PATRIOTIC EXHIBITION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2696, 16 February 1916, Page 3

PATRIOTIC EXHIBITION

TO BE OPENED ON SATURDAY. The committeo in charge of arrangements connected with the Patriotic Exhibition of British and AJlies', goods, to bs opanod at the Town Hall on Saturday uost, held a meeting last night. Mr. L. T. Watkins was in the chair, and Messrs. J. F. Atkins, Wm. Smith, E. Bull,, H. A. Read, L. T. Doddrell, and A. Petherick Secretary) attended. It was decided that tlie opening ceremony would take place at three o'clock on Saturday next, when the speakers would he the Right Hon. tiie Prime Minister, who would formally open the Exhibition, His Worship the Mayor, who would take the chair and preside, while Sir Joseph Ward, Messrs. C. SI. Luke (president of the Central Chamber of Commerce), and R. W. Dalto'i (H.M. Trade Commissioner for New Zealand) will give addresses suitable to the occasion. A programme of entertainment for each afternoon and evening during , the session was approved. The items include addresses by Ministers of the . Crown, members of the House of Representatives, aud prominent business men. In addition to addresses there will be physical and military drill and apparatus displays, and possibly a demonstration of field work by the St. John Ambulance Association. During afternoons lady speakers will give addresses, and arrangomeuts for this part of the programme are in tho hands of Jfrs. A. M'Viear, wh'o is representing tho Anti-German Lenguo for the. purpose Tho Trentham Camp Commandant has been requested to offer facilities to men in camp whereby they may be . abie to attend on a "soldiers'" night. Tho Town Hp.U will l>e tastefully decorated with flags and drapings, and the fine flags post sessed by Mr. jl. G. Knight have been kindly loaned by him to the committee. The Bristol Piano Co. and P. J. Pinny, Ltd., have kindly arranged to provide musical' items from their stalls during after-noons,' whilst Jupp's Band and the, 6th Regimental Band will be in attendant each evening. These bands will parade the main streets from early in the evening, and then proceed to the Town Hall, .where selections will be given at intervals. Messrs. Gordon and Gotch report good progress with tho preparation of the handbook being prepared for freo distribution during Exhibition dates. All the stalls have been taken up. Numerous inquiries have' been made,' but in • many cases refused, as. the proposed exhibits -were not appropriate to . the Exhibition. The Tourist and Health Department, after having selected a suitable site for a 1 stall in which' to exhibit the Department's pictures and other attractions, wrote stating that the site was not suitable, and desired not to ma.ke a display. A sub-committee -was appointed bo 'wait on tho Minister in Charge and point out to him the desirability of his Department being an exhibitor, and offering any site available that would be suitable. Tho Department of Agricnl. ture, Industries, and Commerce wrote intimating that it was unable to prepare an exhibit Tho members of the comnrittee expressed surprise that the Goveminent Departments which should set a lead appeared disinclined to exert .themselves, in connection with the Exhibition. The exhibits manager (Mr. E. T. Doddrell) reported having made a start 'with the erection of the stalls, and hoped to bo so far advanced as to hand stalls over to exhibitors on Wednesday. The draping and decoration of the building would then be proceeded with. The secretary reported that the total cash 1 received from stalls let amounted to .£.103 9s„ and that for stalls let there was outstanding a sum of .tat 6s. 3d. No tendere having been received for the right to dispense refreshments, the secretary was instructed to make inquiries amongst likely caterers and tea merchants, with a view to an arrangement being mado.