THE EXHIBITION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13370, 11 January 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

THE BESSES 0' TIT BARN BAND. * By Telegraph — Special Service. Chris tchurch,. January 10. Mr James Alien, a leading Opposit ion member of t/ho House of Repreaontatives, has formed highly • favourable opinions of the Exhibition as the result of his vii».t. "The interesting part, of the Exhibition to me, n he said, in an interview, "has been the Canadian, Fijian, and British courts. The British court, nspc(6ally fr6m its I \aluable statistical infiormation, , and information about schools in the Mothsr Country. Tho Picture gallery, too, is very interesting,- and I -am' very glaid to know that we have in | pictures. I think the , atjjuariuan' is. woVthy of special menlion. It seo'iis to lr.e to be excellently got up, and the Department deserves every crqdit, I tlrnk it »"s one of the best ■ New Zealand exhibits in the Exhibition. I this colony secured fo many of these do not think enough has %oen made |of the Agricultural Department's exjperimen'tal plots of grasses,, etc. i They seem to me to be a very valu1 üble lessoh to those ww o are on the land." * "•■■"■. The I*e?*es o' th' Barn Baind" "arrived from the North to-day, and was' met by a large* crowd at the . OhrisUchurch 7 station.' Tho 'band VaS 'Welcomed on behalf .of the Exhibition and escorted to the hotel 1>y ~ tntf 4 .Garrison Band. In the afternoon; the band was formally welcomed at -the Exhibition Con-cert hall, there being a large* attendance df 1 the public to witness the proceeding. DeputyMayor Pn.ylin<2r apologised for. the ! absence, through i^dispositioi?., o&the | Mayor, Sir John Hall, anlct extended an official welcome to the»"fcSftfl*a. SSBH 0. T. Booth- also spoke ©n { beh&jf .' «i the Rxecut-ive -'-eomlwfeFiojai'rsyolfri 'Ai«*i Owen, the con-luctor. suitaibly respoading-. Tho Exhibition orchestra then rendered a choice programme of hivghelass numlrcrs, all of which were en- ! thusiastii-Oally recei\'«d and encored.^ Mr Munro, general manager, . entertained the a.ii&wblfti&m Ais room. . - j *"' . The Cook Islanders i gave, their last [jerform a ,nce to-day before leaving for the North Island on their way back home, and the Maoris of the pa .assisted' them iMth poi dances and h a k tt s. The songs of the -Go o k )*- ■oncers and. the dances of the Maoris were all i excellently given a«d no. less . than eleven haindred spectators e^oyed the Vareed programme,. At the conclusion , of the perfoitaancey the Cpok I®r,addersj .thaJong^ Dr.^upl^j who acted as Interpreter, expressed I gratitude Cor the kinclnesa they^ : had received during their stay at ttoe v Exhibition, and the appreciation .^th which .their siaftging. was received. They ic^vo for the North to-morfo^r. tingents of Wanganuh a?d. East Coast natives are- esopected; t o . arrive^ shortly to give dances at the pa. atodj.iiv therinteantimw <a mtjhfcer and Ngai tahn Maoris give very clever representations , of both ht&feas and poi dances. - ' A tremendous crowd visit-ed , the Exhibition- this weninrgj attra'pte4. by the first performance of the Besses o' th' Barn Band. ,Ths band was playihl to the- Exhibition sports: grownd by half a dozen local bands... There j was a very larg* attendance.- on^ the ' sports ground and the quality/ of the! band's music was a' revelation to.local bandsmen and music ilovefrs, while the popular nature of Hk& programme added' to' the delight of the general public. Tti was agreed no such band . music had been Heard here before, and that the combination t ffcftiy ■ its unx-qiue reputation . s T /» The Fijians 1 ti-ir> ' to Bttnedi^ has, been postponed till Tuesday npt. '