THE EXHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1967, 31 December 1906, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

Special to Times. CHRISTCHURCH, last night, , —_Tlmro wore close upon li,ooo admittances to the exhibition yesterday, and to-day again the immense buildin<rs and ‘'rounds woro ciowdod with a hustling throng, many of the n strangers to the city. Iho large attendances that are now being oxnerif 'i encod mean a great deal more to the financial side of the undertaking than the same figures would have indicated n few weeks ago, as the proportion, of local season ticket-holders to visitors who pay at the gates each time is very much smaller. Over six hundred excursionists nunc to Christchurch by the three Hats winch arrived from the North tu-dav. The concerts given by the splendid Exhibition Orchestra, which have not been attended nearly so well as they deserved by the local citizens in the past, seem to be more generally appreciated by the visitors who are no v pouring into the city, and during the last three days especially the attendances have been much improved. This afternoon, indeed, the general manager decided that it was no longer necessary to let this line orchestra piny to a free attendance in the corridor, and transferred its entertainment to the concert hall, where a small charge was made for admittance. There was a good attendance at the orchestral concert, and one of the hands was left to make free music in the avenue. The Wanganui school cadets, to the number of about 260, who have been enjoying a week’s camp training in the Exhibition grounds, left for their homes to-day. The camp has been conducted on strict military lines, the hoys ably carrying out all the routine duties of adult soldiers, and enjoying themselves in the Exhibition a hen off duty. They have had a most delightful time, and all are loth to leave.

Cadets are expected to pour in for the training from all parts of the colony as soon as the Christmas holidays are concluded, the total arrivals, of no less than seven thousand liehlSi anticipated. Those members of the. "Wellington Battalion Band who havenot done so already, leave for their homes to-morrow. The fire-walkers, who also leave for Wellington to-morrow, took leave - r the general manager, Mr. (I. S. M.mro .this afternoon, presenting him ns a memento of their visit witn the leafy skirt in which their/ chief walked for the first time ac/oss the burning stones in New Zeal./nd. The chief -stated that the fire-walkers had been afraid to take white people over the stones in Cliri.tcliurch, because they thought they would get burnt. Now that cor la in letters lmfl appeared in the papers, however, which sought to discredit their performances, they, had decided that if any Europeans .fished to attempt the feat at their thext performance in New Zealand, they would be allowed to do so a'/'thoir own risk, the Fijians being positive, however, .that they would be burnt. When they rety Bega, they would send Mr. a whale’s tooth, that being the supreme gift in their country. J'Alv. Munro replied that he was ' .juice satisfied with the performances •of the fire-walkers, and complimented ityeni on their bright and happy disW»'i,itions, their cleanly appearance, airs good conduct. Mr. Kidstone, Premier of Queensland, who visited the Exhibition today, says lie considers it a highly ci editable achievement, and one which, even should it mean the loss of forty thousand pounds, would be -well worth that sum to New Zealand in its indirect results. .The buildings are much better than he expeted, and the scale of the, whole Exhibition well up to his anticipations. He could profitably spend a week, he says, in the British Court alone.

The Turakina Maori girls left for home this evening. Preparations are being made to replace them by a large party of North Island natives. “Wonderland,” having attracted 8000 visitors to its carnival last night, is now preparing for a floral fete on Thursday night, for which a most sensational act is promised. Saturday a programme of athTetui sports will be given under the management of the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club.

Tiie Dog Show on January 3 and 4 promises to be an immense success, and very large entries have been received from ali parts of.the colony. For the Scottish sports on January 1 and 2, an unique programme has been prepared of Highland games, Scottish music, and heavy athletics. pain’s Loudon fireworks, beginning on New' Year’s Eve, will also be an attraction not to be lightly missed. Press Association. The attendance at the Exhibition for the week ending to-night totalled 70,601.