GENERAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 26

GENERAL NOTES

HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE. Included in the exhibits to be forwarded to the Toronto Exhibition after May 1 are pictures of Southland prize stock, a Royal deer head, a wapiti head, all mounted specimens of Southland trout, and selected polished and unpolished rimu and silver beech from the Southland Court. In practically every case permission has been already granted by the exhibitors for the Government to take over their displays after the close of the Exhibition. “Chief among those with whom we have been associated is the indefatigable president of the Exhibition, Mr J. Sutherland Ross.” said the British Commissioner, Captain S. J. Graham, in the course of his speech at the commissioners’ dinner on the 19th. “I have been in the closest personal touch with him for nearly 18 months and can say without hesitation that he has been unceasing and untiring in his efforts to carry the enterprise to a successful conclusion,” he added. “It is a matter of regret fro all of us that for all too long a period he has been deprived through illness of no less hard and capable a worker in the person of Mrs Ross. We have all missed Mrs Ross very much, and we would ask Mr Ross to convey to her our deep regret at her enforced absence from our midst and our earnest hope that she will soon be among us again to grace the concluding ceremonies of the Exhibition which owes so much to her own efforts.

An amusing story of the only discontented visitor received in the Women’s Rest Room is told by Miss 1. Fraser, president of the committee in charge. The stranger arrived one afternoon, and after walking haughtily into the lounge, sat down heavily in one of the largest chairs, and commenced to complain bitterly of her weariness. “Can we do anything for you?” asked one of the ladies present. “No. Nothing!” she snapped. “What, then, is the matter?” pursued the attendant. “Everything in the Exhibition —it is the worst show I have ever seen,” was the startling reply. A few moments later it was discovered that the critic was a native of a very small town in Central Otago! The need for a complete volume ot an official and permanent nature to keep on record the wonderful success of the Exhibition has been freely discussed, and it is interesting to know that a comprehensive book of 200 pages, produced in very attractive illustative form, is being compiled by Coulls, Somervile, Wilkie (Ltd.). In addition to pictures of Government and court displays, exhibitors are participating with photo reproductions of their various commercial stands. Good progress is being made with the work, which will make a valuable souvenir for all time. Sales of Fiji mats, pottery, and curios are proceeding steadily in the representative court, and the commissioner, the Hon. It Boyd, with his remaining native attendants, are being kept as busy as ever. In many cases the decorations of the court have been reorganised, and messages of farewell to visitors have been hung m the native bouse. “Na samoce keitou sa na sega ni guileeavi da rava” (Farewell, we shall never forget Dunedin) is one while the other is as follows, “Nio ni bau cade yani ki Viti ka sarava na kena lagilagi (We invite you to come to Fiji and see its beauties). Another large specimen of the tropical fish found in Fijian waters arrived in the court on Wednesday, having been delayed in transit. Owing to the short time remaining it will not be displayed. “We have the ‘old stagers’ who come in almost every day, and have done. so since the opening of the Exhibition.” said one of the overseas commissioners in referring to the thousands of people that had been received at his court. “We do not know any of them by name, but they always turn up for a chat, inquire after the healths of all in the court, comment on some new and interesting addition, and depart after a short time. TKese are the people who have Been the backbone of the visiting army—people who take a genuine personal interest in the Exhibition, and make a visit to Logan I'ark part of their daily lives. A large number of Exhibition and Dunedin friends of Mrs W. L. Smallhorn, wife of the Australian Court commissioner assembled on the Dunedin wharf ou Tuesday evening to bid her farewell on her trip back to Australia by the s.s. Manuka. Amongst the 60 people present were the president of Exhibition directors. Mr J. Sutherland Ross, members of the directorate. all overseas and many of the New Zealand commissioners. The parting was made more sincere by the singing of ‘Auld Lang Syne” and other appropriate songs. In his latest weekly report to the Auckland Court Committee, the commissioner (Mr A. T. Brainsby) states that though a slackening off of public attendance was fully anticipated prior to the last week of the Exhibition, his experience had been that the court was busier than lias been the case since Easter. This was in some measure due to the fact that a great number of newcomers from the country and elsewhere were at present visiting the Exhibition. All had taken a keen interest in the exhibits, and there were many genuine inquiries. He did not wish to imply that there was a lack of interest amongst regular visitors, who were still making the Exhibition a weekly rendezvous, but aR they had more time at their disposal their inspection was more leisured. The public had now come to realise that only a few Exhibition days were left, and people were making keen use of every opportunity to reap the great educational advantages that Logan Park offered.

After the Exhibition closes the number of workers in the Exhibition will increase rather than diminish, and on Wednesday the New Zealand Government Commissioner (Mr J. VV. Collins) stated that for their benefit the Post and Telegraph Department had decided to keep the Exhibition Post Office open for a fortnight. All who will be doing business at the Exhibition over that period will appreciate the courtesy of tne department. “We have had a very fortunate time up to date,” said Superintendent Napier, of the fire brigade, referring to the work of the men stationed at the Exhibition, in the course of his reply to a welcome by the Exhibition directors. “But,” he added, “the most anxious time for us will be after the close, when all the exhibits are being removed and hundreds will be working in all parts of the Exhibition. I wish to make a special appeal to the public to exercise the greatest care during that time.

