BIG SHOW CLOSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 3 May 1926, Page 7

BIG SHOW CLOSES.

Rain and Mud no Hindrance MAMMOTH ATTENDANCE. By Talcrrrnpb-- f ’ rr ‘' • DUNEDIN, AI ay 2. Saturday, the final day of Dunedin’s great V* ai ■ ii l ", was iisecicd m liy a patter of falling rain, which continued all day. Nothing daunted, thousands came from near and far. town and country, to watch the curtain lull. Altogether 15 trains arrived from long distances, and the town was lull. Over all hung a spirit of carnival, in spite of the rain, that outdid that of opening day. When the gates opened thousands were waiting, aiul all day long they streamed down the Highway till the courts and grounds were full. The Festival Hall for the closing ceremony was packed to the doors, and thousands listened in falling rain in the grand court to the reproduction by loudspeakers, which had been installed for the occasion. A'l day long stalls and courts, side shows and amusements, were running at lull speed. ’I he crowd was unprecedented. The Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) read ~ eommimieal ion from His Majesty the King. The message staLed : “It is a great pleasure to me to learn that the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition which closes to-day has been so .successful, • and that the attendances have reached the truly remarkable figure of three millions. 1 am confident that the hope which I expressed at tlie opening of the .Exhibition that it would achieve good results in promoting co-operation and prosperity among my people, and in furthering international goodwill, has been realised. —(Signed) George,

RT.” , , Air d. Sutherland Ross (president of the Exhibition Company) read a letter from His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Sir Charles Forgiisson) reare fling deeply that he and Her Excellency were unable to be present owiii< r to 'he"' ''em” t"''" lor Islands. He congratulated the directors on the success of the project, ; lnc j stated that the whole Empire realised the va'ue of the Exhibition to toe Dominion as a means ot propaganda, and advertisement. All the ovei sens Commissioners. continued Air Ross, would now he ambassadors and propagandists for New Zealand, which ~as sufficient to supply most of the needs of the Dominion. He appealed loi support for New Zealand, and a.lcr that for Empire made goods. rlc thanked the New Zealand Government for the displays made and tlie financial assistance accorded, and spoke ol the courtesy and attention of the Railway Department, at the head of which was Air Coates. Tt was a source of gratification to Dunedin that all tlie Govornmont loan had Ih'oh repaid.. J)uuodin did not look on the Exhibition m a parochial spirit. It was a Doinmionwide project. The attendance was ovci 3,110.000 to Inst night, proof that the Dominion as a whole had supported the Exhibition. It had infused new life into New Zealand, and the South Island genorallv. “It had ioslt'red the spirit which we of the younger generation hoped to retain for ever. Iho Secretary of State for Dominion Mr.,;,., i... l f-dded as loMows. ‘ Iho Prime Alinistcr has hsked mo to convey to you and to your Ministers his congratulations on the remarkable success of the New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition. I wish to associate myself most warmly withi.hij message. —Amcrv.” Air Boss also read congratulatory messages from the Prime Alinistcr of Canada (.Hon. AY . L. Alaekeu/.ie-King). and from the Prime Minister of Australia (Hon. Stanley Bruce). .... Air Coates, in declaring the Exhibition closed, was enthusiastieallv ieeeived. AVitli intense pleasure he associated himself with Dunedin that dav and regretted His Excellency s absence. He had shown great sympathy with the project. Air Coates road several telegrams and eab'egrnms from |fie Prime Afinister of England. Air G. O. Auierv. the Premier of Canada, and tlie Australian Prime Alinistcr. Each was greeted with lmartv applause. Mr Coates himself 1 lmnked them for the opportunity of closing the great undertaking, and expressed Ihe Railway

Department's appreciation nf 110 thanks of the directors, which would he convoved to the men wlm did flic wo-lc ' ltv hold and nrudent finance. Dunedin’s largest Exhibition was bromdd. to a conclusion in spite ol manv great difficult,es. I‘rnm an architectural. instructional and adveitisiim' point of view it: had proved a wondorfu' success. Music ami all phases of knowledge and art had noon supplied. Mr Coates referred to he British Court ns one of the most "Oitln exhibits, and most valuable from an educative point of view. He nuulo reference to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Band, which brought forth prolonged applause which "on hi not ho silenced. r lhe Band, .said tin speaker, had been musical performers and as well, personal friends. He wislt- ,„! 1.. i.i M" L--s the -hairman of directors, the deeds signed and receipted for .£55,000 from the great venture. Seed must romo which "Oijlil indeed bear fruit. and spread its branches far and wide. H. had slimnbited a national spirit and pride "An which we could face the. future and work nut onr destiny. He could not conclude without referring to those who did the spade work and made lust.orv for flic Dominion. Ihe slogan “Bnv British floods" should he adopted ’ Eight, v-six oer cent, of our exports went to British countries amt

seventy per cent, of imports came from British countries, last year. AM good ilium's must come to an end hut he hoped" that the effect of the Exhibition would he felt for years to come. Ho felt "1-eat pleasure that, m his hrsf year of office, he was connected with such a venture. He would thereto!c declare tiio TCxbibi tion closed. Thus the curtain was formally rung , down, and Dunedin lost that which for months has been its file, ’ Air H L. Tapley. ALP. (MayoE). • congratulated the directors on Hie success of the Exhibition a suctess that was not even dreamed ol liy the most optimistic. After referring to the City Council’s action in providing !'<;}• 'I'P '-"'\\\ * paid a warm tribute to the Hitv’s custodians. The Exhibition had shown the business enterprise and commercial iihiitv of the city, and put the loyalty of the people to a successful test The Prime Minister presented Air Ansoombo, tbo kxbibition :ucbi 0( , with a commemorative casket. Though the closing ceremony "'fl'j over (lie Exhibition remained open till midnhdi!. Eiftccn trains arrive, m the eiiv. hrinoing over fiHOO visitnis. and all (lav the railway station toe Highway, and the city "ere full to overflowing. - T i „ Sfl.D.Vt people attended, and Lab T.ooan mud for once proved no legend. Till' a late hour they fi'led everv corner of llm Lark. 1 l’ r> Sutherland Bond nlnyed till a boost, midnight, and a Duni'dm ero.i d ,n ' once forgot its reiser,-e and rru "*t'r s and eheorod and applauded everv nmu. Carnival was abroad in truth. I he opening day scenes were sumass-d in enthusiasm and pleasure-seeking. _ day and ad night the rr.in did not let up. and cloilies, hoofs and feet weie coe-red wtih mud. Never before had Dunedin seen such scenes at such a.n hour. I he exodti ' , from the eit'- hr snecial trains went: on v.’('ll ini c the snodl hours o( Suuda> 1 At about 2.:tn a.ill. the last, singing ; train load left, and night walkers began to move off the deserted streets, j

The lights of the Dome mid Grand Court winked for the lust time in hirewell, and the Exhibition closed. Tile Band had a rousing farewell, and hoi ore the close the whole ground sang with it “Auld Lang Syne’’ and “WTll Ye No Come Back Again.” Though it was feared the rain would spoil the dav. the weather was not allowed to interfere with the crowd’s plw'-lire. ;■ Me —dnnee mws. No accidents of any kind marred the sueec.ss of the day, and there was no unruliness among the crowds.