THE THIRD LAP

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 22

THE THIRD LAP

THE SECOND MILLION

Tho 9th was a traditionally quiet Monday St tho Exhibition, and there were no aetiYitiej apart from the daily routine, if Exhibition activities may be placed in a routine. Put t was a lovely day. The atlemlanca was 18,874. TIJIAH BUTTER. A THRIVING INDUSTRY. For more than 40 years small quantities r f excellent butter have been made by various settlers in Fiji cither for use in th°ir own households or for sale in J.eVuka and Suva, but it is only in recent rears that any serious attempt lias been made to establish the dairying industry on a commercial basis. The first creamery was erected in 1921 at the Returned B‘Jdiers* Settlement in Tailevu, about 30 .tiles from Suva. In proportion to the European population and financial resources of the colony, Fiji contributed her full quota of men and money to the Croat War, and after peace the colony was faced by problem* similar to those that confronted larger communities. The y r.ilcvu dairy scheme was established with the object of providing homes and employment for a certain number of men ret'.rned from active service. The land acquired by the Government for this purpose—some 6000 acres in extent —was divided into farms and sub-let to returned men. A factory was erected, and this is new supplying butter of exce.lent quality to ihe local market. ii>22 the New Zealand Government ](«*. the services of one of its dairying Mr G. M. Valentine, who examined and reported on the whole scheme. This officer produced highly interesting on the value o. the herds, the general working of farms, and the butter fsetor: r . lie was convinced that there were large areas of good land on which dn.rying co»jJd be successfully carried on. The butter already made T as equal in quality to butter made under t-imilar conditions in New Zealand. At +'"* world’s butter championship, held a*, the Auckland Winter Show fr'-m August 20 to 29, 1925, at which competitive exhibits were received from such woll-kr. >wn butter producing countries as England, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia. Canada, the United States, and Denmark, baiter Fiji was entered for comyoT,cioi\ aim it was brought within the N* v Zealand standard of first-grade better. These fact*, are of more than passing i J.'estj Fiji looks to New Zealand for its future in the dairying industry, and it will be from New Zealand that she will draw her pedigree animals to enable her to carry on the industry successfully. It is also interesting to note i;3 connection with this that all the butter (and the bananas, for that matter) used in one o? the leading Dunedin hotels this week has been supplied by the Fiji Court, ami it has met with very favourable comment from those who have sampled it. A LUCKY LADY Tho New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition is now in a proud position. It has broken all the attendance records for Exhibitions in this country, :.ud on Tuesday the two-millionth visitor passed through the gates. It was a significant occasion, for it spelt success with a capital S. When the gates closed for the day the total was 2,009,259, making 21,172 for the day. TIMARU LADY WINS WATCH. CROWDS IN GOOD FORM. At 6.49 on Tuesday night the second millionth visitor passed through tho main gates at the Exhibition. Long before that hour, however, a crowd gathered around the gates and watched the arrivals with keen interest. Tlie visitors flowed in at the rate of 35 a minute, or 2100 an hour. The closing down of the turnstiles was the first indication of the ap- ' proach of the mysterious two-millionth

WEATHER KEEPS SMILING ONE HUNDRED DAYS COMPLETED

visitor, and that signal marked a general reluctance to enter the one gate that was left open. Great numbers hung back. That watch was an expensive one, and there was no need to rush in at so early a stage. By six o’clock the crowd extended in a queue quite a distance up Union street, while inside those philosophical folk who had dreamed dreams of winning the watch waited to sec. The crowd inside the gates numbered several thousands, and as time drew on every - r :itor who trickled through had to stalk d-wn a living lane, being subjected the while to the closest scrutiny. It was quite an entertainment in itself, for most of the late comers were endeavouring to disguise an appearance of faint h'.pe with one of utter unconcern. Among these one or two prominent court officials were singled out by the crowd us fit subjects for audible comment heralded by a burst of cheering. “Oh.-look! lies got a new suit on. too!” was one official’s reception, and he hurried on embarrassed. A small boy was seen to come in no fewer than six times. How he did it only he could tell, for the crowd seemed almost impassable. He must have darted through the legs and steered round skirts on his hands and knees. But he was not the chosen.

Minutes passed, and interest increased to a high pitch. There was silence for a while, and then a bell rang, followed by an outburst of cheering. The time was 6.49 p.m. The crowd surged up to get a glimpse of the second millionth visitor. The gods of chance had thrown their dice, and once more it was a lady. Another demonstration, and the police dived in to save her from suffocation and to clear a space for the official photographer. The two-millionth visitor was Mrs Morrison, of Timaru, wife of Commander G. W. Morrison. Royal Navy, retired. This was Mrs Morrison’s third visit to the Exhibition, and on this occasion she arrived in Dunedin the previous day. She has no relatives here, but, as one of the directors remarked, she has now a host of friends. Although Mrs Morrison knew that this was the day of the gold watch, she had made no calculation and had just come down after tea, without the faintest idea of her chance.

She was received by the manager (Mr G. P. Hainsworth). Mr Speight (deputy chairman of directors), Mr Charles Todd, Mr Arthur Barnett and Mr W. R. Hay ward, other directors, who, followed by the curious crowd, conducted her to the manager’s office in front of the Canadian Ccurt. Kept back by the men in blue, the crowd waited till she emerged once more and there was another outburst of cheering.

It will he remembered that the last gold watch to commemorate the millionth visitor went to Miss Jean Lamont, a young Invercargill lady. The achievement of a grand attendance of 2,000,C00 in 16 weeks constitutes a now Dominion record. As a matter of fact the best previous record was passed actually on the previous Saturday, but two millions is a definite, easily remembered landmark. Figures supplied by the Publicity Officer (Mr I. G. Maclnnes) afford an interesting comparison between the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition in Dunedin in 1883 90, the Christchurch Exhibition of 1906-7 and tho present one. The New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition of ’B9-’9O was opened on November 26 and closed 20$ weeks later on April 19 with a total attendance of 625,248, which the official history states was 18,000 in excess of the European population of New Zealand. The record for tho largest single day’s attendance was 18,434 on the closing day.

The Christchurch Exhibition, 16 years later, was opened on November 1 and closed 231 weeks later, on April 15, with a grand attendance of 1,967,632 The daily average attendance was 13,644, and the record for a single day 46,852 (on closing day).

The present Exhibition, 13 years after Christchurch, was opened on November 17 and passed the Christchurch total attendance on March 6 with one day of the sixteenth week to spare, and eight week 8 ahead of it before closing day. The daily average to date is touching 21,000 and the record for a single day is 50,971. The population of New Zealand in 1889 was about 643,243. In 1906 it was 839,000 and in 1926 1,382,000. But Christchurch was nearly as big a city in 1806 as Dunedin is to-day, and attendance figures must be viewed very largely in the light of the population of the Exhibition cities, as it is from (he home city after all that the great bulk of the attendance is drawn. ART AT THE EXHIBITION THE ART GALLERY, xvi. The art of the sculptor is subject to peculiar limitations. The painter can call in to his aid a number of accessions, such as colour, tone, atmosphere, perspective, and so on, which will help to make a successful picture, and, it is to be feared, occasionally distract attention from defects in drawing or poor composition. In the majority of other crafts also the craftsman is not limited to one central idea. But in a piece of sculpture, one’s attention is limited to the subject itself. You cannot look past it (as in looking past a figure in a picture at the background), but you can walk all round it and look at it from every conceivable position. Thus, the sculptor must not be satisfied with his work being right from one point of view—it must be right from every point of view. His work is a constant struggle with the third dimension. A painter can indicate the third dimension by the use of double lighting, reflected lights, or by sheer fine painting. But a sculptor cannot indicate it —he must make it. Let us take, for example, the portrait of Mr Massey Augustua-John has placed the subject in such a position with regard to the light that the break between the planes of the front and the side of the head is obvious, and lias been put down with such masterly strokes that the head is shown to be solid, and, to quote Professor Rothenstein (whose portrait group of liis children hangs near) the front of the head is painted in such a way that one sees the shape of the back. But if one examines certain other portraits in the gallery, it will be Been that they are nothing more than masks, because the painter has played upon the effects of colour and light, and has not bortherel about construction. And yet they are very attractive pictures. But if a sculptor neglected construction the result would l>e chaos. Of the five heads exhibited, without doubt the finest is that of Lord Lister, by G. II Paulin, No. 81, Room A, because it is an honest and sound piece of construction without affectation. It obtains its attraclivesness from its simplicity, and the knowledge which one knows is certainly in it, but which is not in any way forced upon one. It is like a fine building or piece of machinery. It fulfils its purpose without pretention to do anything else. There Is a great deal of snobbery and affectation in modern sculpture, due mostly to an unthinking imitation of such mon ns Rodin, Mestrovie, and Epstein, regardless of the fact that Rodin is one of the greatest giants of all time in sculpture, that Mestrovie belongs to a different race to our own, and has different ideals, and that Epstein is an isolated genius who is a law unto himself. Iu "Thais and Paphnutiua,” by Alexander Proudfoot, No. 80, Room A, we see a work which is quite obviously influenced by Mestrovie. Now there 1b no reason whatever why a Scotch artist should take for his model the type of Slav peasant employed by Mestrovie. - It only results in an uncomfortable and bizarre effect. Apart from this, the hea l of Taphuntlus is a very tin* piece of work.

