N.Z. EXHIBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume 99, Issue 16653, 19 November 1925, Page 7

N.Z. EXHIBITION.

SOME SPECIAL FEATURES. A COMPREHENSIVE DISPLAY. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. £By Telegraph—Press Association ) DUNEDIN, Wednesday. Further reference to the work of New Zealand Government departments may be permitted now that the hurly-burly of initiation is over and everybody is getting settled In " like s householder just moved to a new home." The very first peep inside the pavilion discloses purposeful activity. Results have been produced at very little financial outlay (compared with< seme other displays) that cannot fail to impress the beholder, and especially the student. The pavilion is designed with the object of showing the activities of each Government department as nearly in actual operation as possible. In most cases the department concerned has succeeded ingeniously, especially the Post Office and the Department of Agriculture, which in bringing an experimental farm to the very grounds has accomplished something never attempted before in any part of the world. Where the scheme has been impracticable some other expedient, in all cases simple ond effective, has been adopted. In the months of preparation that pre-/ ceded the launching of the court the Department of Industries and Commerce was responsible for all negotiations that had to be made with consulates, private concerns, and differed institutions which were concerned with the court, and its chief officers have personally supervised the building of the court, and the arrangement of the exhibits. Of these there were so many that the spacious pavilion proved inadequate. The important Education Court takes up a big area in the motor pavilion, and in number two pavilion, already rather crowded with provincial courts and trade exhibits associated with them, room had to be found for locomotives arftl carriages, which are included in the Railway Department's exhibits, ond for the display arranged by company of H.M.S. Dunedin. Educational Motive. Each departmental display is arranged to tell its mission forcefully, " education being the inspiring molive of the whole pavilion. Both in its comprehensive inside display and in the remarkable plot at the rear of the pavilion, the Department of Agriculture shows the correct methods of forming, the results which follow the application of expert advice, and the facilities the different fields divisions offer for imparting that advice. A census and statistics office, in • actual operation of the intricate calculation machines used In Wellington by a staff brought from Wellington for that purpose, et&cates the onlooker in the methods by which figures that compose the nation's barometer are compiled. The Defence Department, with il« photographs and war trophies, tells 'the official story of New Zealand's part in the Great War, and its exhibits of held pieces and defence equipment will show something of the means by which the country would be defended in the hour of trial, should such arise. The Government Observatory enters a sphere wider even than the, national, with its practical lessons in astronomy and New Zealand's part in that important science.. The Health Department has its picturiscd morals of the most vital topic in the welfare of the Dominion's people. The Department of Industries and Commerce, realising that not by figures alone doth jr.aii learn, has arranged some fascinating diagrams and mechanical devices to drive home The economic lessons that statistics reveal. Humane factors in industry and the history of weights and measures are attractively explained. Land and Agriculture. An actual camp is the central figure in the Lands and Survey Court, which shows so precisely the functions of the department that blazes the trail for the farmer and construction. The Prisons Department, with iU examples of prisoners' craftsmanship, needs no other recommendation of the wisdom with which it guides the unfortunate men and women who fall by the wayside. The Post Office, with such of its activities as arc not confidential, being conducted in full view of the onlooker, affords an unique demonstration 'of the operalions of the great department. The Railway Department, witli model railways and signalling systems, which are exact replicas of the real thing, made to scale of course, clearly explain much that is understood by few indeed of the public for whose benefit the trains arc run. The Public Works Department has its working models to demonstrate the tremendous engineering tasks which the difficult nature of the country has involved in ensuring comfort, safety and progress. The Stale Forestry Department has only three exhibits, but even a cursory glance reveals at once the serious situation that would face the country jf its timber resources continue to dwindle, and the possibilities which •are opened up by an afforestation scheme. Ihe Department of External Affairs holds the interest of the visitor with its exhibits of native craftsmanship, then drives home the lesson that there arc ways of diverting to New Zealand the Island trade that hitherto has been America's monopoly. The Department of Agriculture lias provided a great opportunity to the New Zealand farmer iir its experirnentaY plots, which are literally a tabloid course in scientific farming. The e lurse is imparled, moreover, hi an allegorical form, so that the lessons are absorbed without effort, like a sugar-coated pill. The story begins in Ihe plot that represents the virgin soil, witli its bush and tussock, and cf.r.tinues Ihrough burnings and general methods of pioneer cultivation in til it reaches the stage where scientiiio principles have to lie applied. Various phase of fertilisation and crop rotation which are associated with scientific cultivation arc Ihen related h. the open book of adapted and concentrated conditions of nature. By Hie time the pilgrim reaches the last plot he has unconsciously equipped himself with a wide knowledge of farming principles, after absorbing a complete agricultural history of New Z-aland.

