THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8338, 22 January 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S OPINION. .; THE ATHLETIC CARNIVAL. By Telegraph—Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 217~ The Exhibition was well frequented ' again to-day, and the Besses o'th' Barn Band drew the usual large attendance to the afternoon performance on the Sports Ground. An unprecedented number of musicians are at present in town in connection with the Exhibition. The Orchestra numbers 55, the Besses o' th' Barn Band 36, and the Auckland Orchestral Society 70. When to these are added resident members of the Musical Union Orchestra, the total amounts, to over 200. Dr. Findlay, Attorney-General, having visited the Exhibition, expressed his opinion as follows:—"I have seen some of the biggest Exhibitions in the world* including the Chicago Exhibition, Melbourne Exhibition, and Paris Ex> position, and, comparatively to the population of this colony and its ; size, we have done better than any of them. I have spoken with worldtravelled people who say that, apart from the excellence of the Exhibition itself, their surprise has been at the size and variety of it. In my judgment the Orchestra is as efficient and perfect as that which Mr Cowan conducted in the Great Melbourne Exhibition, while on every hand the Besses o' th' Barn Band has revealed to us what band music can really be at its best. The ; educative effect of such an Exhibition as this upon the thousands who. are visiting it can scai-cely be over-estimated. My own children, who are here just now bringing to what they see all the freshness of children's wonder, are receiving an in all directions, which books and merely verbalinstruction - could scarcely give. The financial aspect of such an establishment as this is not the sole aspect—perhaps not the most important—for educative influences in industries, general information, and art will be, especially upon our young people, lasting and incalculable."' In the horticultural history 'of the colony there is nojparallel to the remarkably \ ; successful work that has been done in converting within a few months the sandy, root-encumbered ground of Hagley Park into charming lawns and brilliant beds of flowers that foj*m a setting of-the Exhibition. "What gives interest to the bedding out," remarks an expert, "is the enormous quantity of plants set out, totalling well on to a hundred thou- • sand, ncluding all the very best and showiest annuals and perennials. In the long stretches of lawns in front of the building there are no less than thirty-five beds, and round the buildings are long beds of plants suited ;to the situation. There are numbers of the beds which have been, and are now, and will be all through the season, objects which will be talked of for many days to come." Visitors from many parts have warmly expressed themselves regarding the / bedding-out, especially Australian horticulturists, who bear testimony to the capability of the work and the beautiful result achieved. The Exhibition attendance is expected to reach a million on Friday or Sarturc|ay, and it is proposed to bestow some official recognition on the milfibnth person, who will be presented with a certificate of his importance whatever other award is made. It is expected that when the total attendance is within about a hundred of the million mark air the turnstiles will be stopped excapt one, and the millionth to enter singled out for fame. The bubble fountain has now been erected, and has passed successfully through the ordeal of trial. As soon as the weather is calm enough to give the best effect, the fountain will be seen blowing its v thousands of irredescent bubbles a minute. Owing to the large number of events and entries for the Athletic Carnival on Thursday an,d Saturday it is proposed if the weather is suitable to hold a Band Contest event on Thursday evening on the Sports Ground. The proposal has been made >"" to the Minister that the cost of giving a gold, and silver medal, re r spectively, to each member of the first arid second bands be divided between the Athletic, Union and the Exhibition authorities. A special performance of the '\ Besses o' th' Barn! Band after the ; Axemen's Carnival was given for Sir Joseph Ward on Saturday. At the conclusion the Premier asked those present to join with him in thanking the conductor and the members of the Band for the magnificent music they had heard. He had himself greatly enjoyed and appreci- . ated the music. It touched the artistic side of his nature to listen, to the Besses o' th' Barn Band, which, in the musical world, stood in the foremost rank. The late Premier had shown his prescience and good judgment in bringing such a \ Band to the colony.* Sir Joseph Ward's remarks were received by the public with much applause.