IN PAVILIONS AND COURTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 31

IN PAVILIONS AND COURTS.

FINAL DAY OF BUSTLE. # Big attendances during the final Exhibition days have always been expected, but the crowds visiting Logan Park on Thursday surprised even the most optimistic. Thousands of country visitors streamed towards the towering white pavilions in the morning and afternoon, and the attendance totals swiftly mounted towards the TOO.OCOth mark, which will he reached some time to-day. Everywhere in the Exhibition preparations are being made for the dismantling and packing after to-morrow, when the lights will fade for the last time, and the curtain \v>ll descend on the greatest fair that New Zealand has ever contained or will contain for many years to come. Inquiries are constantly being received by all commissioners, and yesterday many sales of furniture and equipment of all descriptions were made In the afternoon the Amusements Park and the Grand Court, where the hand of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders played, shared the of the hig crowds that were present. The attendance at the onen-air hand concert was a particularly large one—visitors seemed loth to accept the dose of each item, and th<* fact that such glorious music will soon he lost to Dunedin increased tb* internet nnd attention of visitors. Th« Exhibition Orchestra nlaved in the New Zealand noon and evening. At the Dome tearooms the committee of thp Education Court, headed bv Mr C. A Ptynr*k, nmnasrer of the court, farewelled visiting school teachers who accompanied the last contingent of from the Wecst Coast and the North Island. Mr S-track. in addressing tho=e present .after afternoon tea had been served, anolog'°ed for the absence of the executive officers. His was both a welcome and a farewell to the visiting teachers, hut he »■’•usted that all b*d thoroughly oninved their stay and that they were of the opinion that the value of the trip from no educational noint of v’«w had made it well worth yhile to the children. Tie could contradict the opinion that had been evpres«ed in the north to the that the educational value of the Exhibition was doubtful The effect on the minds of the visiting children would be a lasting one, and the benefits derived were incalculable. Other speakers were Messrs W. H. Steele a member of the committee, and Colonel Macdonald, ex-inspector of Schools and a former Otago teacher, who stressed the great educational value of the Exhibition lo old nnd young. Messrs Pratt. Strachan, and M'Grngor renlied on behalf of the visitors. During the afternoon several excellent musical items were contributed. One of the most pleasing functions of the day was a presentation by the members of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders* Rand to Mr nnd Mrs C. Speight, who have done so much to make the stay of the Highlander musicians in Dunedin pleasant in every way. It took place at the residence of a number of the bandsmen, where

a Loving Cup was handed to Mr Bpeight by Captain Anderson, and Mrs Speight received a trinket case, the presentation being made by the bandmaster, Mr F. J. Ricketts. Both presents were subscribed by the bandsmen, with whom Mr and Mrs Speight are particularly popular. In his reply, Mr Speight expressed the pleasure it had always afforded him to do all he possibly could for the personnel of the band. He understood that several intended returning to New Zealand, and he assured them that he would do all in his power in the future to assist in making their New Zealand life a happy one. In the evening, after the lights were switched on and the carnival commenced in the Amusements Park, the crowds were larger than ever. The band again played outdoors, and the special feature of the evening, “Dunedin, N.Z.," drew thousands to the band stand. Until the moment when the pavilions closed the numbers present did not decrease, and the noisy bustle in the Amusements Park contiued long after the big buildings were shrouded in darkness.