Arts and Crafts. The Art Gallery is a valuable addition to the features of the Exhibition. It includes one of the best collections Of modern works of art seen in a colonial display, and though " old masters " arc conspicuous by their absence there are enough really good pictures to satisfy the most aesthetic taste. The " Impressionist " school ,* is not encouraged, hut of the rest there is housed in a modest brick building behind (he main pavilion a most representative collection that will he visited with pleasure by many. The disposition of the pictures and Other art objects within the gallery in itself betrays the work of an art- \?; The collection includes English and Scottish artists in oils and water "N-iaiirg, black, and white sketching,

dry points, aqua and mezzo tints, and wood engravings. Australian, New Zealand and French artists arc all represented, while marble, bronze and plaster sculptures are shown from Britain, France and Australia. For days past an army of enthusiastic women has been engaged in preparing the homes section, occupying a considerable portion of one of the main pavilions. The colour scheme adopted is tasteful, and a soft lighting effect is produced by ingenious drapings. On each side are cases containing special loan collections, the tops being used for Egyptian jars and other handsome and large' articles. There is a very line collection of china, Jii-itish and foreign antiques in bronze, c( pper. brass and silver.

The Fine Arts Section contains exhibits for sale as well as on loan from Ihe Society of Women Artists, London, from New York, and of course from Australia and New Zealand. The handicrafts include hand-made jewellery from London, painted pottery and China marquetry (or rather what is more wrongly called so, as the work should be of inlaid wood), raffia work, and beautifully hand-woven scarves in rich colours. The laces are exquisite, ond show fine specimens of such wellknown makes as Limerick, Carrick, Macßoss, Buckingham, Honiton, Venetian point, Brussels, Cluny and Irish crochet. As one would expect the collection of needlework is large and varied, with not only linen embroideries of all kinds on view, but also of beautiful Church work and art craft which is tending to die out, and which requires generations of skilled workers to perfect. Anyone interested in this particular kind of work will find a vivid picture in Zola's " The Dream." Quite unusual, too, is the collection of embroidered brooches, pendants and hair slides. The Shetland wool display will appeal to many, and it is particularly good in its completeness, for here one has an opportunity of actually seeing the spinning wheel, used as it still is in the Highlands of Scotland. Another working exhibit is the potter's wheel, still to be seen in Eastern countries. Nearby is a demonstration' room, which during the Exhibition period, will be used for topical talks as well as for special competitions periods, each period lasting for about three weeks. The first is this month, and is for art needlework. The next, in December, will show dolls and toys. As far as room will permit the best of each competition will be kept for display from time to \lime. In a sheltered nook in the main hall of the Women's Section is found the literary output of New Zealand women, and a fine collection it is, and well arranged to show the books to the best advantage. Three- specimen exhibits must be menjtioned—that from Queen Mary, one from Lady Jellicoe, and one from Lady Liverpool; and above all, looking down with a kindly greeting stands Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom and Womanly Industries, and the divine patroness of wt avers and potters. Exhibition Postage Stamps. A special issue of exhibition postage stamps in the halfpenny, penny and fcurpenny denominatidns is on sale at the exhibition post office. They are over double the size of ordinary stamps and the design is a drawing of the grand court with.the dome of the festival hall in the centre, the border being Maori carving. The paper u?ed is of inferior quality and it is not likely that philatelists will becomo enthusiastic over this form of commemoration of the great event. Britain and America. At the dinner Mr. Dauton, responding to the toast of "The Guests," expressed appreciation of the enconiums passed upon the British court. Ho declared that Britain's display ' stood for honesty, truth and dignity in all our commercial and international relationships." lie hesitated to speak on behalf of the other Empire participants, but could say, after experience of a number of such displays, tnat the various representations revealed an amazing capacity to promote secondary industries. Some people feared that Britain did rot wish to sec the Dominions engaging in industries in competition with her. That was not so. She welcomed every such development among the countries of the Empire. Mr Boyle, United States Consul at Auckland, paid a generous tribute to . the wonderful achievement typified by the Exhibition and regretted that his country was not more fully epresenled. American manufacturers had not realised the scope of this enterprise. He hoped it would result in increased tourist traffic to New Zealand, leading to augmented purchases by America from New Zealand, so that the balance of trade now so much against the Dominion might be more equitably adjusted. Reply to King's Message. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, has sent the following message to the King in acknowledgement of His Majesty's message on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition: — "On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand I thank Your Majesty for the gracious nfessago which your Majesty was pleased to send on the occasion of the opening of the Dunedin and South Seas International Exhibition and which I had the honour of reading at the opening ceremony. Your Majesty may be ossured that New Zealand will loyally endeavour to conduct the exhibition in such a way as to promote the objects on which Your Majesty has laid stress."

BIG CROWD AGAIN TO-DAY. FIJI GREETS GOVERNOR-GENERAL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dt'NEDIN, Thursday. The modern capacity of the popular mind to assimilate the novel is fully exemplified in Duncdin on this, the third day of the big Exhibition. Favoured with fine weather and a halfholiday (given primarily as at People's Day at an A. and P. Show), people arc beginning early to wend their way to the Wembley of the South, and it is expected that as the afternoon develops crowds equalling those of the opening day, and yesterday will besiege the entrance gates. At. mid-day the Governor-General althe Island was the guest of the Fiji Government Court and was welcomed by native Islanders with ceremony belli ting bis rank as representative of King'George. It was a unique ceremony, and lent a touch of the bizarre hi the occasion. Teh Premier, Mr Coates, is paying a visit to the Exhibition to-day, and giving particular attention to the British and New Zealand Government Courts.