For a lesser artist to be influenced by the work of a greater is no uncommon thing, and indeed, no discredit attaches to it, but rather the reverse, if the lesser man retains his individuality. But in Slavish imitation there is no credit. Beuno Schota Is well known as a follower of Epstein, but how much he is only an imitative follower is shown by his “Lily," No. 50, Room A. Whether Benno Schotz really understands Epstein’s aims and ideals or whether he does not, certainly no one else does, and when one is confronted by work of this kind one feels inclined to cry out: “In the name of Pheidias tell us what all this means, so that we can appreciate it, or else do not let us see it at all!” The aim of Art is not to confuse and baffle, but to educate and uplift, and when, on looking at a piece of sculpture, one is given a feeling of horror, because the subject appears to be suffering from a horrible disease. Then the aims of Art are being undermined. Probably no artist has had more influence on modern sculpture than Rodin. Amongst the British exhibits, there are at least six which show either his influence or are more or less imitations of his work. His wellknown group “Le Baiser” can be seen in two versions. “Eden,” No. 79. Room A. bv Allan Wyon, and “Grief,” by G. A. M. Williams, No. 94, Room 9. Artists should be inspired by the work of great men, to produce great work, and not imitative work. One work which copies some personal idiosyncracy of a great man will always fail. Rodin, whose method of workin? is that of Michel ngelo—that is. he works direct in marble without a clay model—often commenced works which he afterwards abandoned, but these have been much sought after and carefully preserved, so that many of his works to be seen in Dublic galleries are unfinished. Now some of his followers have made a special feature cf leaving certain parts of their work unfinished. without Rodin’s reason, but simply out of affectation. An example of this is “Victor Hugo,” by Achard (French) No. 54. Room A. in which the way the head starts suddenly out from the (intentionally) un£. ' \ed block, is uncomfortable. If it were really unfinished one would see the gradual stages. This kind of work makes one think of someone Irving deliberately to write an “Unfinished” Symphony! It will be seen from what has been said that a piece of sculpture, to be successful, must be thoroughly sound and sincere and free from affectation. Mediocrity in drawing or composition is not tolerable, because there is nothing to compensate for it. When a sculptor intends to produce a piece of work only three courses are open to him in the treatment of it. Either it must be treated in big, strong, matter—that is, the sculptor must think of it as a block of marble or stone or granite or it must be so highly finished and so subtle and refined as to defy criticism, or it must be treated as a piec iof decoration It is unfortunate that none of the first are to be seen in the gallery, hut when one considers the cost and difficulties of transport, it is not surprising. But one may quote, as an example of such work, the “Physical Energy” of G. F. Watts, one of the finest things of its kind in the world. Of the second class, there are many beautiful little bronzes to be seen, notably the “Teucer” and “The Sandal” of Hamo Thornycroft (No. 52, Room A and No. 92, Room G). the “Fairies” of Mrs Phoebe Stabler, No. 67, Room A, and “The Catapault” by Reid Dick. No. 61. Room A The “Teucer” shown is a statuette from the life size figure by the same artist, a work so finely modelled and thoroughly understood that it is generally considered to rank with the best Greek work, and has found a place in many of the leading schools of art beside the Venus of Milo and the Discobolus of Myron. One feels that an effort should be made to find this little figure a permanent homo in the Dunedin Art Gallery. Mrs Stabler’s “Fairies” has a fascination about it which is peculiarly its own. When viewed from the right and slightly to the rear, there is so much subtlety and delicacy and fairylike charm in tho action of the arm, from the thrown back head up to the beautiful little neck supporting the bobbed head, that it seems impossible that a human hand could have made it. One forgets that it is cold, hard metal, and sees only the sparkling, vilul little being.

One must also mention the “Bacchanale” of C. D’O. Pilkington Jackson (No. 56, Room A), a very finely modelled and well posed dancer, and also “The Arlekin” of Lindsay Clark (No. 72, Room A), a very similar subject, which perhaps gains a little from being a little more restrained. One feels that the former would have gained through being a trifle more abandoned.

Of the third class of sculpture, mention has already been made of Reid Dick's “Madonna.” Of the remaining decorative pieces of sculpture, the “St. George” of Gilbert Bayes (No. 76, Room A) may be taken as the type. Not only has use been made of differences colour in the bronze, but coloured enamels have also been introduced. But apart from this the modelling of the figure ‘tself is treated as a design. This is in the tradition of the Gothic sculptors, who maJe much use of such figures, not only in metal, but in stone, as part of their architectural decorations. Attention should be drawn to the three works in plaster by R. Hoff, a young sculptor. who was recently appointed teacher of modelling at the Sydney Technical School (Nos. 79, 82 and 84, Room A), and no description of the sculpture in the gallery could be complete without a reference to the “Belgian Hare,” by Phyllis Bone, a beautiful little work which speaks so well for itself that it is difficult to leave it. VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION THE FRENCHMAN. By C. H. F. I was standing idly in one of the doorways of ‘he Machinery Pavilion, looking out on the hurrying throng of eager sightseers in the Grand Court, when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned round, and there behind me stood a youngish man, hatless and clean-shaven. “Ah, you are ze guide of ze Exheebition?” he said. “Eh?” I demanded. “Guide? What do you mean ” “You show me all zat zere is to see in ze Exheebition, is it not?” I looked at the man queerlv. Evidently a foreigner. Then, and to this day I know net what prompted me to say such a thing —it seemed to slip out —I asked: “Pariez vous Franca is, M’sieur?” “Oui, oui,” cried the other excitedly, then plunged into a stream of French the like of which I had never heard before. I waited patiently till he had finished. His last word was “comprenez?” which was the only word I knew. I am not a French scholar. “Pailez vous Francais?” is about my limit in that language, and 1 felt I had let myself in for something when I so unthinkingly asked that question. In answer to his “comprenez?” I said cheerfully enough, “Non l” “Non?” he cried, and waved his arms furiously. “Non?” Then off he went again. Five minutes later: “Comprenez?” from the Frenchman; “Non!” from myself. The Frenchman literally tore his hair. Then in English: “You not understand? You not speak French? Why is zat? You ask me if I speak French, an’ zen you not understan* me. ... I ask for you to be ze guide* roun’ ze Exheebition for me. Comprenez? You show me all zero is to see an’ I pay you for doing zat.” “Oh, I see,” I murmured to myself. “Why didn't you say that at first?” Aloud I replied, “I am not a guide, you know, but I will show you round; and you need nob pay me.” “Need not pay you? Why is zat? I offen’ you ?” “No no,” I hastened to reassure him. “I do it for—for—love, you understand.” “Comment? Lov’? Zen you lov’ me, n’est ce pas? Ah, zat is good ; it is—how you say?—pally. An’ I lov’ you, too.” I let that remark pass, and said, “I’ll show you round, but I do not want any money for doing that. Come along.’’ So, in my new capacity of Exhibition guide, I led tho Frenchman around. He was very interested in all he saw and wanted to know the inner workings of everything. I could see his good opinion of me was getting a great many set-backs as I failed to give many lucid explanations of things ho wanted to know “Why jou rot know?” he demanded more than once; and I could not make him understand that I wasn’t a sawmiller, an engine driver, a gold miner, a farmer, and a thousand and one other things rolled into one. “I am not a walking encyclopedia, you know,” I remonstrated at length. Ho looked as if ho did not comprehend, “A walking ency . . . you mean bicycle, is it not?” ne asked. “I use* to be very fond of zat sport in la belle France—bicycling. Mais non,” he laughed, “of course, you are not a walking bicycle. You mak’ zo joke, eh?’ “Yes,” I said, deciding to put it off that way rather than go into a lot of tedious explanations. “I understan’,” said the Frenchman “an’ I tako ze joke.” He laughed mirthfully. “I showed him the miniature waterfall in the Otago Court. “‘Mais oui, you bathe in zis—swim?” he cried, and proceeded to unbutton his waistcoast. “No, no,” I cried hastily, and in some alarm. “You must not bathe here! It is only—to look at.” And I had quite a task trying to make him realise that it was not put there for any bathing purposes. Eventually, amid the grins of the by■tanders, 1 inauaged to drag him away.

The huge coloured paiutiugs iu the Southland Court pleased him immensely. “Oh, zey are beautiful, exqueesite,” he cried. A quiet, pleasant voice chimed in: “Would you like one of those pictures, sir? Buy a ticket in this raffle, and you might win one. It will only cost you a shilling. . , ” Like a lamb, the Frenchman parted with his shilling, and folding up the white ticket he received in exchange, exclaiming: “You are a prizewinner ticket. I wish for you to win me one of zose pictures.” As he wandered along, he suddenly asked: “Where will I-—how you say it?— procure some souvenirs of zee Exhibition to sen' away to my dear frien’s?” A voice breaking in, answered him: Souvenirs, sir? Here you are, sir. What do you wish? Just look at this tray with the dome of the Exhibition carved on it, quite cheap. . . ." My friend had bounded forward at the speaker's first words, and was now eagerly turning over the piles of small mementos that littered the counter of the little souvenir stall. In a few moments he had cleared a space and was rapidly sorting out the various articles into two heaps. A pleased smile gradually spread over the face of the girl in charge of the stall as she saw how big one heap was growing. I saw her lips moving, and knew she was calculating what this lot was going to cost the Frenchman. Swifty he turned over article after article, until at last everything except one tiny cigarette holder was placed in the one big pile. With a highly-pleased smile on her face the girl reached towards the big heap. “Look here,” I cried, “surely j r ou are not buying all those things?” The Frenchman looked at me and grinned. “All zose? But no, zat is what I buy,” and pointed to the cigarette holder. I had to laugh. As a lightning artist that girl beat all. The expression on her face changed as if by magic. “Oh, is that all you want?” she said, and there was a breath of the South Pole in her words. I hurried the Frenchman away. It was warm work walking, and when we came to a marble bar I felt a drink would not go amiss. I turned to the Frenchman “Would you like a drink?” I asked. He smiled at me. “But no, I am—what you call it?—a tee-totalisator, eh?” I grinned All the same I led him to the stall and we had a drink. When we had finished our glasses; “That ra very nice,” I said “Mais oui,” he responded. “It i* you say it?—heavenly necktie!” I took him in the Fernery. It was de lightfully cool in there, and he was loud in his praises of the glorious ferns. Then suddenly he sprunz back as if he had trodden on a porcupine, and let out an astonished yell: “Mon Dieu! A crocodiie alligator!” and pointed to a small model of a gaping saurian partially screened by ferns. I hastened to assure him it was only a model. “But you don’t fin’ zem in ze bush?” he queried anxiously. “No. no!” I said. “You’d have as much chance of finding a Ford motor car in the bush as that.”

“Ah.” he said, “but ze Ford, he say he go anywheres.” I kicked myself. ‘Well, an aeroplane, then,’’ I amended. “But zc Clane. he go wrong, and com’ down in zo ush—crash.” I changed the subject. “Oh come out into the Amusements Park,” I said.

“Ah, yes,” he laughed, forgetting the alligator at once. “Zat rs where is ze Railway of Scenery, an’ ze Factory o! Fun, is it not?”

