THE EXHIBITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2032, 18 March 1907, Page 3

THE EXHIBITION.

(By Telegraph Special Service.)

CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Tho attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday reached tho highly satisfactory total for a wot day, of 12.514, making tho total for tho week 72,917, and tho aggregate to dato 1,592,292. Tho display of daylight fireworks in tho afternoon was witnessed by a very numerous gathering* and there wore largo audiences at Mr. Grogson’s final organ recital and orchestral concerts in'tho afternoon and evening. At tho evening concert several vocal items were given very successfully by Mr. Arthur Meade. • An interesting addition has been made to tho natural history court in the shape of a line painting, lifesize, of tho North Island mountain lily (ranunculus insiguis). It is tho work of David Turner, of Mastorton. The plant was collected by him dnr ing a recent excursion to Tararua mountains. It is doubtful if this court has received the amount of attention from the public that its importance and interest deservos, owing to its somewhat isolated position in the north-east corner of the gallery. It is really one of the most interesting courts the Exhibition. Three fine cases contain specimens of the taxidermist’s art in the shape of many New Zealand birds, including some famous wingless species, animals of various countries, and fishes curious, and uncouth. Standing .n the centre of the court is an idealistic representation of what the mon was supposed to be like in prehistoric days, and two immense specimens of vegetable sheep were carried with great labor from a position three thousand feet up the slopes of Mount Torlcsse before they were deposited in the court. Two interesting cases show the extraordinary methods adopted by some animals for defence, and beautiful casts of Australian snakes, with tho implements used for extracting poison. A number of aquaria contain specimens of para, diso fishes from Japan, carp and gudgeon from Australia, red-bellied newts from Japan, and other curiosities, besides some highly interesting aquatic plants. The committee in charge of the fire brigade competitions to bo held, on the sports ground from Tuesday until Saturday next are spending £6OO in prizes for events. Tho committee’s total expenditure on the competi-

tions will amount to over £I2OO, so that no expense is being spared to make these contests a success. The visiting firemen, to the number of over eight hundred, are now practically all in town. The annual conference begins to-morrow morning, and the competitions at tho Exhibition on Tuesday afternoon. On Tuesday night there will be a colored water display on Victoria Lake. On vVeduesday the competitions will occupy all the morning and afternoon, and in the evening tho fire rescue act, “fighting the flames,” will be

given in a realistic manner by firemen. Other attractive features will be held on succeeding days.

Some objections having been made by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and some individuals to the beauty shorn which it was proposed to hold in Wonderland on Friday, March 22, in conjunction with the gold rush and culture competition, Mr Munro has explain-, ed that the management of the Exlii bition has not authorised this additional attraction, and the Wonderland authorities have beeirrequested not to hold it until permission is received. The physical development competition and search for buried treasure will take place on the date proposed. WORK AND WAGES. AFTER THE STRIKE. Pres 3 Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Mr. Justice Cooper, in the Supremo Court this morning, dealt with the cases of the slaughtermen, against whom the Labor Department yesterday secured writs of attachment in default of payment of fines inflicted by the Arbitration Court. Mr Stringer said the men had made satisfactory arrangements for payment of the fines, and in consequence he had directed the Sheriff not to proceed with the writs. His Honor said the Department had taken the right course in bringing the matter before the Court. The judgment ho had given had been a general one, that in. his opinion would establish the fact that the Arbitration Act was effective, and that the penal clauses could bo applied to all parties who disobeyed the order of the Arbitration Court. It was well that the public understood that all classes of persons who came within the scope of the Act, and who committed breaches were liable if they did not comply with the orders of the Court to be attached in the Supreme Court. “It is well,” said His Honor, “that this be generally known, both by the workers and employers. The machinery in the Act is effective for the purposo of enforcing due compliance with its provisions. lam very glad the matter has been settled, because it would have been unpleasant to have committed a body of men to prison.” There is a general feeling of satisfaction in the city that the trouble between the meat companies and the slaughtermen has been settled. The men ceased work on February 26th, and for nearly three weeks the companies, the producers, and the men . themselves have been suffering inconvenience and loss. The companies have been unable to deal with anything like the normal amount of stock, and farmers have been compelled to hold stock which should have been slaughtered. The men, counting th<j loss of wages and fines for striking, have lost about £2O each. The men are either paying fines or making arrangements to pay by in stalmcnts at £1 - a week. All start work on Monday morning.

