Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2006, 15 February 1907, Page 4

HAPPENINGS IN THE CAPITAL. EXHIBITION ODDS AND ENDS. A PICTURESQUE SITE. By “Ponelopo.” . , WELLINGTON, Tuesday.. Christchurch owes much of its beauty to tlio Avon, that placid stream that curves about) the city, and adds to it tlio loveliness of grass banks, studded with tall trees, and tho fascination of long reflections broken into silver ripples by tho various craft. AVoro it not for tho Avon tho Exhibition buildings would loso much of tlioir fantastic beauty, though, alas, tho ungrateful public has done a groat deal to dofaco tho banks with greasy papers and tho refuso of picnic meals. Tho groat towors, topped with violot bubbles in tlio day time and outlined in golden stars at night, aro sopnratod from tho stream by wide paths and glorious lawns exquisitely green to drought-tired eyes gommod with bods of glorious colors. Christchurch may have its faddists and its nortliwostors, but its perpetual flow of wator makes up for all. Its vory guttors are riverlots, and when I first saw tho Exhibition grounds gardeners wore busy spraying thorn, and tho miniature fountains flashed in the sunsliino against tho green and gold and roso-color of grass and flowors. By night, ono conies upon tho Exlnliibition outlined in lights, with a feeling of delighted surprise and momorios of airy palaces. Tho motor bus that takes you is tho most jolting and malodorous of vehicles, and inside tho building tho resemblance to a fairy palaco is iniporcoptiblo, but to sco tlio Exhibition towers and fantastic buildings at dusk against _ a glorious sunset of flamo, tho quiet rivor mirroring tho splendor of the west, is to see a vory beautiful picture. It is interesting to stand awhilo at tho gates and watch the flow. Tlicro are the bands of school children, pink-chocked with excitement, shepherded by care-worn teachers to jvhom a visit to tho great show under such circumstances cannot bo all delight. Then comes a trio of country folk, mother, fathor and daughter, tlio old man, bewildered with city noises, engaging ill an altercation as to change with tlio gatekeeper. He is proved quite wrong, and is hustled. off by lus scandalised women, still muttering incoherences as to extortion and robbery. Tho town folk lounge in languidly, as if already somewhat blaso of their possession, though the addition of a visitor makes them more appreciative, and tho officials, even in mufti—and some aro porfoct generals ns regards exteriors —have a lofty and important air. Families arrive with stores of. provisions whereby they save tho price of Exhibition meals,and perambulators penetrato right into tho building and are more often mot than tho bath-chairs.

THE PICTURES. Most people, if asked what they liked host in the Exhibition, would say the art gallery. Ono girl was quito unable to distinguish between the merits of it or Wonderland. The arrangements as to entrance fee are weird. On one day—set .apart perhaps for connoisseurs with longer purses than most —it is. a shilling. On other days a liumhlc sixpence admits you, and on Thursday it is free. It is not uncomfortably crowded then, though mothers with . babies and a taste for art bring their children, who think the rooms excellent to play liido and seek in. There is so much to see that a week spent in the gallery would bo all too little. Somo pictures so impress one that one goes straight to them on entering to feast on their boauties. One that impressed mo greatly was “Psycho,” by Solomon Solomon, a lovely girlish figure prone on a beach, the face exquisitely pathetic. By it lies an overturned and extinguished lamp—the imago of tlio soul. Another wonderful picture by G. D. Leslie was tlio Wizard’s Daughter—a stately girl in quaint scarlet robes standing in an old-time Dutch garden with wonderfully painted turf strewn with autumn leaves and tall hedges, trimly-cut. In an opening in the hedge one can seo the wizard standing, a grim black figure with pointed cap. A figure study that usually has an admirer or two before it illustrates a scene from the Three Musketeers, and is by Sir James Linton. It represents the famous Cardinal Riclielien interviewing an insolent swashbuckler, one of tlio three musketeers being half concealed behind the Cardinal’s chair, waiting for the signal to fire and kill. The Sydney Society of Arts, among other fine pictures, elioso a magnificent Spanish grandee, by Gregory, called the Castellan. It is the embodiment of strength and pride,, a type of aristocratic old age not easily forgotten. The coloring especially of the puffed satin sleeves, .which are puce, is marvellous. It is pleasant to remember that “Psyche,” “The Wizard’s Garden,” and “Teresina,” a most exquisite head by Lord Leighton, have been bought by the Canterbury Art Society, and will not leavo the colony. Auckland has a lovely picture in “Serena, surprised by Savages,” an incident from the Faerie Queen. It is by Remington. The pictures chosen by Wellington have been much criticised, and certainly there is not one that strikis the eye. Among those bougnt I v private individuals, Sheard’s “Belio.d Two Blind Men”—a wonderful effect of blinding Eastern sunshine, ivory draperies, and white sand—is ihe most talked of and admired. There are gems of beauty in the black and white section. One man fell quito a victim to the charms of somo studies of collie dogs, by Briton Riviere. He discovered each picture—merely chalk drawings on brown paper—was valued at £B4. By the way, two if not three beautiful gallery pictures are to take their place in a new house somo miles from Gisborne, WONDERLAND.

