EXHIBITION AT GHENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4539, 24 May 1913, Page 2

EXHIBITION AT GHENT.

A CITY OF PALACES. Ghent, April 9. The exhibition at Ghent was opened to the world by King Albert on April 26th. ! Alongside the railway which forms one of the greatest high roads into Northern Europe, the industrious burghers of Ghent have built a city of plaster and stucco which will contain many novel features Ghent itself with its wealth of beautiful mediaeval buildings and historic associations, appeals to every tourist, and this exhibition of “Peace, Industry and Art” should increase a hundredfold the foreign invasion which sweeps through the ancieril town during the I summer - . With the existing Town Park as a nucleus, the exhibition grounds embrace nearly 300 acres, and the Festival Palace, the largest building, which will be a permanent addition to the beauties of Ghent, covers seven and a half acres alone. Ghent has always been noted for its flowers, and flowers form the keynote of the decorations. Flowers banked seven or eight feet high will form the ba n - i a nr, ll i V,— n-i.:

bition enclosure. All the open spaces will be carpeted with flowers. Appropriately enough, the quhrfquennial flower show, for which Ghent is famous, will be the opening function of the exhibition. PARAIDISE of flowers. These famous flower shows have been held uninterruptedly for a century, and more than 400,000 people come to Ghent to. see them. This spring-—so the eommitte confidently prophesy—a million visitors will pass through the' gigantic Festival Palace and the adjoining hothouses.

Altogether 42,000 exhibitors are preparing their stands. It is, of course, essentially an exhibition of Belgian industries and arts, but other countries have responded generously to the invitation to participate. France heads the list with 18,000 exhibitors, whose products are being housed in the neat white pavilion opposits the Hall of Honoir. Great Britain plays a more modest part, but a number of important fix-ms are contributing exhibits of machinery and pottery The British pavilion is rapidly nearing completion. Germany’s headquarters is a severe pri-eou-liko structure, which will be crowded with manufactures and machinery. Canada is the only British Dominion taking part in the exhibition, and her industries and agricultural resources are to be displayed in the usual attractive manner. The old Flemish village is the most attractive feature of the exhibition. It is a masterpiece of deception. You wuid not believe that planter, canvas, and deal boards- could be so skilfully manipulated in the mmulataom of hoary antiquity. A WONDERFUL VILLAGE. A massive gateway leads to a wall-ed-in town of crooked streets and gabled houses which suggest Bruges, Antwerp, and half a dozen other mediaeval cities. No two houses are alike. They are two and threo-storeyed—one ha- four storeys—and their size emphasis*® the effect of absolute realism. One will find the Beflfroi of Beth one; houses of Veore and Fumes ; a tavern of Dixmude

The usual market place as a "venerable” town hall on one side, the hall of the fishmongers on another. Canals traversed by real stone and brick footbridges, wind through the old town. The Municipal washhouse might hare been tbe original for a seventeenth century Flemish painting. “Old” boats will ply on the oanuls, and u mock - ! orchard adds to the attractions of this really beautiful tribute to the builders of a by-gone age. Contrasted with the reproduction of ancient Flanders is the model modern village, which, if less picturesque, has many other qunlitioH to recommend it. It will illustrate the high stage of jiorfertion attained by Flemish dairyfarming and agriculture. Tlie fonr great cities of Belgium have constructed pavilions which are admirable reproductions of historic buildings Perhaps the most imposing is the lofty Gothic edifice which represent, in reduced form, the famous Hotel de Villo parish churches, and again the art of deception triumphs, for the effect of crumbling stone and weather-beaten walls is almost startling. Ghent has built a replica of the Chateau in which Charies V was born ; Antwerp’s mediaeval building is an architectural “blend,” while Liege has put up a large model of the Onstns rnneseum. These four great buildings aro opposite each other at the intersection of two pn-incrpa.l avenues, and the effort is one of dignity anil beauty.

ENGLISH AMUSEMENTS.

What will be called the main exhibition is grouped on land adjoining the permanent town park of Ghent. The Park'itself contains the Festival Hall (built on the site of the old Citadel) and the amusement features, which are supplied by an English com. pany. All the popular open-air entertainments will be found amid exceptionally pleasant surroundings. The highest water chute in the world has been built by Mr L. Morgan, one Of the inventors. A threemile scenic railway and a rapid joywheel of ■mproved design will add to the deljghts of the more frivolous visitors. Bostock’s animals will be found in this portion of the grounds, and there will be many other forms ot , entertainment.

One novel attraction at the exhibition will be a great circular panorama of the Congo, which has been painted at groat expense to make the world more familiar with Belgiam s colonial possessions. M. M. (Paul M.athieu and Alfred Bastion, two Belgian artists, spent several months in the Congo valley, making* sketches : 'or 11 1 i- panorama, which is 500 ft in eirc inference, and nearly 50 feet high. Sixty congresses nil! meet in the Festival Hall during the summer. There will be international regattas, fencing tournaments, and all kinds of sports.