THE EXHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1921, 2 November 1906, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

MOST SUCCESSFUL OPENING CEREMONIES,

.‘NEW ZEALAND'S EMPIRE EX, HIBIflON." TRUSS ASSOCIATION Christchurch, yesterday. Rain began lo fall yt-st-.-übry at noon, and continued more or less heavily ti.l an early hour this morning. Is will do no h'l'tu to the opening oernnony rf ihn Exhibition, and la much luco.o.i io lay the dust which the long sttetehof dry weather mado a nuisance ip the grounds Tbo rain will aho save the situation of tbo funneis’ crops aud paitiuo.', which war l>:coming Oritical.

The city is full of visitors, and every voitintirr in Canterbury who o *n got aw iy will be on piwudn for the trooping of tbe colon. .■ ; l?.. (vr.m.ny. Crowds of up osunt..;;v s . i ..<;»! hod e- fr m ~d par;.. .no al 0 i i the c y, an 1 t . to is every jn.-s pee: of a b; i-u-slu- cpeiri.g. All d.-pvtuis on -bo h r, The w a h.r brcaiuo stVtoi .shortly «itoe 10 o'clock, and agt as numoor uf p i!pie il eked to the feUartmiou g u.iiuU

E m-y oowiya celt-ct-io c- rquioo, in he otv mmuisl to be hurry"!!,; 5u an 1 t-om ttic gr »t shew place, and sho front of the handing, pr.-unsu] tin animat'd ■.pcmitiii c.". L d.L —T r u-Vi to t ■■■ us in hail j,. i t eO" moe, W., | n y. ;n ,i o, i , - i. ; -0 si i' • iv - vi.rli, i UK' < of .*'»• Cii gs" ■; 111 w-is nei'upi--J. M-.f.y list or? (I u d •.O', cv.su gti! a view of the -p.-cno ■. At It 30 o’clock tito YiC.vl s .v.>r.idtut», he Ei; eutue C uuu'--iom-tB, tin Uintit-. man of the IT; cuuvo, and ;h ’ Cert • m .nit! Couitni ter a-sr-mbled fa the ruam .’titrate io await the arrival of the

Governor. Go the opposites sido of ihs river a mcuutcd guard of honor was stationed, a naval guard lined the EX'more street bridge, nni a go’gious guard of volunteers extended from the west side of Iho bridge to the main oDtraooo. Tbe grand avenue was lined with troops, and seamen of the Imperial fleet formed lines from the main entrance to the dais erected for the open? iog ceremony. Toe Governor wa3 met at the entrance by Sir Jesrph Ward, us P/eiidcnt, and the

Ceremonial Committee, aud escorted to ! the da's, the band playing a ver3o of the National Anthem. On the Vioe-Regal parly reaching the seats reserved for them tbe National Arnhem was sung by the choir, accompanied by the orchestra. The effect was thrilling. Mr JohaDnea Anderson's Exhibition Oda was then rendered by the Onristoburob Mus'cal Union, assisted by the Exhibition orobeatta and the Woolaton Brass Band,

tbe oonduotor, Mr A. Hill, being the composer of the music. The Ode was finely given, and elicited much applause.

After the ode tbe Governor delivered his specob, He regretted that the New Zealand statesman who laid the foundation of the Exhibition was not here to see oompleted the largest exhibition ever held beneath the Southern Cross, aud to witness the response whioh MolhfrNatme had made to New Zealand's invitation. While we call this the New Zsalaod International Exhibition, he thought an tq .tally honorable and more appropriate tit e would be a New Zealand's Empire Exhibition, considering the character and the extent of the colonial exhibits, Proud os ho was to be associated with so important an undertaking, he was still more interested in the obj-ot underlying its corc’ption, whioh he understood to be to show uhjt New Zealand, with ita bimory, had in a lifoiimo acooroplhhed. It was also to demonstrate to the world tbai there is rising hero a young nation which though far.host from tho Mother Country, and separated by 900 miies from its nearest neighbor, is British iu thought and blood, happy and prosperous and standing only on the threshold of the prophetic future.

Continuing, the Governor said that it might stem preaumptuout for leas than n million people, living on a mem tp ckio tbe R.soi£b Oeftan, to aekictp its it mg the N w Eog'-'Od of the Southern B?as, unt to 5 New Zcalauce: i d not regard hia farms m such & doubting spin?. Nuthieg had impressed him mom than thjf .ciih st h. n.-iVi Sim rua-.ee i.f ihrir general oouient tao pioneer and the former, me merchant and she artisan, are looking forward cjufid-.nily to their children’s

q.- ritegs. Rif i'-ing ‘o To at wish'd' prince's, ,i. Gov,'.. u i-iiiJ : ■' U this cauir;.-; n.-t, iu .ttrta- to uoiid fi r nb-.p.i. -be h - i also tn. artJ.'uis '.o man them, for tbs Now Z a- ~ -idnr iv.H mi H'l.ul/ s;ju nature uf a ?s»? .ring Eng lehcjan. Tbe prospers of die tuiurn w.-ru gcer.t. Is was not difficult So be uve tbs, v/ith humatthari&a legislation Mr the woikers, aad wise S.-eivmonS of capital, shore would aviso before long manufacturing towns d,Snoot only from tauee at Home in thus the grinding poverty, overorowding, and dirt, smoke, and fog will bo abaent.” Hia Excellency then extended a welcome to the visitors in the name of iho King, and expressed his appreciation of the respect paid to tho representatives of the Sovereign. He Exoellenoy then deolarod the Exhibition opsn, and sat down amidst applause. The Premier followed His Excellency in an eloquent address, and referred to the magnitude of tiie undertaking and to the Exhibition as an anticipation of the pro-

gress of tho colony. Speaking of Mr Munro, Sir Joseph Ward said they would recognise that he had a difficult office to discharge, being a buffer between tbe people aud the Government. Sir Joseph also spoke of tho satisfactory condition of the Exhibition and its prospects, and was greatly applauded throughout. The whole assemblage then sang the One Hundreth Psalm, after which Sir Joseph Ward presented the golden key to the Governor and gold passes to Lady and the Hon, K. PiunketThe announcement of the opening was cabled to the King, and was followed by the hoisting of the Union Jack and the unfurling of the flags of all nations,