CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION NOTES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5409, 17 October 1906, Page 3

CHRISTCHURCH EXHIBITION NOTES.

(From Our. Own Correspondent.) The fine weather we are experiencing is all in favor of those who have work at the Exhibition. As the ground is very sandy and considerably cut up by traffic in .some places, the dust nuisance is pronounced when our special nor'-wester visits us. In fact, the dust nuisance is very serious in the town just now, the speedy electric cars causing much of it. An electric tram branch has been laid along Peterborough-street to the river in front of the Exhibition, and a narrow covered-in way has been made right to the building. The main entrance fronts Kil-more-street. The big building stands about three chains back from the river, and the intervening ground has been beautifully laid out in rubble walks, lawns, and miniature flats next the water planted with ferns and flowers. The weeping willows and other trees (which flank the river its full length) have not been removed, and they are in beautiful leaf now. Forty hives of bees are placed out on a ' little lawn at the end of the Agricultural Department's strip of .'ground. There is said to be over 70 different varieties of grasses growing in plots in this strip, all named. In an enclosure at 1 the back of the grounds four ostriches are busy grazing. A huge circular building, the walls over 50ft high, is being erected for the cyclorama of the Battle of Gettysburgh. This is the latest addition to the side shows. The picture is 360 ft long and 50ft high, and post £12,000 to paint. It will hang on the inside wall, and will be viewed by spectators from a-raised platform in the centre. A very large cycle stand is being erected just inside the grounds at the Armaghstreet bridge. Tlie Buller-Inangahua court will contain % gold arch, representing the £26,000,000 sterling taken out of the West Coast. What a fine arch or pyramid could Tuapeka have shown ; also models of % spoon dredge, and others showing the evolution of dredging right up to' date. Eydraulic sluicing, too, would provide the subject for a most interesting model, luapeka was, I believe, the cradle of these Forms of mining, and yet its residents let this big opportunity of advertising themselves slip. It is probably too late now to think of fixing up an exhibit, but if models ire available, space could be procured to show them, as in an exhibition of the magnitude of this one there are always a Eew who do not occupy the space applied for and allotted to them. The i»Ke is toeing refilled, and when its level is high enough a trial will be made an the water-chute. Arrangements have been made for policing Christchurch and the Exhibition in a very thorough manner, and police will be added or withdrawn as circumstances diiept. Special officers are coming from Australia to watch the " characters from those parts who will sneak into this country. All vessels arriving in the colony are being carefully watched at both ends of their trip. The finger-print system will prove invaluable. Bandsmen will be interested in Messrs Boosey and Co.'s exhibit of brass band and other instruments, ranging from a triangle Co bagpipes. The value of the exhibit is £4,000. The music that the Bes««es-o'-th'-Barn Band have scored so many successes with will be stocked. The orchestra is busy at practice, and the conductor (Mr Alfred Hill, of Wellington) says he is proud of it. It is considered about the best " wood and brass family " that could be got together in the colonies. Almost every one of the 50 instrumentalists is a soloist, out of course all will not get a ' chance. South Canterbury is going to make a display of especial interest to disciples of Izaak Walton. Some art connoisseurs from Australia have already announced their intention of coming to the Exhibition to secure pictures for the big galleries on the " other side." A number of etchings by the late Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are included in the British art display. It seems improbable that much of the statuary purchased by Sir Joseph Ward on his recent trip to Italy will be seen by visitors, On Friday, a stare was made to ■ unpack the statuary, when it was found . that every case opened (about 20, and there are 50 altogether), was damaged, most of them quite beyond the possibility of repair. Probably the remaining cases will tell the same tale. The packing — if such it can be called — showed almost criminal negligence, and the plaster of Paris casts of world-famous sculptures are reduced in many cases almost to dust. Although marked " Fragile," the cases bear evidence of very rough handling, but with ordinary car© in pacKln^ Che <3amu.ge ">VOUItI HOY have been so great. About £500 was spent on the statuary by Sir Joseph Ward on behalf of the Government. The insurance (if any) is not known. A bust of Mr Seddon is being sculptured for the Exhibition by Mr Nelson Illingworth, to the order of the Government. Every week-end brings a batch of members of Parliament down to see the Exhibition, and expressions of satisfaction are universal. Ten o'clock licenses and no liquor in the Exhibition will materially help the. authorities to close it up at an early hour in the evenings. The non-allowance even of liquor with meals is severely commented on, and that in many cases by supporters of the present Licensing Bench— rpeople who assisted in their election. A correspondent writing in one of the daily papers facetiously asks the authorities to provide ■receptacles for the "dead marines" that will be left in the buildings.