THE CLOSE OF A GREAT SUCCESS

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 23

THE CLOSE OF A GREAT SUCCESS

SURGING CROWDS THRONG LOGAN PARK.

MEMORABLE SCENES.

The end of the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1925 26, lias come at last. During the past five and a-half months the great enterprise has gained such a place in the lives of the people that many have come unconsciously to accept it as a permanent part of their existence It was only a week ago that they suddenly awoke to the realisation that the inevitable end was at hand. Then they began to crowd down with renewed eagerness in their tens of thousands till the great climax was reached on Saturday. If the weather for the opening of the Exhibition on November 17 was as propitious as it well could be, the conditions for the closing on Saturday could hardly have been worse. Rain fell heavily the night before and all Saturday a steady drizzle saturated the air and turned the paths of Logan Park into chains of muddy pools. But what matter? The success of the Exhibition was long ago placed beyond any doubt, and no rain could deter the people from paying their last tribute to the great achievement in which they, too, have had their part. There is always a certain pathos about |pst things, and numbers of visitors could not quite escape the thought that never again would they have the opportunity of looking upon the multitudes of strange, interesting, instructive, and beautiful things that have been gathered together in the Exhibition. Nevertheless, a cheerful gaiety was the predominant feeling, for had not the Exhibition—their Exhibition—been a record-breaking success? The Prime Minister, at the closing ceremony in the Festival Hall, did not hesitate to refer to it as “One of the most successful Exhibitions known in the history of man.” Full details and figures have yet to come, but Mr Coates, in saying so, undoubtedly expressed the prevailing opinion. There was, therefore, a feeling of proud achievement in the air, and the throngs that wandered through the courts and grounds ceaselessly from early till late were not burdened with any gloomy regrets over tbe passing of the big show. They were there to get then full measure of enjoyment out of the last day. They were serious enough, though, not to lose sight of the really valuable side of the Exhibition, and it was notable that much attention was paid by the crowds to the exhibits. The official closing ceremony, which took place in the festival Hall in the afternoon, was, as Mr Sutherland Ross happily expressed it, “as brief as is compatible with dignity. '* It was marked by three good and fitting speeches from Mr Ross, the Mayor, and the Prime Minister, and at the close close the great audience gave another demonstration of its affection for the Argyll and Sutherland Band and its music All that the Exhibition means to the community and to the Dominion only the passage of the years will disclose. But this at least may be said: “What an Exhibition may reasonably be expected to accomplish for good it has accomplished and will continue to accomplish The Main Highway and Logan Park reclaimed and beantiful are two of its most notable permanent memorials. It has brought, as one speaker said, to young and old, a new conception of the vast resources of our Empire and the history and traditions of our race/’ Moreover, it has made us known, and favourably known, if not to the woild, then at least to many parts of it that v were hitherto quite unaware of our developments and resources. Many will much regret the closing of the Exhibition and keenly miss it, but the end is not really a cause for regret, for the enterprise has served well and truly the purpose for which it was conceived.

THE ATTENDANCE REGISTER.

Largest attendance on any one day—May 1,192 G —83,935. Hfciallrst attendance on any one day—December 7, 1925-9087. There were onl} two occasions on which the attendance was bclov/ 10,000, the other one being on November 30, when the number was 945 C.

REMARKABLE First week (five days) FIGURES. 114,411 Second week 81,078 Third weea ... .,. 98,402 Fourth week 88,044 Fifth week 100,107 Sixth week 98,599 Seventh week 189,263 Eighth week 151,828 Ninth week 154,822 Tenth week 141,047 Eleventh week 145,024 Twelfth week 116,332 Thirteenth week ... 10G.017 Fourteenth week ... 113,840 Fifteenth week 11G.939 Sixteenth week 151,594 Seventeenth week ... 122,719 Eighteenth week ... 108,442 Nineteenth week ... ... 114,476 Twentieth week ... ... 135,102 Twenty-first week 173,857 Twenty-second week ... ... 139,178 Twenty-third week 172,154 Twenty-fou-th week ... 265,357 Total ... ...' 3,200,498