AT THE EXHIBITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1140, 30 May 1911, Page 7

AT THE EXHIBITION.

—•♦ MINISTERIAL VISIT. SHOW IMPROVING EVERY DAY. The dull threatening weather of yesterday militated somewhat against a large attendance of visitors to the Coronation Exhibition, but last evening the buildings w«o visited by a large number of people bent on making more than a casual inspection of- the results of our industries, in which pursuit they were well repaid. Many of those actually engaged in the Exhibition have not yet had time to thoroughly inspect tho endless variety of tho goods set out for show, and tho public will find that they will not be able to tako in nearly everything of interest in one or two visits.

In tho quiet of yesterday morning the Exhibition was visited by tho Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, who was escorted through the buildings by Messrs. Thos. Ballinger and E. Bull, Commissioners, and Mr. 11. F. Allen, secretary. The Minister expressed surprise and admiration at the quality of the exhibits, and the extent of the Exhibition, and heartily congratulated the Commissioners on the excellence of the show. In the course of his peregrinations, Mr. Mackenzie was shown tho Art Gallery, the theatTe, the stadinm (where he bowled two or three good 'shots"), and visited the Home Industries | section, . the Agricultural Department's exhibit, and the technical and primary schools departments. While in tho gallery, the Minister disappeared for a full fiyo minutes into the fortune-tellor's pavilion, and issued forth glowing with the result thereof. "It's all right!" ho said. "Everything is.all right!" "What about the elections?" queried one of the party. "I tell you it's going to be all right— I've just had every assurance given me. When she saw that line," said he, indicating the lino of life, "v:h«n she sawthat she said I would reach the top. That's the sort of fortune-teller for you!" After he had finished his tour of inspection, the Minister said that he was delighted with tho Exhibition as a whole, but doubted very much if it had been Rufficiently advertised. He had just returned from tho north, and was confident, that the people up country had no idea that the Exhibition was anything like as big and complete as it .is. THE GATE. Tho number of persons who passed . through the turnstiles yesterday was 20S8. HOME INDUSTRIES COMPETITIONS. On every Wednesday the Exhibition is open there'-will be competitions in the homo industries section. This Wednesday a cake competition will bo held, five varieties'being allowed —sponge, currant, plain, ginger, and pound—and on the other Wednesdays the following will be the. subjects-.—Juno 7, sweets competition (best assortment); June 11, plain sew. ins (camisole or slip bodice); June 21, pastry competition; Juno 28, blouse competition'; July 5, hat shapes competition ; July 12, night-dress competition; July 19, bird competition (boys only). Mrs. Godber will be the judge in the cookery contests, and Mr. Pringlo in the fancy and art needlework sections. On the last Wednesday of the exhibition, medals and oartificates will be awarded. IN THE STADIUM. BOWLS. . The bowling tournament was rcsnmed at the Stadium last evening. The following are the results :— Third Eound. . Section I—Sloane beat 22—17. Section 2—Brackenridge beat Still, 15— 14; Kelly beat' Hogben, 10-11. Section 3—Gray beat Freeman, 15—9; BaJJingef, beat Manson,. 19—10,.. ,-,,,,',... ; . 'Section 4—Ferguson beat Shaddon, 16—' 13; Carroll beat Crewes, 25—8. Section s—Parata beat Norwood, 12—11; Roberts beat Smith, 17—12. Section 6—Jones - beat ' Scott, 13—12; Prince beat Mitchell,, 19-8. . Section 7—Bell beat Churchward, 21—7; Williamson beat Crawford. 11—7. Section Winners. I—Miller and Slcr.ne, tie. 2—Brackenridge. 3--Gray. 4—Ferguson. ■ - ■ s—Koberts and Norwood, tie. 6—Jones. 