. H. Ross).