So into the Amusements Park we went, and we watched people get the thrill of their lives on the “Railway of Scenery. ' Down the dips roared the cars, and a crescendo of shrieks went with them. 1 asked the Frenchman if he would go on. but he shook his head. “No. my good comrade,” he said. “It—how you so funnily say it?—put ze win’ up u e Zom’zing here,” he placed his hand on his heart, “be go all pit-a-pat.” And all the wav along the Amusements Park it was the same. The Frenchman seemed to get the maximum of enjoyment by just looking on. He expressed no desire to experience a thrill on any of the sideshows. “Non, mon ami,” he would say. if I ventured to suggest our doing so. “I zink it is safer here.” However, I managed to get him on to the Helter Skelter. Just before 1 commenced my circular glide to earth I told him to wait a second or two while I got a little start. “I see,” he said. I reached the bottom safely, and stood awaiting my friend to come down. Eventually a voice from aloft: “Are you zere?” “Yes,” I called up, “you come down now." A pause. Then a mat shot down, followed almost instantly by my friend, who came down gracefully—on his neck, his feet waving like semaphores in the air, and his hands making futile attempts to clutch the slippery sides. Amid roars of laughter from those around, he came to a sitting position in the basin, and rubbed his neck tenderly, emitting voluble French as he did so. The crowd roared its appreciation. The Frenchman took it all in good part, but when he came to my side he said: “I zink we go in ze courts again. Zis is—what you say?—too much excitement!”

So we went back into the pavilions, and the Frenchman again evidenced a lively interest in all there was to see. “Have you seen this?” I asked, and pointed out a certain stall to him. There was no response, and I looked round, to find the Frenchman had disappeared. I frowned. Where could he have got to? A hasty tour round the building satisfied me he was not there. 1 decided he had slipped me in some way, so, giving him up, I returned to the Amusements Park. As I passed the Helter Skelter a sudden .veil assailed my ears: “Hulloa, my frien’!" and into the basin there shot my Frenchman. . . . When he came up to me, “I thought you didn’t like that,” I said. “Ah, but I do," he replied. “It is good. You com’ on wiz me!” It was close on 10.30 when I at last got the Frenchman away from the Helter Skelter, and dragged him towards the gates. “It is a wonderful Exheebition/' he cried, as we went down the Grand Court. “Sim’ly wonderful) an’ I com’ again!" and he blew innumerable kisses towards the Dome, much to the consternation of several young ladies behind us,

who were just hurrying to the same destination as we were!

“BETTER FARMING” TRAIN

REMARKABLE AUSTRALIAN IDEA.

“Better Farming Methods Adopted in Australia” was the subject of an interesting and informative radio talk by Captain W. L. Smalihorn, Australian commissioner, at the Exhibition on Tuesday night. Captain Smalihorn dealt in particular with the Better Fanning Train, which was put into running bv the combined efforts of the Departments of Agriculture and Railways in the State of Victoria, Australia, in order to carry to the farming community throughout the State, the lessons taught by research and experience, in the wide fields of rural endeavour. Every effort was made to impart instruction and by this means the Government had hit upon the happy idea of carrying instructions to isolated places, and to persous who found it inconvenient to leave their farms.

“The object,” Captain Smalihorn went on. “is to demonstrate to the man on the land, the principles which should be embraced and the methods which should be followed in order to secure the best results that the land can afford. “The train usually takes a fortnight each tour it makes, and consists of 15 cars and trucks, and carries carefully selected representative dairy stock and pigs, dairy and farming utensils and stock foods of all kinds. Growing graces lifted from the pastures and contrasting unmanured grasses with those top-dressed with super-phosphates occupy large wooden containers which fill one truck. There are collections of noxious weods in various stages of growth .and attention is given to potato culture, wheat cultivation, honey production, poultry and many other subjects. The scientific use of super-phosphate, more effective measures of conserving moisture, the efficiency of summer fallowing and the advantages of dry uicklinar with copper carbonate are demonstrated. Experts skilled in other hranches of agricultural science accompany the train to lecture upon and demonstrate the most recent advances in farming practice. Demonstrations are given in cookery, needlework, child-welfare and mother-craft, a much needed want to young mothers who are far removed from centres where doctors are readily accessible. Although the ultimate beneficial results of the information supplied from the train will not be apparent for some considerable time, already great improvements have been noted in certain directions. As an instance, since the train started 50 herd test associations have been formed in Victoria. Each association represents an average of 700 cows. These associations are formed foi the purpose of determining the individual worth of the cows by the infallible method of the Babcock Test in dairying, subsequent culling of tHe “duds,” and the elimination of the scrub bull, thereby building up the herd to a high standard “I might here mention,” the speaker went on “that the farmers in Victoria are re ceiving great assistance, in connection with the improvement of the herds, from the present Governor of Victoria, Lord Stradbroke. Hi s Excellency is a big breeder in England of the well-known Red Poley herds, and his influence has a great effect in inducing farmers to recognise the necessity of improving their stocks. “The improvement in the dairying practice applies more or lass to all the other activities of the train. The whole project is a great co-operative educational effort on the part of the Agricultural. Railway and Education Departments. Nine tours of this train had been undertaken up to February last; 96 centres in Victoria have been visited and 70,000 people have visited the train. 7he train is installed with wire less and lectures are broadcasted to out lying districts from the train. There is also a lecture room and kinema on the train. A film showing the better fanning train will be screened at the Kinema in the New Zealand Government Pavilion at the morning, afternoon and evening sessions on Saturday next. ‘ln addition to the better farming train, the Victorian Railway Department also run a train known as the National Resources Development Train, to different parts of Victoria from time to time. The train has been designed to enable the leaders of thought and industry in the towns and in the country to know more about their own land and about each other, and by stimulating pride and interest in the State and its resources, to develop production and enhance prosperity. TWO AEROPLANES. EXHIBITS IX GOVERNMENT COURT. One of the achievements of the Exhibition has been to introduce hundreds, and even thousands, of New Zealand people to the aeroplane. There are two aeroplanes in the New Zealand Government Pavilion, both of the De Haviland 9 class, and they are probably the most conspicuous exhibits in tile Court. Children who know aeroplanes only through picture books and films dart forward with glad cries at sight of the big ton-weight bird (a ton and a-quarter, to be exact) suspended from the roof, looking just as though it were hoverinjr there in search of a big enough exit. Its “eggs,”, too, are in place under the wings, but they would do no harm if they were dropped, unless they landed on somebody’s head. But that aeroplane is only the bait, for when one looks round there is another one to be seen in *he Defence Department’s exhibit, and that can be touchod by curious fingers. There is a notice on it, MDon’t touch,” so of course everybody touches it. But the officer-in-ehargo has a friendly eye. These aeroplanes are becoming out of d«te now. and later models are being made. The D.H.9 is a six-cylinder machine with a Siddeley-Puma engine, and seats two—the pilot and the observer. The ’plane’s weapons are her bombs, an automatic gun for the pilot who fires through the propellor, and a Lewis for tne observer. The automatic gun is controlled by the engine so that the bullets can only pass through the propeller when there is no propeller to hit. That, surely, is a remarkable mechanical feat. The gun lies snugty in a groove on the left-hand side of the and on the other side is the sigbter, a kind of telescope with a couple of concentric rings inside. When the enemy ’planes can be sighted through the smaller ring his luck is out. The Lewis

gun .is different. It can be turned and twisted in any direction, and the gunner can lire directly below him, above him, to either side, in front, and anywhere in fact except round corners. The aeroplanes in the Government Court have both seen service in the Great War. One was flown down to Dunedin on a nonstop flight from Christchurch. An aeroplane has a colossal ippetite for petrol, and the D. 11.9 will only consent to go 10 miles on a gallon, so it is necessary for her to have tanks holding in all 76 gallons. WOMEN’S SECTION. SPECIAL EXHIBITS—SECTION F. The following awards have been made:— Best Specimen Underclothing.—First prize, Mrs David Scott, Manor place, Dunedin ; second prize. Miss Zoe G. Mace, Mount Eden, Auckland; commended, Miss Lily Graham, 21 Victoria terrace, Wools^on; special commendation for stitchery—Miss Margaret Findlay, liirdwood nvenne. New Plymouth; Miss Ada Sharp, 37 Elliott street, Anderson’s Bay; Miss R. Read. “Roseville,” Lawrence; Miss J. A. Robertson, Kaitangata. Household Linen.—No award. Set of Gar ments for Infant. —Commended —Miss Constance Corser, 032 Cashel street. Christchurch., Baby land Set (special prize). Hawke’s Bay Women’s Institute. Sampler.—Special prize. Mrs W. Wilson. Page’s road, Christchurch; first prize—Mrs J. R. Ley, Totara Valley, Pleasant Point. Tiinaru; second prize—Mrs F. Treeidder, 9 Harrington street, Port Chalmers Handmade Rugs.—Woollen—First prize. Mrs M. E. Joll, Arun street, Oamaru, and Miss 11. F. N. Kinmont, Braemar Hospital, Royal terrace, Dunedin (equal); second prize—Mrs William Fraser, 30 River road. Avonside, Christchurch;- commended—Mrs S. L. Seddon, South street, Blenheim; Miss Ethel Roberts, Thames Highway, Oamaru; Miss M. J. Hunter, Nurses’ Home, Dunedin ; Mrs William Fraser, Avonside, Christchurch. Cable Wool Rug.—First prize, Mrs J. J Moloney, 52 Hazel avenue, Hazelliurst, Dunedin. Rug made from Thrums.—First prize and special mention, Mrs Seddon, Blenheim Cross Stitch Rug: Commended—Mrs V Rasmussen, Balfour. Rag Rug—First and second prizes. Miss Aileen Ward, Awarua Plains, Southland; commended for originality of pattern Miss A. Ward, Awarua Plains, Southland^ Shawls and Scarves.—Crochet: First prize, Mrs Elizabeth M'Laren, Otipua road Timaru; Second Prize, Mrs Kilpatrick, u Rankeillor street. South Dunedin. Knitted Shawls.—First prize, Mrs R. M. Johnston, Redan. Wyndham; second prize, Mrs MacDowall, Burnside, and Mrs John Griffiths, Horace street, Cromvtell (equal) ; commended, Mrs E. W. Morrin. Marama terrace, Birkenhead. Auckland, and Mrs M. Salmond 11 Albert street, Dunedin. Knitted Turves.—First prize, Mrs Peter Macaulay, Kaitangata, and Mrs Lind, .Vogel street, Hawera (equal); second prize, Mrs A. Edwards. 2 Herbert road. Mount Eden. Auckland: commended, Mrs S. Nicholson, Duke street, Gore. . Shetland Shawls.—Special prize. Mrs Margaret Cheyne, 102 Avenal road, Invercargill; first prize, Mrs Allan. Moneymore. P. 0., Milton, and Mrs W. Monte ith, 32 Oxford street. South Dunedin (equal); second prize, Mrs S. Nioolson.. Duke street, Gore; commended. Mrs S. Nicolson, Duke street Gore, and Mrs S. Johnson. Veensgarth Farm. Temuka (equal). Batik Shawl or Scarf.—First and second prize, Miss Lucy ’*enham, 104 Bishop street: Christchurch. Tied and Dyed Shawl or Scarf.—hirst prize. Mrs S’.eigh. Newington avenue, Dunedin ; soecial prize died, dyeti, and brushed). Mrs Sl°igh, Newington avenue. Dunedin. Rtenrilled Shawl or Scarf.-First prize. Miss Madge D. Davis, Canning _ street. Gore second prize. Mrs G. G. Hiorring, Oamaru; commended. Miss Laura M. Gordon, Sawyers’ Pay. Embroidered Shawl or .cart.—Commended. Miss Lois White. Musselburgh Rise, Dunedin.

