2,500,000 TODAY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 184, 1 May 1940, Page 11

2,500,000 TODAY

Total Of Visitors To Exhibition

21,632 YESTERDAY

The total of two and a half million visitors will be recorded by the turnstiles at the Centennial Exhibition today. A further 21,632 visitors yesterday brought the total of attendances up to 2,484,572, which is only 15,428 short of two and a half million. As attendances in the past fortnight have seldom • fallen below 20,000, it seems certain that this figure will easily be attained today. It is thought likely that a further 100.000 will be recorded before the close of the week —which is the close of the Exhibition.

Yesterday was a splendid day. for patrons, being calm and fine, culminating in a beautiful evening.' Buildings and grounds looked at their best after dusk, brilliantly lit, with the fountain ■dancing, and tlie Southland band playing gay and inspiring music- 1 There was a large evening crowd in Playland. Foresters’ Visit. ' A party of 150 members of the Forestry unit visited the Exhibition yesterday. They were received by the president of tlie Exhibition Company, Mr. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, who addressed them from the Tower steps. The party showed keen interest in the forestry exhibits in the General Exhibits Court, where a flue display of New Zealan'd timbers is on view, and in the Government Court. Southland Boys’ Band. Last night the Southland Boys’ High School Band gave a final programme of bugle, drum and trumpet music at the Exhibition. • They put on a splendid performance, enhanced by the still atmosphere, and were heard by a large crowd. Without 'doubt, the visit of tilts band has been the most notable of the band entertainments staged in the Exhibition. On each occasion it played at the Exhibition it drew tremendous and most enthusiastic crowds. After last night’s show, the band adjourned to the Southland reception room, where memiters were welcomed by the organizer, Mr. Charles Mackay. Tonight they will leave on their return to the South Islan'd. Women’s Section. A demonstration of hand-spinning of wool on the old-fashioned spinning wheel attracted keen interest in the women’s section last evening. In this section, as in the Samoan Court and several other special exhibits, articles of handcraft arc being sold to save the expense of packing and returning them; and during the past few days sales have been lively. At the Samoan Court. Panama hats of native weave, pearl-shells, model canoes, and a variety of articles of Islands workmanship are being offered for sale, and evidently are keenly appreciated as curios by many visitors. Map Brought Up to Date. In the world map in the United Kingdom Pavilion, the world map showing British Empire air services has already been brought up to date to include the Tasman service—though it started operation only yesterday. Till then, the proposed air route, like others not yet working, was indicated by a dotted line of light tubing; yesterday morning however, this was replaced by plaincolour' tubing similar to that used to denote the other working air services of Empire. There was another bright Maori concert in the Maori House last night, by the Ngati Poneke party. The Maori carvers have now practically finished their labours on the panels to be used in the house when it is re-erccted in Christchurch as a permanent Native Centennial memorial. The present panels are to be taken for a memorial house at the Bay of Plenty ;dhey were lent for tlie period of the Exhibition and must now be returned. The party of wood-carvers detailed to make the new set to replace them have timed their labours to provide interest and education for Exhibition patrons, and to end almost simultaneously with the Exhibition. The Young Women’s Christian Association pageant, “Under Four Queens,” packed the assembly hall with onlookers last night, and hundreds had to be turned away. The large and gailyclad cast of performers, the varied and lively numbers and the verve with which the show was carried out. contributed to its success. Many who could not gain access to the hall watched from the foyer with faces pressed to tbe glass panes of the swing doors. Today’s Events. Today the party of 303 Southland farmers and their wives, biggest party of the kind ever to leave Invercargill, will arrive at the Exhibition. They are to stay till its close. Tomorrow evening the Exhibition directors will .entertain them to dinner at the restaurant, and the president, Mr. Sullivan, will address them. At 9.30 this morning the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, will open the annual conference of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in tlie conference hall at the Exhibition. The annual conference is being held earlier than usual this year, in order that it may take place at the Exhibition, and form a part of the centennial celebrations.

A repetition of the pageant of “New Zealand Youth on Parade” will be given in the assembly hail this evening at 8 o’clock by members of the New Zealand Youth Movement. The programme will be as follows: — “Youth of Yesterday in Review,” Mr. J. .1. Roberts. Mrs. M. Stuart and Mrs. Lemon, Dunedin; Roy Baker’s Pianoaccordion Baud; inipcTsouatiou by Kenneth Bruce; fencing demonstration

by members of the Wellington Swords Club; songs, “Love’s Garden, of Roses” and “I’ll Walk Beside You,” Miss Allison Connell; playette, “Letter From, the Front”; “The Belle of the Fair,” Miss Audrey Candy; community sing, led by Norman Williams and Joe Craig, Assheton Ilarbord at piano, accompaniment by Roy Baker’s Band; hobbies demonstration by members of the Wellington Model Aeroplane Club; “Address by Youth”; National Anthem. At 3 p.m. today the Hillbillies, a , party of entertainers from Christchurch. will give a musical programme, at the Exhibition, playing and singing in the bandshell, if the weather permits.

Exhibition Highlights

This is your last opportunity to record your signature in the Centennial Roll of Commemoration and to obtain your Centennial Certificate of Attendance. Roll closes May 4. Situation, General Exhibits Court-next to Moa.

Daily before large attendances, the St. Moritz Ice Skaters exhibit their skill. What these artists can do on ice blades is remarkable. The three Swiss misses raise skating from an art to a science, only four more days left to see this astounding performance.

Only four more days left to visit the Crown Jewels in the Tower of Loudon. The greatest collection of historic jewels in the world, including four suits of armour valued at nine thousand guineas. Priceless presentations by European kings and queens.

“French .Maid” acclaimed by thousands of Exhibition Visitors the finest Coffee they have ever tasted, served with real cream and Biscuits, 6d. Peanut Spread, a new French Maid favourite. Stall opp. Maori Court.

Exhibition Visitors "Stick to Beer.” The Exhibition Bar serves sparkling Bottle and Draught Beer and Stout. Motor Court, at Dominion Court entra nee.

See Hitler’s Horrors of Mechanized Murder. First showing in New Zealand of the German Giant Torpedo atid Nazi Mine, captured in Hie North Sea, Playland’s Premier Attraction.