THE EXHIBITION

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 13128, 9 November 1906, Page 6

THE EXHIBITION

THE EXECUTIVE COMMISSIONER. ] Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, November 8. Yesterday practically completed the first -week of the Exhibition. There was a drop of 1000 on the previous day's at- j tendance, probably due to the International Show. The total attendance up to last night was 107,117, or an average daily attendance -of 17,852. The weather has been delightful since the first hour of the opening of the great show. Some friction has occurred between the chairman of the Executive Commissioners and the manager for Miss Narelle, the Irish national songstress. It had been arranged between her manager and the Executive Commissioners that Miss Narelle should give two performances in the concert hall at the Exhibition, and on Tuesday the lady arrived to fulfil her engagement. The performances were fixed for to-night and to-morrow night, but yesterday afternoon it was announced that the Exhibition orchestra would _ play this evening in the main avenue leading to the concert "Ml- The manager appealed to Mr Munro against fixing the first free concert of the season on this particular night, and the result of a protest is the abandonment ©of Miss Narelle's performance. Both the Christchurch morning papers have sub-leaders, on the subject. The "Press" remarks .that "it is unfortunate that the ' difficulty,' as it is usually described in connection with the management, of the Exhibition, should ,be intensified just now by a difference of opinion between tie Chairman of Commissioners on the one. side, and,on the other,, the .Entertainment Committee, and, the representative of "Miss Narelle." The "Times/- under the.-heading 'a discreditable proceeding,' states that the people of Christchurch will strongly resent such gross, discourtesy as has been shown towards Miss Narelle. We have been loth to believe many of the things said of Mr Munro, but this last example of his manner, and his methods, simply leaves us no alternative." It is understood that the Entertainment Committee has refused to have anything to do with the "musical arrangements. Thirty-five bands have accepted, for the Quickstep and Grand Selection at the Exhibition Band Contest, to be held In February.

THE CYCLORAMA. Sir Joseph. Ward formally opened the cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburg this afternoon. It is a huge picture ; 375 >by 45 feet with a foreground built up to assimilate -with the painting, and in some parts does bo remarkably Troll. Sir Joseph, said, after looking over it and having it explained, that he thought that of the numerous side-shows in connection ■with the Exhibition this should be the most useful and educative. He hoped that it would have a lasting effect on the minds of the young, impressingjthem frith a sense of the horrors of war,'and tending to strengthen j&e feeling - in-favour of international arbitration at the Council table as the alternative to the . arbitrament of ■war. He expressed satisfaction with the attendance at the Exhibition which, so far, had excaeded the Government's expectations.

MR SffUNRO AND MUSIC. The treatment given to Miss Marie Naxelle and the Wools* oll Band has been the talk of the Exhibition and city to-day. ,Mr Munro ordered the band out of the 'grounds yesterday, because it demanded a payment of 10s to each member if it played in "Wonderland." The position taken up by the hand is that it,~, together with other local, bands, was engaged T>y the Commissioners to play.at.the Exhibition for £4 for each performance, and thirty season tickets for members. When the Woolston Band arrived; on the grounds yesterday it was Ordered toCplay in " Wonderland." . Mr. Munro was informed-that as "Wonderland", was a side show, the members to be paid 10s each.. There were twenty-five of them, and the total cost would, therefore, be £l2 10s instead of £4. Mr Munro then told them;: that they had better hand in their tickets and they retiredIn reference to the Munro-NareHe affair Mr Munro has made the following statement: —"Until 10 ' o'elock\.-last night I knew nothing of Mr Shipman's objection to the Exhibition orchestiuvproviding' the public with -some free music.: in the main corridor of the ExHbitioriibuildmgs:; Without admitting-the reasonableness -of the' objection which"; -indeed," I considered 1 to be unreasonable I suggested to Mr Shipman and for "the sake of peac&sajd .quietness, the orchestral sh€ulHasiky«ifrom- -;* to 8 o'clock" only,.ran.ljiot"£iaanience trpial 8.30, eo as to interfere sible with hisr e6noert^tot>-4^hin^^shpr.t f of suppression tf;the orchestra wouM-vbe accepted by; I! " i 3Xe : "Exhibition's patrons are clamouring for more music, both inside and outside of the buildings, and iii my opinion rightly so. The occupation of the concert hall' by Mr Shipmrn made the orchestra available for the first time for plajing elsewhere, and in the best interests of the Exhibition and those who were daily psyirg for admission, I was bound to take advantage of it. Mr Shipman's position is a selfish. to say the least of it. as there are numbers of people attending Exhibition who could not possibly attend his concert. The attendance to-night ..will probably be 10.000, while the concert haT-1 only seate 1600."

A COURT OF. APPEAL. / . A meeting of the Cabinet wa&'liela'., in the Exhibition to-day to consider further matters- in. connection with the, commistempt -will be made .to smooth, .the difficulties by arranging for one member of the Ministry .to. remain in. Christchurch during the remainder of the Exhibition period. - This arrangement would provide a court of. appeal, for aggrieved commissioners or other . persons. , SfISCELLANEOyS. The Premier entertained.:.all,-tlje Commissioners at;lunch in ithe. Exhibition, buildings to-day. It'has been suggested t&at the selling rights committee should take in hand the reports that over-charges "are being made at the tea-rooms and in other catering branches. It is expected that the matter will be investigated. , Among the side entertainments one likely to be popular has been established by Mr W. E. Richardson, formerly chairman of the Mackenzie County Council, in the shape of a fleet of American motor boats on the Avon. The river has been dammed at the bridge in the gardens to increase the depth of water, arid this has much improved the appearance in front of the Exhibition. To-day the Exhibition authorities requested the Dresden Company not to return the money paid for reserved seats for the Narelle concerts as the difference between the Executive Commissioner , and Miss Narelle's manager.would probably be; arranged, but Mr Shipman countermanded this instruction and requested that themoney should be returned as Miss'Narelle' would definitely not sing to-night. On being interviewed to-night.the Premier stated that no decision had'yet been arrived at regarding the difference'between, : Mr. Munro and his -fellow-commissioners, I though he might be able to state after' 11 I o'clock what conclusion Iliad been come to.