Darned Net Shawls.-First prize, Mrs A. L. Edwards. Mount Eden, Auckland; second prize, Kawke s Bay Womens In-Hand-dyed Tapestrv.—Commended, Mias Margaret MT-eod, 55 Hiirhgate. Roslyn. Centre for Bedspread.—Commended, Mrs Adi E. Shelton, Harrington street. Port Chalmers. .... Cross-stitch Sampler.—Commended, Sirs Bodiline, Koinomopolos. 24 Brunswick road, Aramoho, North Island. RUGS FROM “THRUMS.” A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION. W T hile the Women’s Section contains mostly permanent exhibits, there is one annexe in which the special exhibits are boused, and these . e changed from lime to time. And now the special exhibits section contains a veritable collection of treasures. in the form of 20 hand-made rugs, luxurious in their workmanship, and wonderful in design. 171086 who know how hard and difficult it is to make a rug by hand will realise the enormous amount of patient and painstaking work that must have been put into these exhibits. One of the exhibitors who is an expert in this class of work, is Mrs S. L. Seddon. an old lady whose heart is in her work, and who is never happy unless she i 9 busy. Mrs Seddon told a reporter how it was done, anil he found himself endeavouring to find out the whvs and wherefores of several different materials that went to make the various rugs—Turkey wool (from sheep- not turkeys), thrums (which are “ends”) Mrs Seddon explained that a Turkey rug was always an inch thick, and in this respect they were all Turkey rugs except that they were made respectively of the aforesaid thrums, Turkey wool, and cable wool- The thrums are ends of all different colours, and those are woven into a beautiful multi-coloured design. One such rug contains over 56,000 pieces and 100 different colours. It is interesting to note, too, that thrums are as fine as ordinary knitting wool, which in England is 16s, a lb, and yet thrums cost only 18d a lb at Home. Some of these rugs are valued at £SO, while others command various lower figures. Mrs Seddon is an interesting old Indv, and her hobbv is everything to her. “It's the best medicine you can possibly take,”

she says. “I make these things and give them away, all of L.eiu. 1 am too old to earn money, and it is not going to give me any satisfaction to make my ru<»s for sale. If I didn’t do this 1 would probably bury mrself in a book, and get stupid. No, there is nothing better than work.” WAIRARAPA’S REPRESENTATION LACK OF PUBLICITY ALLEGED. PAHIATUA, March 9. The Pahiatua Countv Council refuses to pav its quota of £l7O fixed some time ago to the Wellington Committee for the VVairarapa Court at the Exhibition on the ground that Pahiatua i 3 not represented in the exhibits. It is alleged that the committee has not carried out its promise to arrange good district publicity. There have been several complaints bv visitors in regard to the poor Wairarapa representation at the Exhibition and that Pahiatua is not in the picture. ANOTHER CHILDREN’S DAY About 600 children from the Christchurch suburban schools visited the Exhibition on Wednesday morning and a number from Milton were a'so present. 7he Argyll Band played in the Festival Hall in the afternoon and in the Secondary Industries Court in the evening. An afternoon entertainment was given by the Exhibition Orchestra in the Motor Pavilion. The attendance was 18,191. COLD STEEL. WEAPONS IN BRITISH COURT. Some wonderful old weapons are on view in the Army section of the British Court, and already quite a number of these have been sold to private collectors. Among the British exhibits'is a “mam gauche,’ or left-handed dagger with vide quillons. The blade is a little over 18 inches long, and where it joins the handle is a number of tiny rings that have been stamped into the surface of the steel. Their significance is not very clear, hut it is more than likely a parallel to the custom of notching a pistol to record its toll of lives. If that is so, the weapon has many killings to its credit, or its discredit, as the case may be. The period is about 1620. Then there is a Scottish basket-hilted broadsword or claymore with the blade inscribed “Andrea Farraia, 1720,” and sido by side with this is a 16th century wheellock gun with an inlaid stock. Several of the old English crossbows and arrows are to be seen, and clumsy-looking weapons they are. The arrows are only about a foot long, and are steel-tipped Two specimens of the familiar duelling rapier are to be seen. Another case contains three wickedlooking stilettos, the kind a man carried up his sleeve The stiletto is a typical murderer’s weapon. At the northern end of the hall is a fine collection of Eastern armour, consisting of a strange assortment of knives with cruel curved blades, characteristic of the Oriental race. The handles or hafts of sohip are finely damascened in gold and the workmanship is leaiitiful. Apart from the blade weapons there are several old firearms a*vl the old-time blunderbuss with the bell mouth is easily recognisable from pictures. It is an effective looking implement, and appears capable of letting davlight through almost anything. Those old-time warriors certainly stood up to a good deal, and the man who would refuse to put up ms hands when Dick Turpin levelled a couple of those at his head must have been either an arrant fool or a genuine optimist who banked on the chance that they would miss-fire. With the blunderbuss, it was a case of kill or miss. CHILDREN’S WEEK CONCLUDED Although there were no special activities on Thursday there was no diminution in the attendances. The Argyll Band played in the Grand Court in the afternoon and even ing, and the Exhibition Orchestra gave an afternoon concert in the British Pavilion. The attendance for the day was 16,277. VISITING TEACHERS. ENTERTAINED BY COURT OFFICIALS. The teachers and other officials in charge of the 600 children from the Christchurch schools were the guests of the Education Court Billeting Committee at afternoon tea in the Exhibition restaurant on Thursday. Mr J. {Somerville, in extending to the visitors what he called a “belated welcome,” said that as an executive they were glad to see so many children and teachers visiting the Exhibition. They were only too pleased to do all they could for the children, and the visitors were to be congratulated on their splendid discipline. This, indeed, was the bestbehaved crowd they had yet received, though the others had also been very well behaved. It reflected great credit on the teachers who had taken on the responsibility. Bringing down all these children was no light task, as there was always the nightmare of sickness, etc, to be prepared for. There had been a strong spirit of gladness, and because of that the Dunedin executive had felt amply repaid for its efforts. Mr Somerville went on to say that Christchurch and Dunedin were sister towns, and they lmd a beauty of their own, although it was distinctly different. Dunedin, however, had the most bwftity. He thought he could say that without fear of contradiction. — (Laughter.) “Dunedin’s beauty,” he said, “is natural. In Christchurch you have made a city, and iu a sense it is on artificial one, but ex-

tremely beautiful. A man told me oute." the speaker added, “that that little strip of water between the North and South Islands was gradually widening, but these visits will draw the bonds closer, and from that point of view they will be well worth while.” In conclusion, Mr Somerville said that they could still take up to 1200 children from Christchurch, but.no more than that number. The children had been helped in every way by sympathetic citizens, and one firm was supplying biscuitj, sugar, cocoa, etc., free of charge.

Air J. Wallace (chairman of the Otago Education Board and a member of the Educational Court Committee) said that the committee appreciated very much the labour those in Christchurch had done to bring these children down to Dunedin, Such work needed a great deal of organisation and theught at both ends, and unless those at the other end had done their bit this expedition would have been a fiasco. They were to be congratulated on the way they had engineered this trip. They had done a good deed for the children. and, in about 50 years, when there would be another Exhibition, it was pro-' liable that the children of to-day would then be the keenest advocates in sending children down. Had it not been for these trips some of the children would never have seen Dunedin. Air APAlpine (one of the officials of the Canterbury Court) thanked the executive for what it had done for the children. Ir. a few years’ time he was sure these children would look back on this visit as a great event in their lives. The speaker made reference to the two cHioso# of education that were regarded as essential—the education of learning aim t..e education of life. “ The education of life, lie fcaid, “can only be got by going abroad, by studying the surroundings, and by learning how to ask intelligent questions. Air Somerville paid a tribute to the work of Alias Sullivan anil Aliss Robinson, and Aliss Sullivan replied on her own and Aliss Robinson’s behalf. A few remarks were also delivered bv Air Strack (manager of the Education' Court), who said that it had now been pi acticaliy decided to sot apart a special week for technical schools, who had done a great deal for the court. Air I'enlington thanked their hosts for an opportunity that would otherwise never have come their way, and appreciative remarks were also made by Aliss Aicliey, Air Partridge, and Airs Barber. SECONDARY INDUSTRIES. • EXHIBITION’S FINE DISPLAY, The Secondary Industries Court is one that must commend itself to all who have the welfare of the Dominion at heart. It is a display of which any country in the world might be proud, and, indeed, ic has been said time and again for artistry and beauty some of the stands and exhibits outclass many similar ones at Wembley. It will readily be imagined that the airangement of a court of industry must ,k? en a task laden with countless difficulties, for there is nothing in the world harder to display than articles of trade and commerce. Bad advertising in the past has given the public an entirely wrong idea of the art, with which something cheap has generally been associated. Hence the Secondary Industrie.! Court is a revelation. It spells a new era in ad* \ertising, and it has lifted that necessary pc fisc of industry on to a pedestal from which, let us hope, it will never fall. It has 3hown people that a trade display can be really attractive and worth while stooping to inspect. There are, of course, varying degrees of skill and art in the arrangement of many of these exhibits, but there is not one of them that is in any way cheap or tawdry. All have endeavoured to line up to their trade mark or trade motto, and the highest honours for this effort must surely bo awarded to that firm whose motto is “Purity,” and whose whole beautiful display represents that one word, and to tho stand next to it, where high-class chocolates and other sweets are arranged in tall pillars or in artistic boxes that speak of quality and perfection. There is another confectionery stand that is equally as fine, while some of the other trades represented are a credit to the court, to the Exhibition, and to the country, as well as to themselves. These include displays of "wine and spirits (every visitor has seen the great barrel that occupies a fair proportion of the floor sjace. and the enormous red apple that surmounts a display cf cider), tea (there is one very attractive exhibit), soaps (these displays leaning towards the novel and certainly achieving their aim), high-grade pottery, and footwear, as well as many others which include working exhibits. It has to be remembered, too, that few of these firms had any practical Exhibition experience on which to base their work here, and it is therefore vastly to their credit that thev have taken no chances, but have gone as far as they could to make their exhibits appeal to the tastes of the miblic. They have appealed. and what is more, they have appealed to the aesthetic senses, too. Even solid institutions like banks have done their share, and done it well, too, by erecting edifices that are strongly redolent of all thf»v stand for—solidity and sound business principles. Die Secondary Industries Court deserves to rank among the best in the Exhibition. MARLBOROUGH PEAS. A PROFITABLE SPECIALITY. ' Tf there is one crop that Alarlborough can claim to specialise in growing more than another that is peas. In a normal season up to 100,000 acres has been sown down in this crop. Should the season be a late one then the quantity sown may lie larger. • Most of the field peas grown in Alarlborough are grown on contract. That is to say, the merchant supplies tho seed at a price which may vary from 5s per bushel upwards, and he purchases tho resultant crops at the same figure after deducting tho quantity used for seeding purpose?. The average rate of sowing is one sack of -ced (three and a-third bushels) an acre, the varieties being cither Blues, Blue Imperials, White Ivories, Partridge, or the ordinary wrinkled garden peas. The latter may be any variety ot

