Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition.

Southland Times, Issue 14787, 2 November 1900, Page 2

Canterbury Jubilee Exhibition.

THE OPENING CEREMONY. [By Telegraph.] Christ-church, Nov. 1. It was lovely weather to-day for the opening of the Canterbury Jubilee Exhi- , bition. A general holiday was observed and the city was crowded with visitors. Flags and other decorations were much in evidence on business places. The Exhibition will be the most attractive as well as the largest ever held in the colony, and has a surface of 74,000 square feet. A distinctive feature is that all articles exhibited arc of colonial manufacture, and a marvellous pretty show they make. There are exhibits from Auckland, Dunedin, Wellington, Nelson, and Wanganui, but the majority are local. The buildings compiise a Hue permanent structure, erected by the Industrial and Agricultural Hall Company, and commodious annexes, covering over three acres, In the art section the tinest pictures in the colony are shown, and the gallery is one of the features of the Exhibition. At one o'clock the main door of the Hall was unlocked with a golden key by the Mayoress (Mrs Recce), after which invited guests and others were admitted, to. witness the opening of the Exhibition, At 2 o'clock the Governor arrived, the Mounted Rifles forming a guard of honour. The corridors were lined with volunteers. His Excellency, the Premier and Ministers were received by the Executive. The National Anthem was sung by a chorus of 300 voices, after which the Jubilee ode, written by Mr Alpers, of Christchurch, and set to music by Mr Manghan Barnett, of Wellington, Vas sung. His Excellency then, in a capital speech, formally opened the Exhibition, after which speeches were delivered by the Premelr and Mayor. The Governor was oouducted round the Exhibition, and expx-essed delight at the wonderful display of colonial manufactures. At 3 o'clock the general public were admitted, and there must bo over 13,000 inside the building.