GREAT CROWDS AT WEMBLEY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 11 June 1924, Page 9

GREAT CROWDS AT WEMBLEY.

Day of Empire Handshake.

FINANCIAL ASPECT GRAVE.

By Cable—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON, June 10.

A feature of Whitsuntide was the enormous attendances at Wembley, estimated at a quarter of a million. The controllers hope that the improvement will be continued. They make no secret that the financial out look is causing grave concern. This probably explains the feelers thrown out during the last fortnight that the Exhibition should he re-opened in 1925.

REPORTS FROM NEW ZEALAND PAVILION.

By Cable—Press Association —CncyrlgM. . (Received 8.80 p.m., June 10.) LONDON, June 9. There were unprecedented scenes at Wembley. A quarter of a miiliou visitors were registered early in the afternoon, whereafter the crowds continued to arrive. The gates were opened to ticket holders owing to the cougestion at the turnstiles. Queues of hundreds of yards long .waited good humouredlv. The restaurants were besieged and all the avenues of the pavilions were thronged. The ambulance station dealt with, over a hundred minor cases.

The, Exhibition grounds were brilliantly illuminated at night time, when at the firing of a signal, everyone joined in the great link of Empiio handshake, which completely encircled the lake, and included citizens from every corner of the Empire. . The carnival and procession was a remarkable • sight. The business done at the Australian and New Zealand restaurants has been highly successful. They are always packed. There is a strong demand for apples, honey and butter at the Nen Zealand pavilion, satisfactory evidence that the Exhibition has begun to fulfil its objective. There are many inquiries from prospective emigrants to Australia and New Zealand.

(Received 10.55 p.m., June 10.) LONDON, June 9,

It is officially stated that 321,23 t people visited, the Empire Exhibition on Whit Monday;