the ordinary household pea, such as Yorkshire Hero, Dr Stuart, Stratagems, and other well-known sorts. Peas are looked upon by the farmer as a somewhat risky crop, as he is never sure of his returns until the crop is actually delivered to the merchant. The peas will not stand 100 much moisture at sowing time, and rhey «re liable to sicken off should the ground they are growing on become sodden or water-logged for any length of time. Frost is another problem to face in certain localities and in certain seasons. S’toiiM a heavy frost happen just as the pea pods are setting a serious loss is sure to result. A very dry season is also against a successful crop, the dwarf varieties especially seeming to give poor returns in those seasons. The harvesting is difficult when the crop is short. In normal seasons the dwarf varieties are usually productive, and the higher price offering is generally an inducement for the farmer to grow them. Moreover, the dwarfs are usually easier dried and handled than the long varieties. The crops are usually cut by the ordinary house mower or by a special pea machine—a side delivery. When the ordinary mower is used it entails a certain amount of extra labour in rolling the crop into heaps, although some farmers make a practice of cutting the crop on the green side and using the ordinary hay rake for gathering. After the heaps arc dry enough they are carted and stacked similar to other crops. After a period of six weeks or more, to allow of drying up, or sweating, as it is sometimes called, the threshing machine pulls in alongside of the stack. The peas arc then forked into the feeder, and, passing over the drum or beaters, the peas get knocked out of the dry pods. By means of a forced draught they are winnowed from the straw or cavings, and pass over a series of riddles, being then dclivereJ through a chute into the bags hung up to receive them.

* The straw,-or cavings, is sent up the elevator into another heap, which is sometimes stacked by the thrifty farmer for use as cow feed in the winter. t Anything over 20 bushels an acre is considered a payable crop, but in good seasons and under favourable conditions up to 60 bushels may be looked for from •ome varieties.

It is claimed that the actual cash returns from the pea-growing is not the #nly asset received by the farmer, for besides the straw for feeding purposes, the

peas tend to improve the nature of t!ie soil for the next cereal crop. Wheat and barley invariably do well if grown on ground after a pea crop has been taken off. Liming and superphosphate is recommended for most soils when peas are to be grown. EXHIBITION MUSIC. USE OF AVAILABLE MATERIAL. Before the opening of the Exhibition great things were anticipated from the musical performances in the Festival Hall. The end of the various productions is now in sight and the best that can be said of the result of the season is that it only induces, to use the words of the celebrated W. S. Gilbert, a state of “modified rapture.” In fact, the Festival Hall would appear to bo the ugly duckling amidst a flock of unqualified successes as represented by all other departments of the Exhibition What is the reason? The matter continually crops up in ordinary discussions among the humble general public. Why was there only one performance of the “Messiah.” which holds the record for the size of the “house.” and why only two representations of “Tannhauser”? These are examples of the questions asked. The Exhibition Choir had been under strenuous regular rehearsal since November 17, 1924. At the end of the series of concerts, which will be reached on Monday next, tho choir will have produced five works only, and will have given one miscellaneous concertt, the number of

“showing” nights reaching the paltry total of 12—certainly not a great result for such a lengthy period of intensive preparation. Yet the hall was occupied -4or a much longer period by a combination that by no means attracted “ capacitv” houses or anything approaching them. it is no wonder that there is dissatisfaction and disappointment among members of the Exhibition Olioir.

The consensus of opinion is that it was unwise to produce the “Dream of Gerontius” at the opening of the Exhibition in opposition to a multitude of unusual ar.d varied attractions. Moroover, it is contended that the work waa of too lofty a character to appeal to the gener I public ut tho outset and that it would have been better to commence the charol activities with a lighter and better-known piece, such ns *ll Trovatorc.” Hard words are used concerning the production of Berlioz’s

“Faust” only four days after the last production of Elgar’s masterpiece. “It was an eggregious error, and should never have been is the opinion of one who has taken an active part in the choir. It was a blunder, and the whole thing has been a huge blunder from start to finish. They shot their bolt in the first fortnight, and then go for weeks withou' putting on anything. We practised for 18 months, and then produced five works. The rendering of the “Damnation of Faust” immediately after that of “Gerontius” meant that the two best works In the repertoire, both of which made exacting demands on all concerned, were rushed on within an exclusive period of eight days. In view of the non-return of the “Diggers’ 1 strong representations were made by the choir members and the committee of the choir to have fresh performances of the Avork that had attracted the public, “Tannhauser.” which was the choir’s most successful effort, being specially recommended. This eminently sane and reasonable suggestion was rejected with emphasis. Is it surprising, therefore, that the members of the choir are disheartened and disappointed?

That there apparently is to be no additional performance of “The Messiah,” which Avas an outstanding success, is the subject of comment. We hn\'e had with us a A-ocalist of eminence in Mr Arthur Jordan, and a notable solo violinist in the person of Mr Fnrnsworth Hall. What priceless opportunities ha\-e been olloAved to pass of hearing these specialists In their respecth'e departments, apart from appearances Avith choirs. It is beyond argument that they Avouhl drnAV the people, and their work AA r ould be of great educational A-alue. There is also much resentment on the part of the choir at the rehearsals Avith the orchestra, for, it is claimed, they are totally inadequate. Certainly the performances have justified this complaint to the hilt. Some of the instrumentalists Avere granted len\*o for the ban! contests, and were therefore not available for rehearsals for tho combined Wellington-Dunedin Choral Societies Avhen they were urgently needed. Other and perhaps less important reflections on the management have been referred to before from time to time—unsatisfactory control of late-coiners, obtrush’e ushers, •disturbing noises, all of which nro suggestive of the Inelc of proper control. The most glaring example, of course, was the flreAA’orks display during tho performance of tho “Golden Legend,” which lias been the subjec tot much hostile criticism in vieAv of the fact that the following evening Avas free, and therefore there was no reason for these event! to clash. llopo is

expressed that even at the eleventh hour those in control will relent and aIIOAV the public to hear further performances of the Avorks Avliich hftA’e justified themseh-es, and also to hear the tAvo talented musicians whose stay in Dunedin is drawing to a close. Even if the casts of principals for such repeat concerts as are suggested might not be so strong as previously, there are many vocalists in NeAV Zealand Avho could render the parts acceptably. A QUIET DAY After nearly a fortnight of sunshine the weather becaino churlish on Friday afternoon. A cold wind sprang up and brought with it a bleak array of clouds that lost, no time in performing their allotted function. By evening, conditions were decidedly unpromising. The visiting Christchurch, school children returned north with their leaders in the morning, and the next contingent, consisting of 700 children from the Timaru district arrived yesterday. Tho attendance was 14,811. NEWSPAPER IN MANUSCRIPT. A WONDERFUL PUBLICATION. The first sign of a new country’s progross and development is tho establishment of the local newspaper. Everyone is familiar with the type of. paper—that much-maligned little journal whose struggling existence, Avhore pi lines, whose printer’s errors make such a capital subject for mirth and levity among its halthearted subscribers. But time passes, and tolerance changes to respect. JLliere has been some badly-needed reform, and the “rag” has hit out straight from the shoulder. No hints, suggestions, or innuendos, for that is not the pioneering Avay. The paper has used the cudgels, and the all-pervading light of publicity has revealed the naked truth, and truth sometimes hurts. It is said that in some of the wilder toAvns of Western America there was an open season among a certain class of the citizenry for neirspaper editors, Avho Avrotc

behind locked doors and who kept a sixshooter on the table, just in case. It used to be a favourite pastime to “pot’ the editor through the window. # New Zealand has had its pioneering papers. Some have prospered and expanded until now they are great metropolitan journals. Others haA’e flourished for a day and then gone out like a candle Otago and Southland’ haA*e had such journals, and a bound file of the most remarkable of these has been lent to the Commissioner of the Southland Court (Mr J. K. Winsloe). It is the Nokomai Herald, which came into existence on November 11, 1871, and which subsequently made a weekly reappearance. The amazing feature of the paper is that e\'ery word of it Avas written in manuscript, so that its weekly production must Im-e been a difficult and arduous task. One wonders what the circulation must ha\’e been. The front page of the first copy is occupied by a three-column leader on “Ourselves,” in which the Avriter describes the beginning, in just such humble form, of the Fort Philip Gazette, which Avas founded by Mr John l’ascoe' Fawkner and from Avhich greAV “that poAverful political engine in the Southern Hemisphere, to wit, the Melbourne Argus.” The article makes an appeal to readers for support: “In our struggle for success stretch forth the hand Avith no niggard arm, and ere a fe\y months have passed a weekly journal will be in existence that shall do credit to the district and act as a poAA'erful leA’er in the interests of the inhabitants.” Then, on Saturday, April 20, 1872, the paper came forth with its name emblazoned on the front page in bold type, and with the following article:—“This journal continues to recede the most flattering notices from the press of these and the adjoining colonies, foi> Avhich the proprietor desires to return his sincere thanks. ‘We copy part of one of the 10th April. In many respects the most Avonderful newspaper issued in Otago is the Nokomai Herald. The Nokomai Herald is issued Aveekly in single demy size Avith o.c. columns in each page—i.e., 16 columns in all. The copies are issued at a charge of Is each, the Avhole being in the handwriting of the persevering individual Avho acts as proprietor, editor, local Avriter, advertisement collector, and pressman. The journalism is of the quaint, oldtime style. Here is a paragraph selected at random, under the heading, “Mrs Nugent Woods”:—“We understand that during the ensuing AA’eek a requisition Avill be presented to the inhabitants for signature requesting this lady kindly to give her valuable services at the next concert in aid of the school funds. We are sure it will be signed by all the residents, and it is useless for us to point out what a treat is in store if Mrs Woods will only consent.” And another: “The man lately arrested at Sandhurst for drunkenness and who accused himself of being the murderer of ‘Yorkey’ at Miller’s Flat turns out to bo a half-lunatic named Hayes, who some years since received a sunstroke, and when in liquor always talks sensational blather.” September 7, 1872, saw the front page, and all the advertisements in type, and the paper’s name was then changed lo the Nokomai Herald and Athol and Kingston Chronicle. FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR ACCOUNT FROM LAKE WAKATIPU MAIL. Among these files a printed extra from the Lake Wakatipu Mail, dated March 23,* 1871, was found. It contained the following information: Arrival of Suez mail. The following are the stipulations of armistice to Paris.—Army inside capital to be prisoners of war. They have all surrendered save the National Guards. One division is necessary to keep order. Paris pays a war levy of two million francs. The Germans are forbidden to enter during the armistice unless they are disarmed. Tho army in field retain possession of tho country occupied. The armistice has since been prolonged. All tho forts have surrendered.

