The Exhibition

Southland Times, Issue 10965, 16 February 1907, Page 3

The Exhibition

By Telegraph..—Special Service,

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 15. The military tattop. on the sports ground, has been the groat event pi the Exhibition to-day. All day long there was a large attendance, but in the evening an immense multitude filWd all the seating and most of the standing ac* coiumodatiou in the sports ground, and crowded every coign of vtotag}et3urrouud< ing the enclosure. The night was per* feet lor the event; the volunteers were present in good numbers alnd the Maoris were in oil their wAr plant. The pah which formed the object pi the attack; by the military was found to bo not the pah proper but an excellent imitation ■hurriedly constructed at one side of the sports ground. The Maoris, armed with rifles, took their stand behind a strong breastwork with numerous embrasures, through which a deadly fire Could be poured on the attacking forces. At the

last moment it was found that the massed bands, whoiie poiade with torches was to have been a. feature of the entertainment, had not put in an appearance. The weather had been damp and threatening in the afternoon, and they were specially anxious to preserve dry and bright their iinstruments, which they had* polished to perfection for tomorrow’s contest. Tho Garrison Band, which turned out with ’the volunteers, wns left to fill the breach. The Maoris, who wore called on to defend lllelr Impromptu pah against the military, danced a magnificent haka of defiance. As the two companies chosen for the attack advanced towards their breastwork, they then fell back on the pah, against which the volunteers advanced, maintaining a steady rifle fire, and supported bv a gun of E Battery. Thb Maoris made no reply till the enemy iwere close upon them with the sports ground fence between, when they poured in such a volley as must have wiped the attacking

force out of existence. The Maoris, headed by the Garrison Band, then marched round the ground, and afterwards the volunteers and West Coast and North Otago Cadets joined in the march and various movements, which had a very fine effect. Fireworks were sent up at intervals by a representative of Pain and Co. Despite thb absence of the bands, the tattoo may be considered a very groat success, and will probably be repeated on another occasion with the assistance of the local bands. The Hon. Geo. Fowlda Invited the visiting band conductors and the president, secretory and delegates of the North Island Band Association (who have valuable assistance and advice in carrying out the contest) to a supper hold to-night in the Minister’s rooms. Mr Fowlds had unfortunately to leave for

the North before the supper took place, but the Hon. Mr McGowan did the honours in his stead. The loaat list included " The King, 0 proposed hy Mr McGowan ; " North Island Band Asspciation.” proposed by Mr McGowan and responded to by Mr Cohen (president or the Association) " Visiting 1 Bands," proposed by Lieut. Siddall and responded to by Mr Creighton, conductor of the Wanganui Band The Newcastle Band," proposed by Mr Cohen and responded-to by the conductor ; " The Judges,’’ proposed by Mr McGowan; "The Exhibition." proposed by Mr Cohen and responded to by Mr McGowan. A late train will be run from Christchurch io’ Dunedin to-morrow evening after the hand contest. The next display of fireworks will be givc<a on Wednesday. A class folk twins has been added to the programme of the baby show.. It is suggested that no entry fees shall be charged for tho show, ami that the purchase of one ticket shall entitle mother and child to entry to the Exhibition both afternoon. and evening. To encourage all competing babies to remain during the

whole show it is suggested that each baby should be handed a small memento, as he or she is taken home at 9 p.m. The thousandth infant at the babies’ rest is expected to make its appearance by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week and to be on exhibition on tho following Thursday. Entries for the baby show close next Tuesday evening. Mr D. C. Mclntyre, in addition to his position as director of the Exhibition, has been appointed snperinteudant of awards. Over 1600 applications have bren received for exhibits to he judged. .Mr Mclntyre will meet the exhibitors on Monday night to discuss certain details in connection with the judging, which, it is expected, will be commenced on tho doth inst. The greater part of tho Homo Industries section has been judged, and it is hoped that the few judges who have not yet been able to undertake their duties, will complete their work in a few days.

THE SOUTHLAND COURT. The Queenstown Borough Council has evidently a complaint to make. At their last meeting, according to the Wnkatipu Mail, a letter was received from the secretary, Southland Provincial Court at the Christchurch International Exhibition, expressing regret that the Council had such a poor opinion of the Southland Court, Gentlemen from Southland who had visited the Exhibition spoke of the Southland, Court as a most creditable display for the resources of the district.

The writer, however, complained of the apathy shown in the matter of exhibits by both the Lake County and Queenstown Borough Councils, and further statjodf that the remarks of the Council were unwarranted. The executive had done all in Us power to make the court ns representative as possible for the whole of the Southland district. The writer also stated that a man had been in charge of the court from the beginning.—The Mayor said he thought the clerk ought to answer the letter, pointing out that he (the Mayor) had visited the court for five days at the opening of tbo Exhibition i and could not tind anyone In charge. Councillor Mcßride was also there tor two days after that, and ho fell sure that at anyrato for the first seven days the man in charge could not Ire found. He remarked that if ho had been to Christchurch before the money was paid it never would have recto paid. —The clerk was instructed to answer the letter, again pointing out that for the first seven days after the opening! no man could be found in charge of the court.— (In our opinion the Mayor could not have spent much time looking for the man in charge. A representative Of this paper visited the Southland Court frequently during the first few days, and nlraost invariably found the caretaker there. For the first day or two the secretary, Mr R. Allen, was personally in attendance.)