CITY FOR JUST FOUR DAYS

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 15

CITY FOR JUST FOUR DAYS

“HEIOHO, COMETO THE FAIR” DELIGHTS OF THE WINTER -SHOW. WANDERING THROUGH THE HALL. Like a butterfly the show is quickly created; like a butterfly it vanishes after some days crammed with glorious life; and, like fluttering creatures too, the side-show people, without whom the show would not be a real show, come and go. People marvel that such beauty of execution should be expended in the making of a butterfly which lives only a few days—yet they themselves stage exhibitions calling for labour and swift enterprise which, after the same time, have only to be removed. The 'real wisdom of such a shortlived creation as the winter show is undoubtedly the opportunity afforded town and country folk of Meeting on a common ground. And this year s show, the 21st, is staged with even greater care for efficiency and beauty. No visitor could possibly doubt its value to the community. All the gaiety which gathers round a 21st birthday impresses itself on the visitor as he passes beneath the fronds of greenery screening the main entrance. Almost immediately in front, on a raised dais, stands the great cake. A throng of people surrounds it continuously, newcomers moving in as earlier admirers depart. Expressions of wonder are drawn from thrifty housewives and of envy from the watering mouths of tiny boys. . . , .. And all around, like a miniature city, the thoroughfares lined with stalls teem with busy exhibitors and idle watchers. Here and there little groups enjoy newly-purchased portions of birthday cake. Good-natured banter greets a futile search for hidden treasure in the form of money. Now arid again there is a shout of laughter and a threepenny piece is held triumphantly aloft —legitimate spoil. Above the stulls bunting and swaying streamers play their part of animated colour. Over all pervades that restless spirit, so typical of the "fun of the fair” feeling. The numerous stalls of florists and nurserymen lend sombre relief to the bright kewpie stands, the general assortment stands and the gaily deeoi - ated walking-stick stands. Each year seems to bring in its train more intriguing novelties than the previous year. Even the kowpies grow in size and brighten in colour. Each stand has something new to offer. A vendor of art union tickets, ensconsed behind glaring yellow posters, informs passers-by of their golden chances; tho stalls of the tradespeople vie with each other in the attractions of design and colour; and the long benches, heavily laden with Taranaki produce, almost shout of a land of milk and honey. One hull is devoted to the motor exhibition and visitors wander from one shining model to another. On the other side and near the produce are the poultry and . ducks, some fine birds being already housed. Walking through a door, on the southern sido of the hall, one stumbles on amazing scenes which bring to mind the tales of the canvas cities of the gold rush days. Busy showmen are ■completing their garish canvas stalls. The blustering wind, heavy with rain, tears at the hanging sides and the shouts of those men with booths already set up make a mad medley of •contrasting sound. Inside again there is the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs’ exhibit, tier •upon tier of mangolds sloping from the wall. Nearby is the experimental agricultural area’s stall, the chief exhibit being square tins containing samples of the ragwort plant and showing the effect upon it of sodium chlorate spray. Each tin is labelled with the date of spraying and the ragwort plants vary in exuberance from those slightly withered in tho leaves to others lifeless and entirely brown. On the same stand are shown experiments in the use of different manures and the effect of each upon the growth of grass. A block of especially fine ensilage reeks of humid dampness. A Plunket Society stall attracted the attention of the mothers, all manner of baby clothes being on show. A sweet toned gramophone and its record, "Miss Hilarity”—which seemed quite in accord with the scenes round about—drew knots of people, and the finely worked sketches, drawings and paintings were scanned by a steady stream of admirers.

Through by the vegetables, past the tradespeople and the cake,, out to the open air again where any sense of unreality is definitely brushed away by ft gust of rain . . . And that concentrated little city with its thousand and one delights, sights and smells is to -exist for only four days!