AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 3

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

OPENED BY GOVERNOR.

A BRILLIANT CEREMONY

MESSAGE FROM THE KING

(srECIA- to "th- -K-SS.") AUCKLAND, December 1. ' " In the beginning it was Proposed to make tbe Auckland Exhibition of l»w----14 an International affair, which would have meant Government help and appeals to other nations of the Empire, but wiser councils prevailed, and it was decided to make the show ono which the citizens could carry through themselves. The result has proved highly satisfactory to all concerned, and today his Excellency the Governor, with due pomp and circumstance, opened an Exhibition, which marks no slight advance upon anything previously attempted in the Dominion. . The "White City" is set down amid surroundings which ideally suit its purpose in the Domain. Tho buildings are fashioned to suit the ground, so that tho courts and galleries are scattered in an ordered disorder.

GROWTH OF THE VENTURE. An Exhibition of about 80,000 feet of space was planned by the architects, the scheme including the main building, the Palace of Industries (another structure about a third of the size), the machinery court, the concert hall, the art gallery, tho permanent kiosk, the bandstand, and the Japanese kiosk. When applications for internal space closed in August last, however, it was found that t"_o demand exceeded the supply by over 23,000 feet, hence it came about that the erection of another large building (that set -part for Government and district courts, was decided upon. Sites were also freely booked for smaller structures which various firms desired to raise in the grounds, and it happens that the roofs now cover 115,000 feet of exhibition space. A sum of approximately £40,000 has been expended on buildings and grounds, inclusive of an apportionment of about £5000 for groundworks, which will be permanent. Added to this has been, the costly construction of Wonderland Park.

FINANCE. Business people showed the keenest interest in .tho Exhibition once it was launch-, d, and there was no difficulty in securing guarantors, who represent a sum of £17.500. It has cost £35,270 to open the Exhibition, most of that sum going in buildings. . In addition to this amount the Auckland City Council has" expended about £4000 in excavating the site and other preparatory work.' So successfully has the Exhibition been financed, that when the uoors opened there was a deficit of on"y some £10.000 to wipe off, and this amount will be considerably reduced within the next few days by sums falling due. The. executive raised this 'a-ge. sum of nearly £30.000 by space fees (which contributed the major portion), the sale of various sole rights, and the sale of season tickets. -

THE OPENING CEREiIONY. The weather has..been ip. a. wayward mood for the past week or so, fierce squalls alternating with snatches of sunshine and low temperatures,"belying the .advent of December, but, to-day there was a complete change and sunn;, ■skies smiled down upon the opening ceremony. ' The ceremony was simple and dignified, and worthy of the occa sion, as marking ariother""milestone in the history of Auckland. The concer' hall was filled when, at 11 o'clock, the Royal Artillery Band ' announced th arrival of their Excellencies Lord and Lady Liverpool and suite. On the stage were the Vice-Regal party, the Primo Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massed, his daughter (Mrs G. Lawrence Taylor), the Minister of Railways (tho Hon. W. H. Hemes), the Speaker of the House of Representatives (the Hon. F. W. Lang), ••he • President of tho Exhibition (Mr George Elliott) and Mrs Elliott, the Mavof and Mayoress of Auckland (Mr and Mrs C. J. Parr), the Mayor of Wel--lin*_+on (Mr J, P. Luke), the Mayor of CbristoMi-ch (Mr H. HoTiand\ t>e Canadian Trade CommWon-r (Mr W. A. Bcddoe), the Panama Exhibition Cirnmir-s'o-prs, and, the Mayors of many suburban md coun+r-.munH'-'i t : es. A large .ljumber of Parliamentarians were also present.

THE ROYAL MESSAGE. While the audience was still standing, his Excellency announced that he had been commanded to deliver a message from his Majesty King George, and read it, as follows:— "On the occasion of the opening , of the Auckland Exhibition. I desire to express my congratulations upon the success which has attended the organisation of the Exhibition. I confidently hope that it will be the means of furthering the progress of the _>omin : on, and of attracting attention to the great natural resources of tho country, and to the rapid progress made in their development by tho industry and enterprise of the people in New Zealand." The message -was signed "George Rex, Imperator."

AND THE REPLY. His Excellency the Governor cabled the following reply to his Majesty today:— , ■ "My Government and the organisers of the Auckland Exhibition desire mc to humbly thank your Majesty for your gracious message, which I had the honour to deliver at the opening ceremony to-day, and which was received with universal gratification and pleasure. My Prime Minister has confidence that the undertaking will be a great success, and afford to the people of Great Britain and other countries a wider knowledge of the resources and products of New Zealand." "(Signed) Liverpool, Governor."

PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH. In beginning the ceremony, the President (Mr George Elliott) traced the history of the movement. "It has been said that exhibitions are the timekeepers of progress," continued Mr Elliott, "that they record the world's advancement. I might also add that exhibitions are the milestones on the march of industry in New Zealand, as in all other countries. Every exhibition held shows an advancement on its predecessor. Anyone looking back on the past fifteeen years may trace the steady advancement and improvement in the industrial life of the country. As far as New Zealand exhibitions are concerned, this one is. I think, unique for several reasons—(l) There have been no dissensions whatever amongst members of the executive or amongst the 20 members of the committee. (Applause.) (2) A guarantee fund was raised three times larger than was originally considered essential. (Applause.) (3) This is the first time in the history of New Zealand that an exhibition of this size has been held without Government monetary assistance. (Applause.) (4) Local bodies and merchants have displayed a generosity which, in cort-

nexion with New Zealand exhibitions, has never been equalled. (Applause.) Donations willingly, sometimes even spontaneously, were given by tho City Council. • local bodies, private firms,and publi-i companies, amounting to over £_0-O." . "I will not deny that the work has been arduous, arduous sometimes in the extreme," said Mr Elliott in conclusion, "we had a small strike to start with, followed by a smallpox, or socalled smallpox scare. We are now ending with, perhaps, the biggest industrial upheaval New Zealand has ever seen, but for mc, at least, there has been one big compensation: I have discovered at first hand the absolute generosity of • the - Auckland people. Such generosity merits, and, I am certain, will meet with the. appreciation and approbation of the public gene? rally.' r

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. His Excellency, who was the next speaker, remarked that her Excellency and himself were very pleased to be present at the opening of the Exhibition. He congratulated the organisers most heartily on the enterprise which had been displayed by them in initiating this " undertaking. They had had many difficulties to face during the past six months, and had persevered most courageously to carry this work to a successful issue. -Since an exhibition was last held in Auckland fifteen years had elapsed. The city and suburbs had increased in proportion, and the trade, both export and import, of the port had increased, and when he said this of Auckland the same remarks were applicable to the whole Dominion. The promoters of the Exhibition had decided that all profits which may bo earned should be devoted to a scheme for beautifying the outer domain, and their generosity be much appreciated by all who nad not only the welfare of Auckland at heart, but who desired to have the open spaces and recreation grounds of the cities of this Dominion kept up m such a manner as would give the maximum amount of pleasure to the citizens. He did not think they should lose sight of tho fact that exhibitions such as this one tended to the furtherance both of utility of purpose and good fellowship among all classes of the community, of the Empire, and also of those nations who were engaged in trade relations with it.

THE PRIME MINISTER. Mr Massey received an ovation on rising to speak. He congratulated the Exhibition officials upon the success which had so far attended their efforts. It was obvious that there had been difficulties to surmount, and perhaps the greatest trouble had been that of the industrial upheaval the president of the Exhibition had referred to. Fortunately, however, that trouble was rapidly coming to an end. In any case, the best way to look at it was to remember that difficulties were only made to be overcome, and it was quite safe to predict now that the Exhibition of 1913 would be a pronounced success. Personally, he believed that the Exhibition would be not only a great thing for the people of the Auckland province, but for the people of New Zealand as a whole. Visitors from all parts of the Dominion would meet and ex- ■ change ideas, and visitors from oversea j would he impressed with what the : country could produce. Within the buildings during the next few months there would pass some hundreds of j thousands of people. He believed pco- ! pie would go away impressed with the wonderful potentialities of the province and of tbe Dominion. There would be representatives from every English-speaking community of the world, and it was "their duty to give j them the greatest possible welcome, j and to make them understand that New ; Zealanders were glad to welcome them : s>p their own kith and kin. The Prime , Minister made reference to the founders : of New Zealand. At a time like this, he said, when they were participating in event- that nude history. they must

not forget the pioneers. (Applause.) He was happy to observe that some representatives of these grand old settlers were present at that moment. "Lot mc tell them," declared Mr Massey, "that this country owes them a debt of gratitude which it can never forget, and will never be able to pay." The best we can do is to perpetuate their memory." Mr C. J. Parr (Mayor of Auckland) and Mr B. Buttle (vice-president of the Exhibition) spoke briefly, and this portion of the ceremony concluded*.

TURNING THE KEY. The Vice-regal party, then left the concert hall,.and was escorted along tho intervening terrace to the door ot the Palace of Industries, and, arrived there, his Excellency the Governor formally turned"the key and declared the Exhibition officially open. The key, one of gold, was presented to Lord Liverpool as a souvenir of the occasion, and a second gold key was handed.by the president to the Prime Minister. The keys were the gift of Mr, J. Pascoe to the executive for presentation to the Governor and the Prime Minister. Hearty cheers were given at the' turning of the key. Subsequently the Viceregal party was taken, per electric lift, to the elevated bridge between the towers, and their Excellencies expressed themselves delighted with the view. ■

MEMENTO OP THE EVENT. Am interesting function occurred in the permanent tea kiosk overlooking the lake, when his Excellency the Governor, on behalf of the Executive of the Exhibition and the donors, handed the building over to the Mayor as tho chief magistrate of the city. Mr G. Elliott remarked that, an unfortunate aspect of exhibition buildings was that they were built and swept away without any permanent memento but tho memory. On this occasion it occurred to him that a tea kiosk would be a suitable memento, and fifteen firms were interviewed with the object of getting assistance. Not n single refusal was met with, and all willingly and immediately agreed, some of the individual donations being up to the value of £200.

His Excellency remarked that he had very great pleasure in handing over the deed of the building to the city. Ho considered that Auckland was fortunate in having citizens who gave'liberally of their means. "I hand the deed of the kiosk over to the chief mapistrate of the city." continued his Excellency, "in the firm hope that it will be a lasting memento of the success of the Auckland Exhibition of 1913."

Mr C. J. Pnrr accepted the gift on behalf of the city. The grounds were then thrown open to the public, who thronged in in thousands, the number present through the afternoon ranging around the fifteen thousand mark.