7—Williamson. At G o'clock this evening Miller will meet Sloane to play off the tie in Seotion 1. At 8 o'clock tho'following games will be played:—Koberts plays Jones, Miller or Sloane plays Brackenridge, Norwood plays Williamson, Ferguson plays Gray. The semi-finals .and finals will bo played off on Friday evening commencing at 8 o'clock. . . One of the surprises of the tournament has been the showing of a Hataitai junior Tink, none of tho members of which had ployed before December- last. This team, nnder George' Smith, 1 had two wins on Saturday (beating a rink of Te Hiwi cracks under Parata), and only went down to Roberts.last evening after a game struggle.' ' A rink from Otaki, under Ferguson, entered under the impression that all the games to the final would. be played on Saturday. As luck would have it, they came out winners of Section 4. They will have to return home this morning and Teturn to town this evening to play winners against winners. ,If still successful, they will have to como to Wellington again on Friday to play off in the semi-finals, and, perhaps, tho finals. Practico Games. The Stadium will be available for practice games on Tuesday and Wednesday afterncons—sixpence an hour. A Bowlers' Night. It has now been decided to make Friday evening a great bowlers' night at the Stadium. On that occasion tho semifinals and finals will be played off, bringing to a conclusion the first bowling tournament held in mid-winter in Wel- . lington. It is of interest to note that the Exhibition tournament now in progress has sown tho sp/% the product of which may possibly / cho _ establishment of a eh" in Wellington for play durin r ' - winter months, when the club' .ens are not available. As it is not .ikely that the Harbour Board will have any particular use at this season of tho year for the Stadium, a proposition may yet be made by which the bowlers may "secure the right to lay down a winter "green" in tho building. In explanation, it ■ should bo stated that the Stadium is practically the second floor of the new J" shed, and has been built especially for the holding of wool sales. LAWN TENNIS. The covered courts tourney is set down to commence at the Stadium on Saturday next, entries for which close with Mr. F. A. Allen, 111 Customhouse Quay, Wellington, to-morrow. The only matches to be played will be championship and handicap singles for men and ladies. The prizes consist of rackets presented by Messrs. Alcock and Co., E. A. Ball, John Duthie and Co., and E. W. Mills and Co. As the roof of the Stadium is not as high as could be desired, a special condition has been' added to prevent any misunderstanding among the contestants. This is as follows:— "Tho iron pillars and the roof, beams, etc., overhead, shall be considered permanent fixtures of the court. If a ball in play strikes any of these permanent fixtures of the court before it touches the ground the point is lost, if, after it has touched the ground, the point shall be counted." This should lead to the invention of some, new low-driving strokes quite new to the tennis experts of this city. TO-MORROW'S SPOKTS. The event set down for competition at to-morrow evening's sports among the hockey and lacrosse players (fO yards in costume) has attracted a fine lot of entries, and some hot finishes are anticipated. , In the two-milo run some of the best longdistance men of the district will be seen on the track. The Marathon race, con-

tested last week created so much interest thai the committee will probably consider the advisability of placing another race of this description on a future programme.

The walk of ,14 miles should result in a close finish. The handicanper has gauged things nicely, and it would be a difficult matter for anyone to select the winner.

Bicycle men, are looked after the halfmile slow race, which is always a sonrco of attraction to the public. Judging from the interest aroused in the preliminary heats, the final of the potato and bucket race will afford the audience- excitement and amusement.

-i'lw large number of skaters who would have entered for the niil-3 handicap arc anxious to see the track before going on. It is honed that satisfactory arrangements will "bo made for them—in that cane a fine entry is assured.

NOTES. _A gas-cooking demonstration will bo given at the Exhibition this afternoon at 3-1-5 by Mrs. A. Foster Denny. Entries for tho covered court tennis tournament close to-morrow (Wednesday). Th» covered court championships to bo decided are singles for men and ladies. The electric lights in the Stadium have been duplicated, with excellent effect. "A visitor from Australia," in a letter of appreciation to the commissioners, states:—"l had the pleasure of seeing your Exhibition last night, and was very pleased indeed at its industrial progressivcness, and also the exact and perfect arrangements. Tho Stadium for bowling purposes I thought was an excellent idea.