THE EXHIBITION

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13265, 20 April 1907, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION

THE QUESTION OF AWARDS. . Per Press Association. . CHRISTCHURGH, April 19. Tho Australian Commissioneis-have received 'a memorandum from the Genera Manao-er of the Exhibition stating that certain irregularities on the. part. of th% iate Superintendent of .Award:,-, it has baen decided to cancel all awards made in connection with exhibits of wines and ■spirits, arid to take- steps to have them rejudged. " For this purpose," the- mamoj randum continues, " would you be kind enough to supply fresh samples of ..jour-, exhibit" -The Exhibition authorities pro- -\ pose, that the rejudging shall be .parried out on the jury svstem, and for that purpose I shall be glad if you will, along with the other exhibitors in the same class, nominate a judge, the Exhibition nominating another,- and- the two nominated agreeing upon a third, thus constituting the. jury." A reporter who made inquiries to-day concerning the attitude taken tip by the Commissioners learned that the Australian representatives have decided to withdraw their exhibits of wine and brandy, and not to submit them for rej.udging. In their opinion any awards made now would be Worthless. One commissioner said that the difficulty might bei met by giving each exhibitor a commemorative medal and diploma; another put-the matter in a nutshell by saying : " A gold medal would be no good to me now; I should simply be asked over-there—'How much did you give for it'' " . ; A : great deal of work has been done in j tacking up and clearing away exhibits. Everywhere throughout the building there are courts and stands that have been reduced to bare walls. ,- Packing casts litter every corridor and render tortuous every alley in tha larger courts, while the floors are littered with splintered wood, shavings, tools, and the multifarious stuffs that are used for packing. The huge British section is completely cleared, and there is nothing of it left except the bare red walls and the cases into which the exhibits have been -packed. The machinery hall has been emptied for a great part of the exhibits, one of the first lots to gcj having been the big stand'of motor cars that graced the centre of the hall. Nearly all the- Railway Department's exhibit had gone this morning, and the lighting plant was in process of packing, the engines l and generators being half dismantled.