The Germans supplied Paris with rations for three millions to prevent starvation.

That, of course, is the war of 1871. when Paris fell to Germany after a long siege. Something of the tragedy it must have been to the people and the soldiers of la belle France is reflected in the cold news published in the same account. “General Ducrat has poisoned himself. “General Bourbecki committed suicide and is not expected to recover.” As a general rule a man does not recover after he has committed suicide, but that is evidently a line transposed from the previous paragraph. The messages goes on to say:— . .. . , , “The army driven into Switzerland has surrendered there. . , “The conditions of peace comprise the payment of four hundred million pounds, and the cession of Alsace, Lorraine, Metz, Belfort, and Pondicherry (East Indies). _ GIGANTIC PAGEANT. WONDERFUL SCENES IN PREPARATION. For a week, from March 22 to 27 (excepting the Friday), the scenes at night on the Sports Ground will resemble tho latest super-production of the screen. Guns and horses and hundreds of people will take part in the most wonderful pageant eA'er prepared for the entertainment of the public in this Dominion—the Grand Historical Pageant and Torchlight Tattoo. It will commence a. ith a series of tableaux depicting incidents in the early historv of New Zealand. The first shoAvs Ngahni of Rarotonga telling his countrymen of his discovery of New Zealand. Then comes the voyage of Kupe, whom some historians regard as the first really authentic discoverer of New Zealand; and the third tableau completes the story of the early days before the pakeha arrived with a vivid representation of tho arrival of Maori canoes. There is a brief glimpse of Tasman sighting

New Zealand, and picturesque scenes showing the landing of Captain Cook and the signing of the Treaty of VVaitangi. The Maori wars follow. These tableaux include the historic scene in which Hone Heke cuts down the flagstaff, but at last there is peace between the Maori and the pakeha. Then comes the twentieth century, which seems like a different world from that of our grandfathers, and this change from the old world to the new is symbolised by a spectacular changing of the Guard, after which follows the torchlight tattoo. The tattoo will open with the First Post, sounded by the Cadet Bugle Band. Then the bands, accompanied by lantern bearers, will march into position, followed by the Pipe Bands and their lantern bearers. These massed bands, under the baton of Mr F. J. Ricketts, conductor of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band, will then render Tschaikowsky’s famous “1812” Overture, with full effects of bells, musketry, and lights. After this famous battle music the spectators will be prepared for the next item —a thrilling artillery drive by 37 horses and eight guns. The Cadets will then give a display of marching with lights, followed by an exhibition of physical drill. Now the strains of Scottish music will be heard, and the Exhibition Choir of 400 voices, augmented by the choirs of the local Scottish societies, will sing Scottish songs, while the Fiery Cross passes from clan to clan in the darkness summoning all the clansmen and their womenfolk. who will rush forward with flaring torches and gather round the camp fire, where exhilarating dancing will be featured in an elaborate Scottish seena. AH parties will then mass for the final picture, the Last Post being sounded by the buglers. “Abide With Me” will be played first by the bands, then sung by everybody together, and lastly played by the echo on the hillside as all lights go out except those in the tents on the hill. Then the buglers will sound “Lights Out” and the dim lights in the tents will vanish. MORE BIG FIGURES The Exhibition has now been open 100 days. Saturday was a children’s day, over 2000 children from the city and suburban schools taking part in a spectacular physical display in the Sports Ground. In the the evening the Exhibition Choir gave its initial presentation of “The Rebel Maid,” a production which has never been heard in New Zealand before. The Amusement Park has lost nothing of its magnetism, and the devices were kept going steadily from early in the afternoon till late at night, while the concessionaries did trade that is often described. a 3 roaring. It was a singularly successful Saturday, and the attendance was 33,597. The total now is 2,091,932. SCHOOLS’ DISPLAY. EXERCISES AXD DAXCES. Most of Saturday afternoon’s visitors to the Exhibition headed for the Sports Ground where the grand physical drill display by primary schools and Training College students was to be held, and in a short space of time the stand was well filled, while many had gathered on the ground. The St. Kilda Band was in attendance and a number of the movements were done to music, while selections were played at intervals. The proceedings opened with a maze march by the combined schools, the children converging from the four corners cf the field and the lines marching in and out and changing position with flawless accuracy. The girl students of the Training College, under Miss Dickson went through a series of old English folk dances to the accompaniment of music from the band. This was one of the most attractive features of ihe programme amt was well applauded by the lookers-on. Mr Cree then took over and the Training College girls were joined by the men who wont through their ordinary drill movements. In all there were about 200 Training College students. The whole display was well organised and the events were dispatched q uckly and without waste of time The credit for this is largely due to the supervisor, Mr Crep and his assistants—Messrs G. Swan, W. Ritchie, H. M‘Queen, and D. Forsyth. EXHIBITION CHOIR. ‘•THE REBEL MAID.” The concert version of Montague E. Philips’ romantic light opera “The Rebel Maid.’’ was presented on Saturday evening by the Exhibition Choir, this being the occasion of its first performance in New Zealand.. The Festival Hall contained a fair audience and the proceedings were punctuated with applause. The soloists were Winnie Fraser, Lady Mary; Miss Meda Paine, Dorothy and Abigail; Mr Arthur Jordan, Derek: Mr A. Walmsley, Percy; Mr Bert Rawlinson. Bunkle I ord Milverton and Stephen; and Mr H. Walker, Solomon. It was unfortunate that the words were not included in the programme as it would have made the proceedings easier to follow, but the programmes sold were emasculated to the extent of not even containing a list of the musical numbers in the opera, a departure from the usual practice. The opera, which was first produced at the Empire Theatre, London, in 1921, is in three acts. The period of the story is 1688 and the plot, which deals with the adventures of Jacobite conspirators, is replete with interesting situations; intrigue, treachery and true love being adroitly mingled and lending to the anticipated cheerful finale when all misunderstandings are removed, free pardon is granted and everyone presumably settles down to a normal 6tate of affairs. The music is of better structure than the overage work of this class, but is easy and straightforward compared with the compositions previously rendered in the Festival Hall and the work may be regarded &s a kind of dessert. The

orchestration is interesting and the baud is not relegated to the servile position of merely supporting the voices. Perhaps the beet idea that can be given of the work is that jt is faintly reminiscent of German’s “Merrie England.” It should be attractive when properly staged, but from a first hearing it hardly seems strong enough in a concert version without the recollection of the stage action to assist. Two madrigals were specially composed for the concert edition, but the part writing in them is not markedly contrapuntal in character. A large company of instrumentalists sat under the baton of Mr' Gustave Slapoffski, and it may with truth be chronicled that their playing was excellent, the wood-wind being especially noteworthy. The orchestral balance was good and there was general unanimity and flexability. There was _ exceptional nuancing, and the accompaniments were nicely balanced. The brass was used with telling effect at the climaxes. The work of the chorus was, if the hoary illustration may be once more dragged forth into the light of day, like the egg of the ecclesiastic, good in parts. The balance was defective. The gentlemen seemed to be fewer than usual, one member of the audience of a statistical turn of mind stating that they numbered 62, but this total is not vouched for. The enunciation"was not good. One does not expect to hear every word in a finale or a fugal movement. There is reason in everything, but m many of the choruses only, snatches of the words reached the back of the hall. The treatment of the final consonants was on the casual side. The choir lias also done much better in the matter of attack. The opening chorus, “This English Land,’* was briskly given, but the sustained final chord fortissimo proved too much the singers, and it exhibited marked symptoms of ** tailings off.” In the ehorus, “ Sunshine and- Laughter,” there was some nice crescendos and allargardos, but a faulty attach, on its repetition. In the finale to Act I the chorus work was spirited, and the'final bars were a really good effort. There was an improvement in the enunciation for the madrigal, “How Strange Tills Tumult.” The chorus seemed to find It difficult to sing softly. The ladies chorus, “ Serving Maidens and Merry,” was nice, and the “ Ah ” to Mary’s song, “ Are My Lanterns Shining,” was delight? fully given. The finale, to Act II was marked by good nuancing, and the choir roadbed form in this number. The opening: of Act 111, “ When the Heart Is Blithe,” was given with a verve that made it -enjoyable. The chorus work in the madrigal, “ Wisdom and Folly,” wasmarred by having an organ aecompam inent when the orchestra was tacet, giving a rather sanctimonious effect, which seemed out of keeping with the festive character of the opera. The end of the lumber was decidedly ragged. The finale to Act 111 was generally sun with effect. The music allotted to Derek struck one as unworthy of Mr Jordan's capabilities. It was- aUo iwritten too low . in the stave to give his voice full opportunity. Nevertheless his renditions were notable in spite of the disadvantages. The song “The Fishermen of England” gained the favour of the audience at once, and had to be repeated. All things worked together to make this number a success, the orchestral accompaniment was of a high standard, and when the chorus added its weight the ensemble was very effective. Some catchy songs were allotted to Lady Mairy (Madame Winnie Fraser), and received full justice at her hands. In “When a Dream of Love” the soloist exercised restraint in giving the peak of the melodic line piano as demanded by the score. “Sail My Ships’’ pleased the audience to >uch an extent that a repetition was demanded. The song was given artistic treatment, and the orchestral colouring was beautifully contrasted. Miss Meda Paine well deserved the applause that greeted her song “I Want My Man to be a Landlord.” As-usual, Miss Paine’s enunciation was good. The duet with Mr Walmsley “In 16i8’’ was a charm ing effort. The quartet “Shepherdess and Beau Brocade (Mary, Dorothy, Percy, and Derek) was not satisfactory in regard to balance in the male parts. The duet between Messrs B. Rawlinson and H., Walker, “Ho. Ho, Diddle Dum,” with male chorus was capital, and went with a rollicking swing. A deserved encore was acceded to. In the finale to Act II Mr Rawlinson’s intonation was not correct. During an interval a special group of songs was presented by Mr Arthur Jordan, with violin obbligato by Mr Farnsworth Hall and Miss Mary Frazer at the piano. If the applause of an audience is any criterion of merit then assuredly this offering was the event of the evening. The bracket comprised an English, a French, and a Rus sian song. It is superfluous to record that Mr Jordan’s treatment of them was in comparable. “The Lover’s Lullaby” (Maurice Besley) is a true lullaby, and the soloist interpreted it with rare delicacy The mystical serenity of Cesar Franck’s “Ave Maria” was conveyed to the audi ence by the artist. Mr Jordan’s versatility was again demonstrated by his dramatic rendering of Rachmaninoff’s “When Night Descends,” and in response to an undeniable encore he delighted the audience by his masterly singing of “Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.” His enunciation, to mention one point, was perfect. The beauty of those vocal offerings was enhanced by the glorious tone produced by Mr Farnsworth Hall. Miss Frazer’s accompaniments were exemplary. The auditors were held from start to finish, and their silence was a mute tribute to their appreciation. The concert terminted with the rendering of the “Choral March’’ from “Tannhauser* (Wagner) by the combined forces. “The Rebel Maid’ will be repeated this evening, and a further group of songs will be given by Mr Jordan. THE ARGYLL BAND The Argyll and Sutherland Band played In the Grand Court on Saturday afternooa end evening. The selections were of a varied nature, and were listened to with the keenest appreciation. The evening attendance indeed was exceptionally large. The first concert was opened with a selection by the pipers, followed by the overture to “Macbeth.” Excerpts from the third not of “Lohengrin” were played, and other numbers were a series of “Woodland Sketches,” a reverie, “The Voice of the

