Exhibition News

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21052, 2 March 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

Exhibition News

THE DOMINION COURT All along the way we see railway lines and sign posts showing the number of miles to such and such a place. From Invercargill we came up the West Coast, passed Mt. Cook, which stands about ten feet or more, and past the Buller Gorge and up to Hokitika. All the waterways have water in them and many with boats on. On the way up the coast one sees many working models of gold and coal mines and timber mills. From Westport we pass through the fruitgrowing district of Nelson, through the sounds, calling at Picton, and crossing the straits to Wellington. We then continue up the coast past Kapifl Island, the Wanganui River, and past Mt. Egmont to New Plymouth. The larger towns have models of them and the smaller ones aerial pictures. Leaving that town we pass on and make our way inland to Hamilton. Having left there and arrived at Auckland we go up north and see a huge waterfall typical of a North Auckland waterfall. Then we come right down again to Waihi round to picturesque Tauranga and then down to Rotorua. Here one sees a Maori village and geysers. Down through Gisborne and having lingered at Lake Waikaremoana, we come to sunny Napier. Back into the King Country, within sight of Mt. Ruapehu, we go down into the Waitomo caves. After walking along between stalagmites and stalactites, and having passed an odd glowworm we pass

“ The Cathedral ” and come to a bridge. For a long way one walks along with dark water underneath and myriads of glowworms above. Coming out through a pretty fernery we make our way through Palmerston North to Wellington. Crossing the straits again we go down through Christchurch, Ashburton and come to Timaru. From here we pass Oamaru with its our mills, and arrive at Dunedin. We then travel south again, arriving once more at the Bluff, where across Feavoux Strait one can see Stewart Island, while standing beside a waterfall typical of the South Island ones. In the women’s court is a great display of tapestry, needle work, painting, and metal work. There are also two rooms, one typical of the North Island in 1840, and one of the South Island in 1850. Among the many things is a case of work loaned by Queen Mary, and done by herself. The Women’s Institute and the Maori women both had fine exhibitions of work. There was also a stall, where a lady was making pottery.

The assembly hall has several rural paintings of early times. Down below is a huge theatre, where pictures in the form of advertisements are shown continually, and pageants and plays at night. The electrical and engineering court is of great interest to men and boys, being full of churns, dynamos, etc. The New Zealand Industries and General Exhibits buildings are run on the same lines as the Waikato Show. There is a very nice cabaret there, too. In Playland there is every possible amusement one can think of, but I’m sure I have kept you long enough, so I will stop and tell you all about Napier and Hastings next time I write.