NEW ZEALAND IS MINIATURE

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1911, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND IS MINIATURE

■ m • • • — ■ AT THE FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE LONDON, Feb. 22. On Monday 1 was one of a party of London correspondents who visited the Crystal Palace on the invitation of the Council of the Festival of Empire. Under the guidance of MiFrank Lascelles, the Pageant-Master of world- wide fame, the' party, made a tour of the grounds, and had an opportunity of seeing the progress already made with the different buildings in which the products of Empire are to be housed. ■ An important feature of the exhibition will be the All Red Route, a mile and a half of electric tramway, which is to connect the pavilions of the different overseas dominions and the stations are so arranged with covered ways to the Dominion courts that on wet days visitors will be able to make their tour — alight at any station, and rejoin the train — without taking a single step in the open. The charge for a complete tour on the train is sixpence, and one can break his journey at any station. After leaving Austalia, the train, tunnelling- under Empire Avenue, reaches the quayside of Port Lyttleton, where the loading of wool' and grain is demonstrated. The foundations and walls of the pavilion are well in hand, and the bow of a mighty liner alongside Lyttleton Quay is now being built. Another view will show how steamers are loaded with frozen meat at Queen's Wharf, Wellington, and the British public ■will see the process of packing- mutton Tor shipment to the Mother Country. Still another moving picture represents a big liner at Nelson, Caking on board a cargo of wool; grain, and mutton. The railway then passes through glorious New Zealand mountain scenery, among the sights being hot water geysers throwing real water 60ft in the air", and at night the effect will be heightened by the use of coloured lights. The houses in the Maori vi. n age are being- made perfect \r> every detail. The New Zealand court proper is to be a replica of the old Parliament Buildings at Welington, two-thirds the original srze. The promoters of the Festival are spending £60,000 on the railway which they state will be "the most remarkable scenic effort ever attempted, and will become the talk of the world." In the various Government buildings will be a large 'number of historical tableaux, which will instruct i the stay-at-home, citizens on the ways of the worlds beyond the seas. The romantic rise of New Zealand is de- j picted by vivid happenings from the discovery of the island to the formation of the Dominion in (1907. A Maori battle scene is thrillingly realistic, and on gazing iat a native raid upon a British stockade, one understands what price the gallant pioneers paid in their struggle -to hold new . lands for the Empire. In order to bring home how remarkablly go-a-head New ealand 'is, two large views are prepared, one of Wellington in 1842, and one of the city as it is today. . For the convenience .of overseas visitors, a hospitality bureau has been established at Empire House, 175, Piccadilly. A club will be opened near the palace, and all oversea visitors will be made hon-mem'b.ers and excursions will be arranged to places of ; interest; in, the British , Isles-. . ; - • ; , •The Empire concerts, at which different Dominions will take leading parts, , are sure, to be popular. The; , old ■glas's building of the Palace is shortly to be painted, a work which has not been done for the last 50 years. _ Steps are being ibuilt from the dining .saloons down to the grass terraces', and "other structural improve merits arc pride*, consideration. '„"