INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 258, 5 November 1906, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

ATTENDANCE FOLLY UP TO .EXPECTATIONS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHUKCH, Saturday. The attendance at the inhibition during this morning was remarkably scant, but in the afternoon there was a large assemblage of visitors. The weather was fine, and both the interior of the building and the outside surroundings presented a lively appearance. The courts on the whole are all now fairly complete, though little details have yet to be attended to in some of them, while a few are in a backward condition. There are some defects which it is thought should be remedied without delay, defects whicli are causing much inconvenience. Among these may be specially mentioned the absence of catalogues and the absence of means to guide visitors to any particular court they wish to visit.

The various departments of the JNew Zealand Government are scattered over the Exhibition in a manner that is embarrassing to visitors interested in this colony's display. Some of the Departmental exhibits are about 20 yards apart, and to get round them all lor even a cursory inspection occupies a very considerable time. The tourist court abutting on the main entrance hall, with it.s unique display of stags' heads, trout, and oil paintings, and photographs of the finest scenic spots of the colony, is highly attractive to visitors. It is a spacious room, well lighted, and one of the best located in the Exhibition. Up to the present time the weather has been delightful, and the aggregate attendance has been fully up to expectations. The city presents an exceedingly animated appearance, but the crash that was anticipated during the first week of the Exhibition has not been realised, for the extra accommcxla tion arranged for under the auspices of the accommodation bureau, has not been anything like absorbed, though it is likely to be somewhat taxed next week, when the international show is on.

The Governor has received the foliowing telegram from the. Governor of Isew South Wales (Sir Harry Kawson) : —

"Congratulations and heartiest good wishes to you and your Government l°r the. success of the Kxhibition." His Jixcellency has replied as follows: — "Flease accept on behalf of myself and my Government sincere thanks for congratulations and good wishes for the. success ot the Exhibition, which are much appreciated. The opening ceremony was an unparalied success. .Everything indicates a promising future, both financially and otherwise-"

The ''Light of the World" will be shipped from Melbourne to Lytteiton by the Warrimoo.

Good progress is being made by Mr. Ayson in the construction and equipment of the aquarium. Large supplies of fish will be placed in the tanks specially provided. The Premier of Western Australia has informed the president of the iilxniDitio that Mr. G. "A. Julius will represent that State at the Exhibition, and will be in charge of a timber display. Mr. Vincent T. Taylor, aeronaut, 01 Sydney, has made a proposal to the authorities to give a display of batloons and parachutes in the grounds. The If.rtas an- favourable, and the proposal is being considered. There is evefv prospect that the grand choir and church r-hoir competitions to be held in Dc member will be successful. Kxcellent entries arc also be.ing received for the musical and elocutionary competitions, which will take place in December. To consult the Governor's convenience the date of the Exhibition Show has been altered to November 28 and. 29.

SATURDAY'S ATTEsDAJs'CE. 14.352.

(By Telegrapn.— Press Association.) CHKISTCHURGH, this day. Police officers are of opinion that the Exhibition has not attracted the number of questionable characters which it was expected to do. They state that people have been unquestionably quiet and orderly. One of the authorities, questioned as to Sunday opening, replied that he did not think there was much chance of that, as a decision had been arrived at against it. Personally he favoured opening on Sunday afternoon and in the early part of the evening, though not the side shows. The absence of drinking fountains is causing great inconvenience inside and outside Uie Exhibition. The attendance during Saturday totalled 14,382. Up to Saturday night season tickets to the value of about £7000 had been sold, over .£'2oo worth being sold on that day. A large proportion of the visitors on Saturday afternoon were school children. In the evening there was a great crush. All the avenues were thronged; the art gallery, the fernery, the concert hall, and the Maori pa being special attractions, while the side shows did huge business. The opening day takings of the Exhibition totalled £590, and up to Saturday evening the takings amounted to about £1500. The first arrests in the building took pla.ee on Saturday night, when six youths were arrested for pilfering from stalls. The police have reason to believe other cases of pilfering are occuring, and vigorous steps are being taken to put it down. MINES DEPARTMENT EXiLI-tSIT. GEOLOGICAL SPECIMENS A^JJ WORKING COLLJEKY.

PRACTICAL TESTS OF COAX,.

New Zealand has been very aptly described as a pocket edition of the geology of the world, and this is borne out effectively in the New Zealand Mines Department's exhibit, which contains a most varied display of mineral specimens. A massive four-pillared arch at the entrance represents the bulk of gold and silver found in the colony, a magnificent total of £60,782,924. As if to demonstrate that there is plenty left a recent package of picked stone from the Waiotahi mine, Thames, is shown at the base of the arch. The sample is 231bs. in weight and contains gold worth £160. A large collection of stone from the Waihi mines is also exhibited. Occupying prominent positions in the court are some huge blocks of coal from the Point Elizabeth and Seddonville State mines. Specimens of the Seddonville screened coal in three sizes are also shown, demonstrating that State methods of working the mines are quite as up to date as those of private companies. Auckland province ia well represented, in the display with, glasa . sand from Parengarenga, granito from Coromandel, West Coast ironsand, and a vary complete exhibit o{ rocks of the f'oromandel peninsula collected by Frofessor Sollas and Mr. " rxander Meliay. Suspended jneai; tirfANaAj aro miciopho-

tographs of the specimens. This is a valuable educative, if not a popular feature in the- court. One of the most interesting specimens is a small block of coal taken from the Kapanga. shaft, Coromandel, at a depth of 940 feet. It demonstrates the remarkable fact that the land haa sunk 600 feet beneath the sea level since the accumulation of volcanic rocks at Coromandel. Sections of .New Zealand strata are indicated on diagrams, and there are many other informative features of the court. The geological survey branch provides many interesting specimens gathered during its elaborate surveys in the Hokitika district. There are blocks of Serpentine rock in which greenstone has been found. The rock itself resembles greenstone, but contains many white veins and cracks. A sample of asbestos was also secured by the surveyors, whose labours are graphically pictured by the fine photographs exhibited in the court. In a special building within the ground the Mines Department has installed a laboratory where tests of JSew Zealand coals will be carried out during the progress of the Exhibition. Samples have been taken from the larger mines anawill be tested for heat producing and gaseous qualities. An important part or the test is to ascertain the gas-produc-ing power of the samples, for at St. Louis Exposition, where exhaustive comparisons were made in power production through the medium of steam and gas engines, it was found that the power produced by coal converted into gas was two and a-haJf times greater than the power generated through the medium ot a steam boiler and engine. A considerable amount of ingenuity has been displayed by the Mines Department officials in building above ground a representation of colliery workings showing how coal seams of moderate thickness are worked on the "bord" and pillar system. There is a main haulage road off which run a couple of "bords" or working places, and the visitor who penetrates their dark recesses will easily imagine that he is at the face of a coal seam. The "colliery" has been provided with a ventilating plant on the exhaust a.ir system and there is also a model coalscreening plant at work.

THE KING AND THE EXHIBITION.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHUKCH, Saturday. In reply to a message sent by his Excellency the Governor, at the request of the Premier, to His Majesty the King, on the opening of the New Zealand International Exhibition, his Excellency has received the following reply: —

"Your telegram of Ist November received. His Majesty commands mc to thank your Government for their information, and to express his satisfaction that the Exhibition has been opened under such favourable auspices, his cordial wishes for its success, and his belief that it will conduce to the good relations and the prosperity of the whole Empire.— (Signed) Elgin."