“There is one thing that is a complete *° me »” sa 'd a country visitor on Thursday as he stood between Pavilions No. f and 3. “How could this place have been a lake with that tree growing here.” He pointed to the gnarled stump of a big native trees, nearly sft in diameter, that stands close to the wall of No. 2 Pavilion and makes a convenient seat for as many as six people who may be listening to the band. It ha apparently been growing there for many years, and the illusion is heightened by the fact that the lower part is embedded and the ground nearly is trodden to a rocklike firmness. As a matter of fact it is simply a section of a tree that stood in the Botanic Gardens for many years. Owing to lack of space it could not be exhibited in the Otago Court, so it was placed outside the door, where it has remained ever since.

The Canadian Commission is at present making arrangements for the sale of all goods and material in the court except pictures and such decorative features as game heads, which will be taken back to Canada. Practically all trade exhibits in the .court have already been disposed of, but the fittings, hardware, and general equipment has yet to be sold. Only a very small portion of the contents of the court will return to Canada, and the commissioners hope to find a market for the remainder before the close of the Exhibition.

The Otago Court is keeping up to its reputation as the floral court of the Exhibition, fcnd beautiful displays of fresh flowers from all parts of the city greatly enhance the interior. Exhibits of monster apples of various kinds have been forwarded by growers, and these have been placed on the fruit stand in the vestibule of the court. Another interesting addition is the Milton Shield, or Ladies’ Challenge Shield, presented in 1876 by the ladies of Dunedin to the Volunteer Forces of Otago. It is of immense size, and of solid engraved silver mounted on ebony. It has been competed for 44 times, and is at present held by the Kiwi Defence Rifle Club. The weekly meeting of Exhibition directors was held on Thursday evening, there being present the chairman, Mr J. Sutherland Ross, and Messrs A. Barnett, W. R. Hayward, C. Todd, C. Speight, H. L. Tapley, H. F. Sincock, and P. L. Halsted. A request from the Southland Court that permission be granted to hold a special Southland night in the Festival Hall was declined as being impracticable. Other formal business was transacted, and the meeting adjourned early owing to a function which was commenced at - 9 p.m. On Friday next the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and H. L. Tapley) will entertain nearly 4CO children of the Dunedin Orphanages at the Exhibition. As he is keenly interested in the educational possibilities of the Exhibition, and appreciates the difficulties in the way of the orphanage children enjoying all that Logan Park has to offer, tho Mayer, with Mrs T’aplev, decided to give them this treat before closing day. The children will be given meals at the Exhibition, and included in the programmo is a visit to the Amusements Park. The Exliiibtion crowd that is to be found in Logan Park during the afternoons is now very largely composed of country visitors, who are taking full advantage of the only opportunity they have had since November to visit Dunedin. Everywhere they to are be found, seeing the sights and enjoying the entertainments to-a degree that cannot be appreciated bv the blase city dweller. Mothers, fathers, and children—in family groups they move fror. pavilion to pavilion and court to court. The Agriculture Department’s experimental plots have been crowded for the past week, and the New Zealand Government Pavilion is another ponular destination. The Exhibition was a harvest for the sellers of Poppies of Flanders on Friday, and everywhere in Logan Park the little red emblems of sad but glorious memories decorated jackets and dresses. Arrangements were made for all the commissioners to take part in the sales, and in every court poppies were disposed of to a responsive public. The provincial courts were particularly busy in the good cause, and few who entered came out without spending the recessary shilling. The amount collected was a very satisfactory one, reflecting great credit on the kindness of the voluntary workers and the generosity of the visitors. On Friday evening another enjoyable concert was given in the Wellington Court by a talented band of performers called on by the commissioner, Captain' M. B. Macdonald. The worth of these weekly functions i 9 now widely known, and the audience taxed the capacity of the spacious court. Not the least important side of the concert was the broadcasting. After the last entertainment broadcasted from the Wellington Court, radio listeners from all parts of the country expressed their keenest appreciation of the welcome innovation, and last evening the results were again all that could be desired. The placing of the radio microphone in the Wellington Court was a happy thought on the part of the organisers.

Though the task of counting the final figures at the main gates when tho time of winning the interim prize grows near, the general manager (Mr C. F. Hainsworth), thoroughly enjoys the humorous little aidelights that are seen by him alone. On one occasion an elderly male visitor passed through the single turnstile threo times in a vain endeavour to find the lucky place in the queue. Each time he gazed appealingly at Mr Hainsworth. but there w«« no response. "And luck?" he asked, making; a third appearance. “No—no luck,” replied

the manager with a chuckle. “No—well," said the optimist, “I’ve spent three bob and that is the most I will go.” For the first time since the opening of the Exhibition it became necessary on Saturday to place a policeman on duty at the entrance to one of the provincial courts —Southland. The occasion was the cutting of the mammoth cheese, and the crowds were so tightly wedged into the Southland corner of the pavilion that they had to be sent in through one archway and out the other. The general manager, Mr C. P. Hainsworth, performed the ceremony of cutting the cheese, and sales continued until the major portion of the giant was disposed of.