The Exhibition.

Southland Times, Issue 10967, 19 February 1907, Page 3

The Exhibition.

By Telegraph—Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 18. The Exhibition has been largely attended during the day, and a million and a-quarter is close within sight at a satisfactorily early period- Tho orchestral concerts in the afternoon and evening were largely attended. The evening programme included Beethoven’s great symphony in F (No, G), ” The Pastoral which was given for the lust time at the Exhibition. The symphony was splendidly interpreted, -and was very highly appreciated. Tho Hawkes Bay Maoris, whose entertainments have been very popular, gave a linal performance of pois and hakas at tho pah this afternoon. They will bo succeeded without delay by a contingents of, fellow tribesmen-

Entries for the baby show*, to be held in the main corridor on Thursday, close on, Tuesday night. The prizes, to the number of 36, will take the form of gold, silver and bronze medals, stamped with a view of the Exhibition and the name of the winner of the class. All the babies that enter will be expected to remain in tho Exhibition during the entire afternoon and during the evening till 9 p.m., and all who do so will receive* a memento of the occasion, whether they win prizes or not. One of the set pieces at the free display of fireworks to be given ou Wednesday night will bo a portrait of Sir John Hall, in honour of his kindness to the school children in obtaining concessions for them at the Exhibition.

Large contingents of athletes frohu other parts of the colony are expected to take part in the N.Z. Amateur Athletic championship meeting on Thursday and Saturday. One of the features of the meeting will be the walking of H. E. Kerr, of Taranaki, who equalled the world’s mile record (6mln SOsece) at Wellington on New Year’s Day. Kerr, who is undoubtedly the finest heel and toe exponent in Australasia, Is In active training, and is stated to have covered the mile in the sensational time of 6 min 11 secs. The officials of the Athletnj Association are taking every precaution as to judging the measurements of the course and tho time-keeping, so that, in the event of Kerr breaking the world’s record, the necessary certificates will be in order to secure recognition of the record by the world’s athletic authorities. Recent rain has had a remarkable effect upon the Exhibition lawns and gardens, which nre now more beautiful than they have ever been before and compel the admiration of alt visitors. To-day was Dunedin's special excursion day, and the Otago capital sent over 400 of its citizens to swell the attendance of the next week. The North Island rail and steamer excursions, another of, which commenced to-day. have been successful in bringing large crowds to the Exhibition.

The number of cadets who will go Into camp from first to last is estimated at above 5000. The Grey and North Otago Battalions, who 'ore there at present, will remain throughout the week, and on the 26th inst. a second Hawkes Hay contingent will arrive, and they will be followed by the Taranaki and Southland Battalions min'd others at later dates. Everything at the camp is carried out on correct military lines, and the discipline is all that could be desire No breaches of discipline or disobedience of orders have ’been dealt with so and there have been no cases of serious sickness. The cadets are able to spend a good deal of time in the Exhibition, a the general manager has arranged for them to have tree passes to the art gallery and orchestral concerts in future. Pictures of the Exhibition damps mnd the parades have been sent to the Old

(Country, and will be used as lantern slides, to assist the Cause of the cadet movement there. Front 1500 to 2000 special tickets have been issued to Canterbury school cliii'dfen for admissioii to the Exhibition to-morrow. ■ ' Mr Baird, manager of Wonderlandi is desirous that the admission foe to this popular place of amusement should be abolished and tile public only charged' for the sensations of its numerous sideshows. It is probable that this chahgo will be brought about.