RECORD ATTENDANCE OF 78,282

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 188, 6 May 1940, Page 11

RECORD ATTENDANCE OF 78,282

Heads Of Church And State Attend Final Ceremony In Rain

At midnight on Saturday the Centennial Exhibition, acclaimed the greatest and most spectacular show ever held in New Zealand, ended. In the afternoon, beneath grey, windy, weeping skies, the Governor-General, Lord Galway, formally declared it closed from the same spot where he had opened it six months befoie. ie Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, the president of the Exhibition, Mr. Sullivan, Minister of Industries and Commerce, the chairman of directors, Mr. Hislop, mayor of Wellington, and a representative of the native race, Mr. Tirikatene, Maori Member of Parliament, paid tribute to the Exhibition’s success. Where Archbishop Averill, then Primate of New Zealand, had called down a blessing on the enterprise at its inception, his successor, Archbishop WestWatson, gave thanks for its achievement. Forty thousand people saw the ceremony; more than 78,200 visited the Exhibition on closing day — the record attendance. In all, 2,640,700 pations attended the Exhibition.

The closing ceremony was picturesque and marked by the same distinction and formality that graced the opening ceremony. It was held al fresco, as the indoor facilities would have prevented so vast a crowd from watching proceedings, and the weather, though threatening, was not so bad as to mar the pageantry seriously. As the termination of the main Centennial celebration, the occasion was marked by a note of reverence and solemnity appropriate to so historic an event. Heads of Church and State, Government and civic dignitaries, representatives of the judiciary and professional and business life, consular officials and society leaders were present for the closing of the Exhibition, as for its opening. The gathering was again a distinguished one, fully representative of the national life of the Dominion. Unfavourable Weather. The day came in with a fresh north wind that swept intermittent heavy rain-showery over the city. None the less, a procession of sightseers began to throng the road leading to the Exhibition long before the gates opened. By lunch-time, a number well in excess of the ordinary daily attendance had been admitted through the turnstiles. By 6 o’clock, more than 45,000 had arrived. Almost all who were in the grounds in the daytime witnessed the closing ceremony.

Almost the whole of the north bandcourt had been roped off. In front of the bandshell a dais had been erected, and on this were seats for distinguished personages, and in front of it those of other invited guests. The public was excluded from the bandcourt till after the arrival of the GovernorGeneral and Lady Galway.

Shortly .before 3 o’clock the vice-regal limousine entered the main gate and 'drove up Centennial Avenue to the fountain, their Excellencies were met by Mr, and Mrs. Hislop, who escorted them to their seats. Accompanied by two aides-de-camp in military uniform, Lord Dormer and Captain Stuart-French, and by the commanding officer, Captain A. C. Williamson, Lord Galway Inspected the military guard of honour, 100 men of the 2nd Heavy Artillery Group, Fort Dorset, drawn, up across the bandcourt. He then mounted the dais and the public, some 40,000 in number, surged forward to fill the great open expanse in the shelter of the buildings. Four attractive children, the youngest a little girl only about three years old, presented floral bouquets to Lady Galway, Mrs. Fraser, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mrs. Hislop.

In a spatter of rain, the frock-coat-ed dignitaries Stood bareheaded, silk hats in hand, aud the fashionablydressed women sheltered beneath multicoloured umbrellas, while the entire assemblage joined in singing the New Zealand anthem, “God Defend New Zealand.”

The speeches followed. They were for the most part brief. During, them passing showers brought light rain, alternating with fleeting glimpses of blue sky. In spite of the constant movement of umbrellas, the audience followed attentively, as was shown by the intermittent laughter and applause. Dramatic moments were when Mr. Tirikatene opened his speech in impassioned and sonorous Maori phrases, when Lord Galway closed his address with the pronouncement, “I now declare this Exhibition closed,” and when the archbishop pronounced the Benediction. Archbishop’s Prayer. “O God, we praise Thy Holy Name for all Thy goodness to our country in the century past, and for the way Thou hast led us up to this day,” said the archbishop, in a prayer of thanksgiving. “We give Thee our humble and hearty thanks for this Centennial Exhibition now closing. We thank Thee for those who planned it and those who brought it to completion, for all that has been here set forth of the pageant of history, the glories of the arts and sciences, and the fellowship of Maori and pakeha. Specially we thank Thee for all the young people who have been enabled through this Exhibition to enter into the heritage of the past, and who have been inspired with faith for the future. “Remove from us all thoughts of pride or complacency. Send us forth humbled by our littleness, but encouraged by the magnificence of Thy bounty to take up the tasks and use the oi>portunities of the coming century. May no difficulties or dangers damp our resolutions or dim our faith.”

The hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages Past,” and the National Anthem were sung. Their Excellencies took their departure immediately after the ceremony concluded.