Bells,” and a Scottish suite by the combine! pipes and band. The evening concert was introduce! by the pipes and a selection from “II Trovatore.” Bandsman E. Edwards played a xylophone solo, “Wally,” and Liszt's “Hungarian Rhapsody (N T o. 2)” was rendered. Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsodies” (of which he wrote 13) reproduce with great fidelity, but in an idealise! form, the strong contrasts of expression, rhythm, speed, and the brilliant and lavish ornamentation that characterise the performances in Hungary of national music by gipsy bands. It was this style of playing that Liszt took as his model when he enshrined the melodies of his native land in the “Rhapsodies” which have become so famous. The popular “Reminiscences of Scotland” were received with true Dunedin enthusiasm. and “The Tillage Smithy,” an idyll, concluded the programme. PRESSMEN ENTERTAINED On Saturday night the reporting *taffs o( the Otago I'aily Times and the Evening Star were the guests of the Exhibition directors at a supper in Ute official reception rooms. The chairman of directors (Mr J Sutherland Boss) extended a hearty iveieome to the pressmen, and paid a warm tribute to the support they had given to the Exhibition and to the manner in which they had reported its varioua activities The press of Dunedin, he said, had been responsible in lnrge measure for its success, and on behalf of the diroetors he wished to offer their grateful thanks. Mr C. P. Hainsworth (general manager) anl Mr H. It. Spence (secretary) endorsed the chairman's remarks, and Captain Moore, one of the commissioners of the British Court, nlso ma'le reference to the power of the press in maintaining interest in such a venture. lie added that if the I.ondon papers had only supported the Wembley Exhibition in the way the Dunedin papers had supported this one the result would have been an enormous increase in the attendances. Captain Moore, who lias himself been a member of the Fourth Estate, spoke humorously of Ihe diversity of opinions of the value of news between sub-editors and reporters. Mr G A. Wycherley (Evening Star) and Mr W. Andersen (Otago Daily Timm) replied on behalf of the local journalists. GENERAL NOTES HERE, THERE, AXD , EVERYWHERE. Many visitors stay to examine the unique display of Maori exhibits shown by the Dominion Government Pavilion. Various phases of Maori life are depicted in a senes nf cubes With illuminated photograph facings, and these are generally subjected to a close inspection. Then there are numbers of other relics, such as adzes, charms, Hutes, caskets of carved wood, and can oa paddles. ?mne of the finest exhibits are tho beautiful feather cloaks made from the feathers of tho native pigeon. the tm. the kiwi, the albatross, and the kak • parrot. In the Agricultural Departments Court there is a verv fine display of hemp that conveys a good idea of the various qualities tint are demanded. They are graded as superior, fine, good fan-, high fair, low fair, common, aiul rejected. Displayed t' s wav it is easy to detect the good and the bad and to distinguish the points that make for quaiity-whether the milling has been faulty or not, whether the stripping has been carried out properly, and whether the leaf is fine or poor. >» ._ There is one exhibit at least that will outlive the Exhibition, and that is the area containing the Government Experimental plats, which have proved such a valuable source of information and enlightenment to i rmers. The A. and r. Society asked that they be kept going until the winter show, five weeks after the close of the Exhibition, and this the Director-general of Agriculture (Dr C. J. Reakes) has consented to do. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. U. d. Hawken) states that these plots are the finest thing of the kind he has ever seen, and indeed there are no doubt many others who will atri e with him. The plots have certainly fulfilled their purpose. . The beautiful grain arch in the Agricultural Department's Court has suffered sadly from the depredations of the insolent sparrows, who regard the arch, as something erected especially for their benefit. The officers in charge of the court are almost tearful. “Why, even rats have built nests in the supporting poles, said one, “but,” he added, with an air of grim satisfaction, “we managed to clean them out.” It certainly is fortunate that rats have not wings, else conditions might have been much worse. Methods of clipping sheep are exemplified by a couple of models in the Agriculture Department’s Court in the Government Pavilion. One is the ring sheepdipping bath, in which the sheep are compelled to swim round a deep, circular channel, and the other is the long “straight swim,” with a “walk-in” entrance. The latest addition to the display bv the Prisons Department is a fine, wellfinished model of a red brick church with stone facings. It was made at the Waiteko prison, near Tfentham, and is constructed of plaster of paris. The roof iB coloured to represent slates, and the walls have every appearance of being composed of tiny bricks, with facings of Oamaru stone. The stone work of the Gothic arched doors and windows (which are of stained glass) and the tall spire with a well-equipped belfry and surmounted by a weather-cock, are wonderfully well executed. At night, when the church is illuminated, the effect is most realistic, and this will shortly he added to by a gramophnoe ensconsed below to represent the sacred music.

A refreshing exhibit in the Southland Court just now is a beautiful display of gladioli, grow n by Miss Watson, “ Kintail Narrows,” Riverton. There are 30 vases of different varieties, many of which are unnamed and grown from seedlings, and they have all excited very favourable comment from visitors. Indeed, one expert in horticulture stated that they weir the finest specimens he had ever seen. A nation's future rests with the children of to-day, and for that reason It Is imperative that the younger generations should receive practical knowledge as well as theoretical and academical. There arc now many movements on foot In New Zealand that aim to meet such requirements,

and included amoug these, axe the agricultural clubs for boys and’ girls. The Department of Agriculture is doing its best to foster the movement, an! in the Taranaki, Otago, anl Wellington districts club work plays an important part of the agriculture instructors’ activities. Last jrear over 90 entries In regard to the vartons competitions, such as mangold and carrot growing, calf and pig raising, were received from the Taranaki district alone. Examples of the splendid work accomplished by boys and girls incorporated in the club movement are shown in the Agricultural l>epnrtmeut’s Court at the Exhibition, and there is also to be seen the Dominion Challenge Cup presented by Mr W. Stuart Wilson for annual competition among schools. Among the flourishing industries of North Auckland Utustrated In that section of the Auckland Court there is a stand occupied with tinne! toheroa soup, and another displaying the tinned delicacy Itself, from which the soup is made. The latter product is widely known in New Zealand, haring won the gold modal at the Christchurch Exhibition. The canning factory is on the west coast near Dargaville, the second largest borough of North Auckland. In conjunction with this exhibition is a case containing a collection of toheroa shells. They are easily distinguishable by their oval shape and tlieir peeulia* marking, which is very much like n sen lieach, with the -wide parallel ridges. Toheroa means long tongue, an! the fish is so called because of its habit of digging itself in with its tongue, so it is always found a foot or two below the surface of the beach A second edition of the Auckland handbook Ims been publish? 1, and 25,000 ennie to hand on Tuesday. It is a fine publication, full of valuable and .interesting information about theSgreat northern province, and the demand for copies Jias been very i keen. An exhibit of interest in the Southland I Court, is two petrified oysters found at j Mataura about 400 ft above sen level and ! supposed to be thousands of years old j It is quite likely that the bivalve inside i will have lost the bloom of youth by now. | The fine big exhibit of fruit in the Auckj lanl Court continues to attract the attention of visitors. Many who have never seen the peculiar egg fruit before are interested to know that this is generally cut up and fried, for all the world like the real egg. Mr Erainsby, of the Auckland Court, states that the second signature book is uow on the table. Thousands of visitors have signed lip, and although opinions arc not asked for in the second book, they have l>een freely given, and every one is of a highly laudatory nature. Auckland’s is unquestionably a popular court. The New Zeataud Academy of Fine Arts. Wellington, has effected the purchase of one of the landscape paintings in Ihe British section in the Art Gallery-that entitled “In the Doon Valley,” by 11 Watson. The acquisition of other pictures oy the same society is said to be under consideration. . , , About 600 children from Christchurch made daily visits to Ihe Exhibition last week, and a sreat deal is being added to their etore of knowledge. itty-uve oi them were from Hokitika, and these are the pieffieers of the West Coast children. They were visited in their billets by many old West Coasters. A train from Milton on Wednesday brought 500 children on a day. excursion. This week the biggest contingent of all will arrive, consisting of 700 children from Timaru and the surrounding Mid-Canterbury districts. Extra billeting accommodation has been arranged for these. It is gratifying to note that there' have been do cases of sickness among the children, and what minor ailments there have been Dr Renfrew White and Dr Radcliffe Taylor have attended to. To the Moascar Cup, which is on view in the Wellington Court, an interesting history is attached. The Moascar is the Arabic word for camp, and the cup was originally presented for competition among the forces in the Suez Canal zone, Egypt, in 1918. It was won outright by a team representing New Zealand at the base camp, Chevalier Island, Ismailiu, the same year, and it was finally presented for competition among secondary schools in New Zealand, the present holders being Te Aute College, Hawke’s Bay. The trophy is unique in shape, and js reminiscent of the war in that the stand is the central part of an aeroplane propeller. The Marlborough Court is attracting a great number of farmers, who inspect with the keenest interest the agricultural exhibits that are characteristic of the district. Several lucerne, chaff, arid honey exhibits have recently been added, arid gome additional coloured pictures of Marlborough have been placed on the outside wall. Of outstanding merit aTe the wool, grain, and cereal exhibits, while peas, which are grown in great quantities in that district, are portrayed by a scries of interesting photographs showing the harvesting process and other phases of growing. One of the exhibits in the British Army Ilal] that well deserves a more conspicuous position is a beautiful oak statue of St. George, the patron saint of England. It is a beautiful piece of work, and a careful examination reveals a minute attention to detail on the part of the sculptor. The figure attired in chain armour, and wearing a wreath of laurels, reclines slightly on a great two-handed sword. The shield is slung behind him. This statue was exhibited in the Decorative Arts Exhibition in Paris last year. Commodore Wardle, of 11.M.A.5. Sydney, is an enthusiastic collector of embroidery. and some of his specimens which ho collected in Greece and Turkey are to ho seen in the Women’s Section, where they have been greatly admired by connoisseurs It is beauti f jl work, and one picco shows how old it is by a patch on the back, while another has markings that are peculiar to the country. The Turkish influence on embroidery is revealed by the gold thread which can be seen in some specimens, but the Greek embroidery is characteristic of the country and is made of Greek material. Tho specimens ore very rare, some having come from Palermo and the island of Chios

