INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXI, Issue 12124, 22 March 1907, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Firemen and Fireworks*

Easter Attractions.

(Special Service.) (By Telegraph.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 21. The attendance at the Exhibition today reached the high total of 16,543. The weather was warm and bright for the continuation of the Fire Brigades' contests, which attracted a large crowd to the sports ground during the day. In the evening there was a. huge attendance to view the water procession an the Avon, in which about seventy boats, filled with firemen took part. A large number of monster balloons, with frrcworks attached, which could not be used in connection .with the pyrotechnic display of the previous night, owing to, the high wind, were sent up by the representative of Pain and Sons, London. The parade of the School Cadets was also a feature of the evening's entertainment. The Hawke's Bay Cadets left for home to-day by the Te Anau, after a very pleasurable week's stay. They were succeeded by a battalion from Wanganui, 250 strong, and NelBon 120 strong. The small contingent ot Maoris who remain in the pa gave a very crediable performance of pois and hakas this afternoon before a large number of spectators. The pa will soon be thickly populated once again, and entertainments on a large scale will then be resumed at regular intervale. ' Mr Longden, in charge of the British section of the art gallery, reports the following sales to private buyers:— Oil paintinsr. "Guardian Elves," by Geo. W. Joy, <£73 ; water colour, "A Mar Vet Place, Holland," by R. McCoventry, £26; "A Scottish Burnside Autumn," by A. MeBride, £30; etchings by H. Dicksee (2), G. Gascoigne, H. A. Banerle, and Sid George Clifford, ranging in price from £1 10s to 12 guineas, and a number of obiects in the arts and crafts section. When the Australian grapes were at the Exhibition last week many people were disappointed because the whole consignment was sold before they could obtain a sample. Mr Scott, the South Australian commissioner, accordingly applied to th© Government for permission to import a fresh supply, and has re- , ceived a telegram from the acting-Pre-mier stating that the importation of a further consignment of five tons for sale at the Exhibition has been sanctioned. Mr Scott cabled to-night for a second i consignment to be sent, and they are expected to arrive in three weeks' time. Mr George Bisset, editor of publications for the Agricultural Department, commenced the judging of district courts today. The judging is expected to take four or five days. The courts have been furbished up for the ordeal, and have never looked so well since the first week of tho Exhibition. In connection with the agricultural and pastoral competitions, Mr Walter Hill, of Christcurch, commenced the judging of the wool exhibits this morning. Mr Wachsmann, of this city, is judging the grain and produce. At the final fireworks display on Easter Monday it is proposed to show a magnificent triumphal arch, composed of fireworks on which the total attendance at tbe Exhibition till that day will be displayed. The Australian dogs which will take part in the Christchurch Dog Trial Club's sheep yarding competitions on the sports ground on Monday were seen performing in the club's preliminary competitions on the Cashmere Hills to-day. Two of them were at a disadvantage in being evidently unused to hill work, but the other two acquitted themselves well. The prospect of seeing them pitted against New Zealand dogs on Monday is being looked forward to with much interest. The oratorio "Elijah" will be given in the Exhibition Concert Hall on the 26th and 27th March, with a full chorus and orchestra. Mr Henry Willß, organist, of Christchurch being the condutor.