This is mi intensely attractive part, and of its many “draws” the water-cliute is chiefest. The sensation of rushing down the steep into what seems like a watery grave is horribly fascinating, and so hard to analyse that repetition is necessary. At night it is even more entlirally, and one yells aloud with excitement and clutches any person a'vailable with utter lack of ceremony. Old men and maidens ,and matrons and tiny children all succumb to its charm. Standing on the edge of the lake you may watch the boats flying down' amid the wild cries and shrieks and the seats at the brink of the water ar erarely unoccupied. There are so many objects of interest within sight. Pacing along the path are tho camels, with grimly contemptuous expressions, led by their Nubian drivers, and laden with people who seem to find a ghastly pleasure in tho rocking movement and the new experience. It is a little awkward when the ungainly boasts sits down suddenly with a series of movements like a ‘foot-rue closing. Tho girls shriek and giggle, while the crowd roars with laughing. By way of diversion, you may stand at the door of tlio katzenjammer Castle and watch those who have boon through the ordeal come tumbling out, weak with mirth. It is a fearsome mode of enjoyment, and one wonders why and when tho whole universe seems tumbling about you with horrid din —you ever paid your sixpence to go in! But otherwise you could never fully appreciate the expressions of others whom you watch emerge. In the castle, just as on tho chute, ceremony is set at naught, and you clutch your neighbor s coat-collar even if you haven’t been introduced so that you may not brave the hidden dangers alone. Tho toboggan is quite exciting, and a. tremendous speed can be got up ou it There is one terrible bump that seems to shut you up, Idm a concertina, and must bo the means of a number of people losing their false teeth. It is half the price of the water chute, and to get into the cars there is a weary climb up many steps, but in the evening hundreds wait patiently their turn to undertake the trip. FERNS AND FISHES.

The Aquarium is .all too interesting too pass by without notice. i here may be seen ever so many varieties of trout, perch, and. carp. The golden carp being the peacock among fishes, a perfect glory of silver, scarlet, and gold. The inmates of the glass cases look quite at home as they swim about in the clear water wit'll its stony bottom ana waving grasses, and one lias a quaint reeling of inferiority as one meets their calm, critical gaze. 1-ho loveliest beautiful little gold-fish ; ...;• ~,4 >;. r or| by a Japanese - ; V. b... ::b:. t.O ttuprOTO bis prolittle crcatur: :: of fisli-chilion trails quite as large a- *!!•_; I bodies. Some high-bred r.sb ; - seven tails, and flutter them with, as great an air as a lady trails a, Fans gown. By means of green-tinted glass the fernery is vividly verdant. Y.’bi-.n -I'f from the outside, and "•ben one is witliitt the exquisite : .. the murmur of water j - : hi iiclv soothing. Much loved : 1,-.- .• ,-.i!r.l»a saailsr in eonii- I