Two big denizens of the deep, with tongue-twister names, will shortly be exhibited in the Fiji Court. Their respective weights ore 521 b and 2501 b, and they have been stuffed and prepared for tho Australian museum. One ahow-cLse in the Women’s section contains an attractive collection of different coloured baskets made from the lowly tussock that grows in all New Zealand swamps and in other places where it is less welcome. Special interest lies in the fact that

this is the first time that tussock has been used for any practical purposes. About 800 Edendalc and Wyndham oddfellows arrived by a special excursion train on Wednesday, and another excursion train from Milton brought 500 school children. Another consignment of bananas ha* reaelied the Fiji Court. The fruit wai put out for salc ou Wednesday night, and it commanded an immediate and brisk sale. The axiom that “ good wine needs no bush ” is perfectly applicable to Fijian bananas. While the general behaviour of visiting school children,has been particularly good, there are one or two exceptions, as indeed there always must be when children congregate in hundreds. But it is mere than annoying to exhibitors to find that quite a number of their exhibits have been damaged, while a number of works of art have been disfigured by childish drawings of an unpleasant nature. Even some of the visitors’ books have been subjected to undesirable attentions. Parents and school teachers sh'uld wr.rn children visiting the Exhibition that several children have already been handed over to the police for these offences, and drastic action will also be taken in the future. “ Why We Can’t Keep Well ” is the subject of a humorous but none the less eloquent cartoon in the Health Department’s Court. The picture is divided into a series portraying ‘ what we require ” and “ what .we get,” and under the first caption we see a man basking ou a sandhill under the kindly rays of a health-giving sun, enjoying a meal which the waiter tells him is “ straight from the hen. sir, and direct from the kitchen garden” and finally doing a brisk 440 along a sandy beach. “ What we get,” however, i. entirely different. Where the individual should be in the open spaces beyond the horizon he is packed like a sardine in a tram, while at lunch time the gentleman with the table napkin inft nns him that “ there is some very good tinned tongue, bottled pe:is, and canned gooseberries.” And, again, instead of racing down the beach he is crouched over an office desk. Another drawing, by the well-known humorist, H. M.'Bateman, shews the effect of enlistment on a cierk. A life spent almost wholly in the stagnant heated air of cflice, tube train, teashop. kinema, and home leads to lowered vitality, loss of appetite, and happiness. Exercise and exposure to the open air make a vast difference to him after enlistment. The weekly meeting of the directorate was held on Thursday night and was attended by Messrs J. Sutherland Ross (chairman), Chas Speight., T. Somerville, Peter Barr, Arthur Barnett. P. L. Ilalsted. Charles Todd, H. F. Sincock, and W. It. Hayward. Mr Speight reported what tho sub-committees had done and the report was approved. It was reported at. the meeting of directors that the Chinese residents had contributed the sum of £25 to the recent fireworks display. Mr Ross pointed out that already the sum of £SOO had been contributed by the Chinese residents and lie felt that they should do something other than forward a letter of thanks. Appreciative reference was made by other directors, and it was finally decided to give a reception to the Chinese residents “They have been very good to U 3,” said ona director.

Mr Arthur Barnett gave notice of motion at the last meeting of directors that the Exhibition be kept open on Easter Friday. He explained that he was nob acting upon pecuniary impulse, but he felt that there were thousands of young people from Christchurch and the south who would be paying Dunedin a flying visit about that time, and Saturday would be the only day they would have at the Exhibition. lie thought that they would appreciate it very much if the Exhibition were kept open oil that day. Mr Todd seconded the notice of motion pro forma. The Chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr H. R. Mackenzie) when on a recent visit to Dunedin was very pleased with the pictures representing the present and prospective development of Auckland harbour and city. He thought that it would be interesting to Exhibition visitors to be rile to compare the panoramic painting shown in the Auckland Court which was specially prepared by an Australian artist in October for the Exhibition, with a representation of Audi land city and waterfront in 1844. He therefore forwarded to the commissioners his own copy of an engraving which is now hung side by side with the more up-to-date picture and which graphically illustrates the amazing development of the great northern city. There aro iust a few buildings of the genus shack around the waterfront in the old picture and a Maori war canoe is moored at the landing stage. Land that could then he picker! up for what the habitual ex&ggerntor describes as “a mere song” is worth a fortune to-day. One feels inclined to blame one’s forebears for their lack of vision ‘ir. thig respect. One of the policies observed by the Auckland Court is the continued attention to redressing *h§ exhibits, and when possible the addition of new items, so that the court remains fresh and interesting both ro new visitors and to those who ore familiar with the ins and outs of the Exhibition. The additions this week are some very line examples of wool from the famous wool districts in South Auckland. North Auckland and the Gisborne district. By courtesy of Messrs Wright. Stephenson and Co. tho commissioner of tho court was able to secure the expert assistance of Mr Huggins in arranging the display, which now preKents an attractive appearance in a on so of 14 compartments occupied by merino wool in fine and medium. English ami Border Leicester, Romney and Corriedale. The Exhibition directors have now deelded to charge threepence for admission to the Festival Hall when the Argyll Band i, playing there. * Purses, watches, rings, bangles, brooches, neck furs, passes, umbrellas, and caps aro some of the many articles that are lost at the Exhibition. Some of them, unfortunately, fall into dishonest hands, but most of them find their way to the police office in the gate buildings, where they are soon claimed. Purses containing as much as £3O have been found, and, needless to say, these have been quickly claimed. A great number of passes are found, but the owners of these are easily traced by their names and addresses. To those interested in history, and they are legion, the British Court provides a rich field. One exhibit with a special interest is a map of the British Isles from Ptolemy’s Atlas, 1513. The complete atlas, consisting of 47 woodcut maps, is

bcrhaps the most important of all the Famous Ptolemy editions. It was commenced in 1585 and finally published at fitrasburg in 1513. The edition contains 20 new maps, including one of the earliest especially devoted to the new world. Ihe earliest atlaseß in the “Macpherson Collection” are the “Berlinghieri, of 1480, and the "Ptolemy,” of 1482. An edition was actually produced in the seventies, but with the first printing press only established in 1442 it is now an almost un-heard-of rarity. The map in the British

Court, of course, gives the old names —. Allglia, Londra, Scotia, and Hibernia. Just now there is a fine collection of sweet peas to be seen in the Otago Court. The blooms, which are well displayed, were grown by Mr L. Fraser, of Woodhaugh. , , , One of the most popular handbooks in the Exhibition is that issued by the Auckland Court. The demand is keen, especially in view of the' fact that the books are free, and on Saturday's in particular the commissioner, Mr Brainsly, ia kept

busy in distributing copies of the publication. Even the children arc given copies, but they must sign their names and their schools in the book kept for that purpose. The idea is to give them a sense of responsibility so that they will not feel inclined to abuse the privilege. School teachers, too, find the handbook of value, and many have collected batches for the school libraries. The Exhibition Company has received the following letter from the official secretary to the Governor-General: —"I have

the honour to inform you, by the Cover-ndr-General's direction, that the blocks of the stamps which were issued to commemorate the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1925-20, and which were forwarded by his Excellency in December last on behalf of the directors of the Exhibition, for submission to the King, have been duly laid before his Majesty. The King has been graciously pleased to accept the stamps and to command that an expression of his thanks for tne gift may be conveyed to the directors of the Exhibition."

Writing to the chairman of directors of the Exhibition (Mr J. Sutherland Ross) on January 20, Viscount Jellicoe states:—“Thank you very much for the catalogue and programme of the open* ing ceremony of the Exhibition. I am so very pleased to hear that it has started so well, and as I read a week or two ago that 1,000,000 visitors had already passed through the gates, its success seems to be assured. Our heartiest congratulations to all concerned.” The attendance at the Women's Best’ Room for the week ended March 9 was 1704, Saturdav being the busiest day with 504 visitors. One of ‘he busiest of the Exhibition' offices is that inside the gate buildings where coats, luggage, etc., may be left for a very small sum. A staff of four is kept busy all day, and an average of 3000 or 4000 tickets a week is sold. Push chairs and invalid chairs are also hired out, aud there is a steady demand for these. Six hundred school children were made “at home” in the Canterbury Court on Thursday evening prior to their departure for the north after a happy week at Logan Park. Messrs C. A. Strack and J. Somerville were present in charge of the young visitors and in the course of an enjoyable little function the Otago Education Court Committee was thanked for all that had been done to make the visit a success. One of two interesting lectures have been given in the Canterbury Court lately and included in the slides shown were a beautiful set of Dunedin views.