10,000 PEOPLE FLOCK TO RONGOTAI

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 149, 20 March 1939, Page 10

10,000 PEOPLE FLOCK TO RONGOTAI

Banclshells Under Test

GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST IN EXHIBITION WORK

Fully 10,000 people attended the tests in Rongotai yesterday of the Centennial Exhibition bandshells. The Post Nicholson Silver Band played from both shells, and in spite of a fresh northerly breeze the acoustics proved satisfactory. Directors and officials of the Exhibition Company were present, and the mayor of Wellington, Mr. Hislop, in a short address, said that the keen interest shown by the public at this juncture promised well for the success of the venture. The gates were opened to the public at 2 p.m. Almost at once the grounds began to fill up, curious crowds straying through whatever courts and buildings were open to them. They were not permitted access to the Government Court, or to the Dominion Court, where preparations are now far advanced, nor to the top of Centennial Tower. However, they found their way into the Cafeteria and restaurant buildings, and into the quarters at the back of the bandshell provided for the bandsmen of His Majesty’s Welsh Guards.

Beflagged aud crowded, the grounds took on something of the lively and gay atmosphere they will have when the exhibition opens next November.

As soon as the band began to play, from the south bandshell, the southern parade ground became crowded, while even at the northern end people began to mass. By 3 o’clock, when the crowds were at their densest, the entire open space from end to end presented the appearance of a sea of faces; the number of those present was estimated at about ten thousand.

As the band was then playing from the south shell, the northerly .breeze materially affected the acoustics, the south shell being intended for playing in southerly winds only. For the same reason, together with the present lack of amplifying installation, difficulty was experienced by the mayor in making himself heard, particularly by those at the back of the crowd. A further difficulty was that many of the audience crowded on to the bandshell dais, obscuring both, tlie view and the music from those in the auditorium, and clearly preventing the acoustics from being at their best. Small boys 'swarmed about the lining of the shells, and the heads of several, projecting at intervals between the leaves of the shell, gave evidence that the test was made under considerable handicap. ' Later, however, the band shifted to the northern bandsheil, designed for use in northerly weather. Though crowds were somewhat restricted by a wooden shed temporarily erected in the middle of the open court, the acoustics were found to be excellent. It is probable, however, that for purposes of announcement and publie addresses some form of amplification system will be eventually installed. Toward the end of the afternoon the crowds drifted away, the majority deeply impressed by what they had seen of the exhibition buildings and the stage of advancement so far reached.

No traffic difficulties were experienced yesterday, though trams to and from Rongotai were packed. A traffic officer on point duty controlled motor traffic. Cars were parked in adjoining streets, and in the exhibition grounds, no trouble being experienced iu gaining access or in getting away.

(Picture on page 7.)

THE LAST £lO,OOO Citizens Urged To Share In Venture An exhortation to Wellington citizens to lend active support to the exhibition by subscribing for individual shares was made by the mayor, Mr. Hislop, as chairman of the exhibition company directors, addressing crowds at the bandshell test in Rougo(ai yesterday. He said that only £19,000 worth of shares remained, and suggested that by purchasing small lots citizens should take a personal share in the undertaking. Mr. Hislop said that it was a great delight to himself and his colleagues to see so many thousands of people visiting the site. It promised well for the success of the exhibition that they were taking such keen interest. The tests bad been arranged so as to give them all an opportunity to see the exterior of the buildings, and their state of advancement, and obtaining a general impression of what they would see at the centennial. Then, however, there would be reflecting lagoons along Centennial Avenue, the illuminations would be such as had never been dreamt of in New Zealand, the Welsh Guards Band would be playing from the bandshells, and the ten-acre amusement park would provide entertainment with a range of devices never before seen south of the Equator. The directors were determined to spare no effort to make the exhibition the greatest conceivable success. Ten thousand shares in the undertaking had been held back, the lastlO.OOt), and were now beigti offered for sale. He suggested that every citizen should take at any rate one share, so that as many as possible would be personally interested in the undertaking. The directors would rather have 10,000 holdings of one share each than ten ot £lOOO each. Shareholders were assured of getting most of their money back, if not all. He was confident that the support of those present, and of all Wellington citizens, would be forthcoming to make the exhibition a great success, a great inspiration, and at the end a great memory, well worthy of the occasion it would commemorate.