BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

LARGE ATTENDANCE SATURDAY. This being ('hristmas Eve the Exhibition will be open to II o’clock tonight. To-morrow being Christinas Day, the Exhibition will not be open. The Exhibition will reopen on Wednesday (Boxing Day) Irom I l ' a.in. to 19.30 p.m. as usual. and continue those hours Tor the remainder of the week. The attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday was as large, if not larger than the previous Saturday—the opening day. During the afternoon the patronage was very good, and at night the avenues were thronged. But tor the late arrival of the train, ilie attendance would have been e\en larger. There were many visitors to the town on Saturday, from both north and south, and business was brisk all along the line. The delayed train prevented the Christchurch Concert Party giving the two programmes intended. Time sufficed for one concert only, and the hall was filled for this. The company was an instantaneous success. Every member was immediately in touch with tile audience and all the items were encored. Those present enjoyed the entertainment to the full, and the success of the visit is assured. The company will appear to-night in two programmes—the first at 8 o’clock, and the second at 9.15 o'clock. Both programmes will be all new items and quite distinctive from previous pro- j sentations. To-morrow night at the ! Princess Theatre the members of the j Company make their farewell appear- j ante when Christmas music will be j heard. It should be a treat. There . will be a silver coin collection, the on- j tire funds going to the Exhibition ! management. The doors will open at j 8 o'clock, and the concert begins at j 8.15. The visitors will receive sup- j port from the Exhibition choir j and the Hokitika Orchestra, i The musical festival should 1 he must appropriate to Christmas ‘

time. The Huckett troujx* of latlv gym- j nasts arrive irom Christchurch to- j morrow, and will he billeted privately. , They make their first appearance in j the Orpheus Theatre on Boxing Night, j and will perform also on Thursday. .

Friday, and Saturday nights in too ■ same building— with a change of pro- ■ gramme each evening. this will Is? one of the most distinctive companies i brought to the Exhibition. The voting i ladies are under the direction of Mr ; v AV. Burkett, who is himself a chain- ; c pion performer with the clubs, dumb i hells etc. The young ladies give a ! most diversified entertainment, and c theii; programmes are sure to be very c popular with the public. The per- t formers have made a great name for . t themselves in Canterbury and are en- . "! thusiasts at their work. Their drill- , f ing in groups is a feature of precision c and exactness. The variety of the 4

turns which the component members perform will be a surprise to all who see this excellent company at its team work. Tt will be a splendid entertainment.

'Bonetti’s orchestra performed at the Exhibition on Saturday night. Ihe orchestra will be playing again this afternoon and evening in the building, and will continue each evening over the holidays in the main .annexe.

' During the week several new stands ha vo been placed in a more complete condition. New stands are being prepared to-day in the Gorge Avenue, while in the Westport Avenue, there is machinery in motion. Some Australian Exhibits which arrived late for the opening, are now being placed in position.

11 lis being Christmas Eve. there will he another large attendance at the Exihilition. and to meet the convenience of those engaged at business the Exhibition will be open to-night till 11 o’clock.

At the Exhibition to-night, the illustrated Weekly Press will he on sale. In view of the holidays this popular publication appears earlier than usual. Tt will he of particular interest to folk locally as the number will contain a series of photographs depicting the opening of the Exhibition at Hokitika on the loth. inst. It will ho on sale at the Press stand, near the hand stand in the Greymoiith avenue. The Canterbury newspapers have given a large amount of publicity to the local Exhibition, and the illustrated publication should he ot lurthcr use outside as valuable publicity matter. The Christchurch Concert Party now appearing at the Orpheus llieatre at the Exhibition buildings with such success, include Miss D. Naumann, an accomplished pianiste. Mesdames J. Henry and B. J. McLaren (nee Miss Currie Asliu), and Messrs B. Pennell. Harold Prescott and 1!. A. Turner. The last named is a champion nuinologuist, and a rare entertainer. On Saturday night he provoked the audience to great delight—his humorous numbers being very popular. The vocal artists all won special applause, and were in favour with the audience. The programme submitted was an excellent one. every number being well selected, and appropriate to any yoncert programme. (To-night the two concerts are sure to he largely attended. Intending patrons should take their seats early. Season tickets are on sale daily at the front entrance to the Exhibition. They are useful to have seeing that so many functions are to he held over the holidays. The tickets permit eutrv to the Exhibition at any time it is open to the public, and at the nominal price charged are excellent value to the holder. As there are stiH six weeks of the Exhibition to run it is not 100 late to procure the season tickets which are priced as follows Children 2s (id, ladies 7s (id, and gentlemen 12s 6<l.

School excursions to the Exhibition will prevail on several days next month. There is to he a large picnic party from Bunanga, as well as the Grev Watersiders’ picnic. In addition, I’aroa, Reefton and Tkamatua, and Greymouth schools and Cohden are negotiating for dates. As soon as the racing circuit is disposed of. the school excursions will begin occupying the most of the. remaining Wednesdays and Saturdays in January. - THE COMING OF DERRY’S.

The visit of Derry’s well-known militarv hand from Christchurch is being eagerly looked lorward to, and a big house is expected for its opening performance at the Town Hall on Frida*.’, January 11th. A lull hand of about 111 performers is visting the Coast, and it will he mi exceptional opportunity ol hearing a first-class military baud, of which there are only three in the Dominion, and of which Derry’s is the largest. To programme will include the fantasia: I ’A Day at West Point describing a day's work at a military academy: the Andante Con Moto and Allegro mi Poco Agitato from Mendelssohn's Scotch Symphony; the popular fox trot. ‘‘By Heck, the o\citure “Huy Bias” (MendelssohnBartholdy). with piccolo solo by the leading soloist of the Dominion; a selection from Gilbert and Sullivan s opera “Yeomen of the Guard, and “Melodious Melodies,” a pot-pourri of popular airs cleverly arranged. A special feature will he “The (smithy in the Woods,” describing night, the approaching dawn, morning breaks, the rushing brook and the song of the birds, the chimes of the steeple clock, the morning hymn, and the village smith lighting his forge and starting his day’s work. This is one of the hand’s most popular numbers. Several friends are accompanying the bandsmen, so that there will ho quite a friendly invasion of the town by our musical visitors who may 1« sure of a great reception.