THE EXHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2030, 15 March 1907, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

(By Telegraph Special Servioe.l CHRISTCHURCH, last night. This morning at 10 minutos to 12 tlio 1,500,000 th person passed through tlio Exhibition turnstiles, tlio fortunate one being again a lady, namely, Miss Dorn Burgh, of Wellington, who is omployod in ono of tlio tea rooms of the Exhibition. About half past 11 tlio other turnstiles wore closed and Messrs. Munro and Collins, directors of admissions, took up their posts in tlio main ontrnneo, carefully hooping count of all who entered. A crowd of 1500 porsons foregathered to watch tlio event and excitement ran high during the last, five minutes. Tlio announcement of the winnor was tlio signal for a round of applause. A suitable presentation will bo made to Miss Burgh. A special organ recital was given in, the concert hall this afternoon by Harold Grogson, organist of Innocents’ Church, London, "W., and the Exhibition Royal Collogo of Music, London. There was a largo attendance and tlio organist made an exceedingly good impression. Mr. Grogson will give other recitals tomorrow night, and on Saturday afternoon, prior to leaving for England.

In connection with tlio agricultural and pastoral competitions, Mr. H. E. McGowan, of South Canterbury, has communicated with tlio Exhibition authorities, stating that he is bringing 150 varieties of potatoes for competition in this section. The schedule provides that, the exhibit in grain, seed, and roots’ competition must be displayed to-mor-row, and judging will probably commence on Saturday. Entries for the prize essay competition on the subject of kindness to animals, held in connection with the pet show promoted by the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and held in Wonderland last week, totalled 135, contributions being sent from all parts of the colony. Judging was carried out by Miss Freeman (Girton College) and T H. Race (Canadian Commissioner), who on Tuesday night completed their task. They report that the work all round was of a high order of excellence. The following were the prize-winners: For boys and girls under 16: Elsie Wilkinson (15 years), 1 ; Grace O’Malley (School of Sacred Heart, Christchurch), 2; Bertha Lowe (West Christchurch School), 3. Under 13 years: Charles Colecliin (11 years), 1; Mary Forme, 2; Pettie Cronin, 3. Special prizes for original essays: D. J Whitecombe, 1; Minnie Rattray, 2.

Mr. Jacques, canning expert, had an audience of some 200 interested spectators at his instructive demonstration in the art of preserving and bottling pears this afternoon. A further demonstration will be given to-morrow and on Saturday. Mr. Hamilton, who is in charge of the Maori pa at the Exhibition, has left for Wellington to arrange for the despatch of a further contingent of haka and poi dancers. • A party of 28 boys from Napier High School, who have been visiting the Exhibition under the charge of the head master, returned to the north by the Mararoa ’yesterday. Prior to their departure tlio manager and staff wrote to the head master a letter" expressing their appreciation of tlio excellent conduct of the lads during their stay. The "next display of daylight fireworks will be held on Saturday afternoon, when the Canterbury College annual sports will also be held on the sports ground. The town is full of visiting fire brigades men who will take part in the international contests which commence on Tuesday next. An interesting week’s programme of competitions has been arranged, which will be diversified by water fetes, river procession, and other novel entertainments.

The Monowai, with tho consignment of Australian grapes aboard, is to arrive at Lyttelton to-morrow morning. The fruit will be first inspected by Mr. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, and thereafter despatched to Christchurch for sale in lib. lots at the Exhibition.

It is expected that the Hon. J. H. Carruthers, Premier of New South Wales, will visit Christchurch before the Exhibition closes. He is at present -in Tasmania, and may possibly proceed thence to New Zealand shortly. The demonstrations in the forc,efeeding of poultry at the Agricultural Department’s court were begun this morning by Mr. J. W. Brown. Nine cockerels have been procured for the purpose. They were weighed prior to the of operations, and at the end of fourteen days treatment the birds will be killed and weighed, to ascertain the amount gained by them by the crammery.

It is announced that the saloon rates for return trips between Sydney and Melbourne and Lyttelton have been reduced to £7 5s and £8 respectively. These Exhibition excursions ,however, are restricted to the Riverina and the Monowai, leaving Sydney on the 16th and 23rd of March, and the Warrimoo and the Moeraki, departing from Melbourne on the 13th and tlio 2P£h March. Press Association.

This morning at ten minutes to 12 the 1,500,000 th person passed through the Exhibition turnstiles, the visitor completing that number being Miss Dora Burgh, a resident of Wellington. Tho Exhibition authorities will make a presentation to Miss Burgh to mark the event.

FIRE BRIGADES’ DINNER. Press Association. WELLINGTON, yesterday. Speaking at the Fire Brigade’s dinner last evening on tho Fire Brigades Bill, which comes into operation in May next, Mr. R. M. Simpson, representative of the insurance companies, spoke strongly against tho treatment the ' companies had received. Ho said that at the present time there was no margin of profit in the business clone by the companies and now this. new liability was imposed, and it • was imposed without consulting the companies. Despite their long experience they,- had to abide by the circumstances' here or leave. He maintained that the companies here had made no undue charges, and that tile competition already established would prevent anything of that kind. Mr. Brindley, manager of the State Insurance Department, said the companies had brought this on their own heads. They had tried to oust the Government from its position. If the companies had conducted their business as the Government had done they would have had a credit instead of a debit. While always favoring failrates he opposed drastic rates or monopolies. Some time ago the rates were sixteen shillings in the North Island and thirteen in the South. Now the rates were eight shillings and eightpence. The insurance companies had themselves to blame for this. Tho superintendent stated that the Wellington brigade had been called out 218 times last year. Of that number 112 were for actual fires in buildings. The average, he said, was far too high for a city like Wellington ; in fact New Zealand had an unenviable reputation'for fires. The Hon. Mr. Millar, referring to the land question, said a* Bill would be on the Statute Book before the end of next session. Referring to tho tariff question, he urged the colony to do what Australia was doing in creating a national sentiment. They were now ticketing their goods “made in Australia,” and people

wore purchasing them in proferenco to otliors. Such a sentiment should oxist in Now Zoalnnd. Hero wo had mon quito capablo of making anything turned out in tlio Old Country if they woro givon tlio opportunity. They must insist upon having patents manufactured in tlio colony within a given tirno. Dr. Findlay said ho hopod for oven hotter proficioncy of brigades under tlio Fire Brigades Act. The social question was a deep ono, and tlioro should bo an lionost and sincoro desire for a bottor standoard of comfort a liighor education intellectually and technically, which could only bo attained by uniting tlio industrial side and tho commercial side with tlio social issuo.

Superintendent Hugo, referring to tho number of calls (218) tho brigade had had during tho yoar, said it compared unfavorably with tho city of Bradford, a city of 300,000 people, which had only 131 calls. Not only Wellington, ho continued, but the whole colony had a very unenviable reputation for firos.