THE EXHIBITION.

Colonist, Volume XLVIX, Issue 11824, 3 January 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Per United Press Association. Christchurch, January 2. There was another exceptionally large attendance at the Exhibition to-day. The conclusion of the Scottish Society's sports which provided some good contests was well patronised. The Pipe Band contest, which commenced with the quickstep competition yesterday, ended witfc the selection "of Highland airs competition. The Dunedin Pipe Band were winners, on points, in both divisions of the contest; the Wiamate and Ashburton bands tying for second place. There were no other competitors. The prize for the best lament composed by a player for the late Mr Seddon was won by D. McKechnie, of Dunedin, whose beautiful and typical lament was excellently played. The dancing of McKenzie Forbes, of Wanganui, was again conspicuous, the New Zealander defeating the Scottish champion, Center, There 'was an attendance of 600 at the Fijian dances to-day and of one thousand yeterday. Immediately after the 10th inst tbe Fijians will pay a short visit to Dunedin. returning afterwards to the Exhibition. An unique ornament is expected to arrive to-morrow by the ss Gothic in the form of a bubble fountain for the Exhibition. This will be worked by gas pressure and will send up ten thousand bubbles every minute.7 There ia only one other similar fountain in the world, and the general manager arranged through the High, Commissioner to have this one ' specially made for the Exhibition. There will also arrive by the Gothic a collection of products of English sweated industries which has been sent out by the High Commisssioner and will find a place in the Labour Department's Conrt. There was a large attendance in the Concert Hall this afternoon to hear Miss Millicent Heywood, solo pianiste, and a programme given-by the Orchestra. The Besses o' the Barn Band, which

„ ' *.■■-- ■ - „ ,1' . ■ 1) gives i: it3 first performance on thS" Ibth ihst will only play as a band on the sports ground in the evening. In the afternoon, however, some of the soloists will probably givo items in the Concert Hall as entertainments are given by the Orchestra. Tho next display of Pain's London fireworks vfill -be given on Monday noxt, There is an entry of 50 dogs for the show, which takes place tomorrow and Friday. This constitutes a record for the Colony, and visiting fanciers state that the arrangements are the 'finest they have ever seen in this country. The entries include a number from Australia and a good variety of recently imported dogs'. . ■ This -evening again there was an unusually large attendance at the Ehibition. The Chamber music concert by' Miss Amy Murphy, and ; the orchestra, was largely : patronised,. The numerous sideshows have nevei* done Such continuous good business as lately, and last night some of them had to close their doors to keep out the crowds and a daily attendance of eight thousand at Wonderland is becoming quite the usual thing. The imitation of a portion of the Hot-lakes district, including a model geyser; which throws up wfttei; to a considerable height, bpiliri.g mud ; pools, and solfaturas, : i^ attracting, hundreds of, people dailyi and those who have. visited Rotorua speak highly of the verisimilitude of reproduction. Pictures in; the British section of the Art- Gallery have now,* been, sold to a- total, value of e„ight thousand pounds. Oh thb days when sixpence is charged for admission, the attendance often amounts to eight hundred a day, and on Christmas Day, when the. same charge was made the visitors to the Art Gallery totalled one thousand and sixty four, though the Exhibition was not open till the afternoon. On free days, Thursdays and Saturdays, the attendance is, oi course* niuch larger. Mx Longden who is iri charge of the British .art exhibit^; expresses very great satisfactio n with the attention they have reoeived; The motor launches on the Avon, now that warni still evenings have commenced, .have great attraction for a large number of visitors',