CHRISTCHURCH, last uignt. Now that the strike has ended very large quantities of stock wkl from Monday onward be forward :J t:> ihe Belfast and Islington freezing works, and the factories will bo kept very busy for some time to cone. Die Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, proprietors of the Belfast works, liß ’ - been advised that 50,000 sheep vi,l bo delivered at the works almost immediately.

THE FIRE BRIGADES, CONFERENCE AND DEMONSTRATION. Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Ono hundred and five fire brigades will bo represented at the conference to-morrow. Ovor six hundred firemen have arrived from all partis of the colony to take part in tho demonstration at the Exhibition at Christchurch. At the parade to-day there was the largest gathering of firemen that has ever taken place in tho colony. The deputy Mayor and members of the Cty Council attend-, ed. Bisliop Julius preached an appropriate sermon. The Acting-Pre-mier, Mr. Hall-Jones, lias intimated that he will present the prizes to the winning teams on Friday.

ELECTRIC CAR ACCIDENT. GISBORNE FIREMEN AND AIRS. THOMPSON ON BOARD. NO ONE INJURED. Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, last night. A car.forming part of ono of tho 2 o’clock trams to Sinnnor this aftornoon became derailed when approaching the now Hoathcoto bridgo, anil crashed into an oloctrio trolly jioll. Tho fore part of the car was stove in, but no injury rosultod to tho passongors. Tho car was full of visiting firemen at tho tiino. Special to Times. , CHRISTCHURCH, last night. Tho Gisborne team were in the car that tolescopod—Fireman Thompson and his wife.. Fireman Priestley, Fraser, Lappidgo, and Kirk. Air. Thompson kodaked tho mishap. This afornoon is wet. j OBITUARY. | FUNERAL OF THE LATE ARCHDEACON AA’ILLIAAIS. Press Association. ( NAPIER, last night. The funeral of tho lato Archdeaom Samuel AA’illiams took place at To Auto yesterday afternoon. A • large and representative gathering of both Eur.-f.eans and natives was present. I,otters and telegrams of condolcu’o and sympathy were recoived from all parts of tho colony. Tho funeral cortege was one of tho largest seer, in Hawke’s Bay. A memorial sorvico was held in the Napier Cathedral on Friday evening. It may bo said that tho nows of Archdeacon AA’illiams’ death was received with feelings of profound regret all over tho colony, and his wide and beneficent influence in native affairs placed him in n prominent position amongst thoso who have helped in tho making of colonial history.

STEAMERS ON FIRE. NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CIIUPRA. Tlio Bombay Gazette contains particulars of the fire which occurred on the B. I. stoamer Chupra whilst on a voyage from Bombay to Antwerp, with a general cargo. The morning aftor tho vessel left Bombay smoke was seen issuing from the ventilator. Captain England and his officors made vain efforts to suppress the fire. The captain decided to return to Bombay. The hatches were then sealed, and tho vessol put about. It was thought that tho sealing of the hatch would smother the fire, but the heat continued to increase. The. port was safely reached, but, notwithstanding that water was ‘poured in, the* fire continued to burn. Clayton fireextinguishers were thon set at work. While tho fire was burning a native fell below. A man was sent down, but he was also overcome by noxious gases. Attempts were made to rescue him, but those above were affected by the fumes. Tho chief officer then went down, and sent one of the natives up, but while being hauled out was overcome and fell, being caught, however, and saved from death. Another officer recovered the other native, but he was dead. All the sheep and fowls on board were killed by the gases. The fire was eventually extinguished. The two officers mentioned were awarded silver medals b.y the Humane Society.