AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XL, Issue 13257, 16 December 1913, Page 4

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION.

(Per Press . Association.) AUOKLA-ND/>laat night. . The Auckland E-^liibition entered this morning upon the third wqek of its iseason. Three months is the allotted span, but there is a proviso that, if distinctly successful, the season may be extended for any i further term up to three months. If satisfactory days such as ' that which ' was' experienced, on Saturday continue to the end, there is every probability of. such an extension. . . , „ ..'.,-... The week-end rush brought the total of- paid admissions for the first fortnight up to 88,304, and, with due allowance for season: ticket-holders and' attendants, the officials^ estimate that 1251000 people, have passed through the gates. Saturday's attendance was 19,032, and yesterday 1154 people, apart from holders of : season tickets, paid for admission. This . morning the grounds were looking particularly attractive, and, there was a good, forenoon .attendance. The estimated attendance. at 3 p.m. to.-day was 1100. Even the U\osti sanguine friends of the Auckland Exhibition have been gratified by the success which has attended it since it : opeped a little! oyer a Meek ago. The ■ weather was fickle at first, and even on < the opening day the brilliancy of the occasion was. greatly reduced : by ■a, tropica! downpour. Occasional showers and. dull skies spoiled some ,of the succeeding days too; but as soon a$ it became line the Exhibition climbed at, once into favor. And ,it nisi now the great popular rendezvous of the city. Naturally, iu view of tlie upsetting. of transport facilities some of the exhibits arc still incomplete,; but they are. and;, the gaps are not prominent. The Hall of Industries in particular lacks very little; and it is' a 'very 'beautiful place. It is? at ; night 1 that the Exhibition' is afc its best. There' has probably- never been in {New Zealand: any .grounds approaching in. beauty: to those; in, . which the buildings are situated ; and at night, under the bla/ie of light' from the illuminated fronts of the buildings, and the softer localised lighting ofvChinese' lanterns, they are transformed into a modern fairyland of which it. seenis impossible to tire. There is every inducement, on a fine night, to take advantage of the attractions of a promenade in tsuch surroundings, for, each eveniug the Royal Artillery Band* gives a concerjt, in the open ; and a. fine night in Auckland is its own recommendation even without music. There is no doubt in 'the minds of Aucklunders that the city's big show is assured of a growing popularity and of a "rUn" extending at least until after Easter;' and a gratifying number of southern visitors is' arriving and spending a delightful time, al the Exhibition.