BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

CItOAY I) K D ATTKXHA XCK S. The weather was very unpropitious etc Christ mils Eve pm lieu la rlv in the forenoon, when there v.as heavy rain. In the afternoon a. high wind prevailed, artel the night was boisterous also. A’et the Exhibition was attended by large numbers, the total approximating tin* attendance on opening day. The avenues were all well filled. Music in the main avenue and a concert by the Christchurch Concert party in the Orpheus Theatre were the principal entertainments and were enjoyed by those present. Being ’Xmas eve the Exhibition was open to a late hour, it being after II o’clock before the people wore out of the building. As usual the visitors were all greatly impressed with the displav and surprised to see so fine an Exhibition. The Exhibition was closed mi Christie;:- ])ay, but a Christmas conceit was held at the l’rinocss Thent-e in the evenings. The large theatre was crowdeel to the doors. The programme was contributed to by the CbristelntreV Concert Party, the Exhibition Choir, and the Hokitika Orchestra. A very pleasing entertainment was given. Hearty applause punctuated the proceedings, the visitors all being well received. The orchestra performed creditably, and the choir acquitted itself remarkably well The audience were quite delighted with the programme submitted. Yesterday (Boxing Day) saw tlie* Exhibition register its record attendance. There was it, very large attendance, particularly at night when the avenues v.on* thronged and progress was a difficulty. All through the day there was a steady stream of visitors, many coming to town specially to see the display, while a large contingent “dill” both tbe races am: the Exhibition. On all sides there were cxpicessions of surprise and delight at the display, at*- 1 many folk expressed their intention of returning for subsoctllcnt visits to see llii‘ Exhibition in greater detail. The attendance anil the expressions of opinion in regard to tla* whole display seem to stamp the Exhibition as an assured -tie-eess. Last night the' Burkett troupe of young lady gvmnasts delighted the audiences which assembled ill the Orpheus Theatre to witness then pet formaiiees. ’I wo programmes were given, both distinctive and every tut n was appreciated. Mr Burkett has a sph'iidid team of willing wo.kers. H” is himself, a. notable leader and along with his pu] its won very hearty anil,•, use at the pleasing feats perform,si. ’| Ho entertainment is one of the brightest and be-t vet .-'em here. It is novel ami inie'resltng and cannot tail to entertain. All stioul 1 see* the pleasing work the young lsdi>s do. .Aliss Dorothy AYikes wa- tie accompanist. Mr .Jellifies. Chairmen eel' the Entertainment Committee snnoumed that the troupe would appeal nightly for the remainder of the* week, with a matinee performance on Saturday altornoon. Every appearance is sure to he e: o wiled from now on. for the lame of the troupe will have; spread abroad, last night there was a good deal of inUsli" in and about tie- buihlings. l.e,uelti'.s Oielie.-tra (laved selections in the tally part of the evening. The Salvation Army Baud also played oiit-iile the 1 Exhibition. I lie .Municipal Band gave two program! les last evening, the fitst being l'Piulcied outside, and ill " second from the band stand in the aam avenue. Large* numbers lisiioiod appreciatively to the band programme. The Exhibition was open till 11 o'clock la-i night, an animated scene being maintained to a, late hour. The Exhibition is open a* usual today and is being well patronised. A large attendance mav be looked for tonight. There was orchestra! music this aitemuon. and a second programme will he given this evening. Pillowed by a baud programme- Burkett's gymnastic troupe will appear in the Orpheus Theatre in two distinct ] e-rtorniam es, the liisl at 8. ami ihe sic no A at: thin o clock. Those intending to be present should A tend early to 11 n* a st at.

Entries for the (ttg-o’-war close tomorrow night. Tit** weight ot each tram is not to exe ce 1 (W stone. I lie terms are five men aside. On Friday and Saturday evenings. Burkett's troupe will perform nightly in the Orpheus Theatre. There, will lie a matinee on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock.

The Exhibition will he open daily front 10 a.in. to 10. JO p.m. On New Years’ I've and New Year's, night. there will he half an hour extension. Train arrangements lor the Exhibition are being forniui very convenient, and largo numbers are travelling by rail. It is expected that over all next week there will he crowded attendances. Derry's hand is hooked to appear here on the Hth. Janunry. The hand will preceded by the Edgeware quartette on January fill, and 9th. Over the holiday season now current there is a very convenient railway time-table for passengers from (j revmoiith :

To-day (Thursday') trains depart from Oreymoiith for Hokitika at 9 a.m. lo a.in.. 12.49 p.m.. and -1 .-10 p.m. To-morrow (Friday) 8 a.lit.. 12.10 p.m. and -1.40 p.m. Saturday 8 a.in.. 1.5 p.m:, 4.10 p.m. G.DII p.m.. and 9.15 p.m. . Monday (New Year's Eve) 8 a.m., 12.40 p.m.. 4.40 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. Tuesday (New Year's Day) 9 a.m., 12.40 p.m. 4.40 p.m. and (i.JO p.m. To-day (Thursday) trains leave Ross at 0.30 a.m. and 4.50 p.m. To-morrow (Friday) the only train from Ross, is 1.15 p.m. Saturday trains from Ross 6.30 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. Monday (New Year's Eve) trains from Ross 0.30 a.m. and 3.15 p.m. Tuesday (New tear’s Day) trains from Ross 0.30 a.m. and 4.10 p.m.

The Rackett Troupe of lady gymnasts will he the attraction again at the Orpheus Theatre to-night. Following their successful debut last evening the troupe will draw another lull house, and those intending tc witness : the unit]ue display should attend early i to secure a seat. It is probable that . a matinee performance will he arrang- . ed for Saturday afternoon to enable country people and juveniles to wit- | ness the interesting display by the I young ladies. If the matinee can be! arranged, it will he patronised very, largely. | Derry's Military Hand to visit the Exhibition at the .jubilee celebrations has been in existence since 1901- It described as the iine-i- military band in New Zealand. The instrument.!- • tion tonsils of oboe, flutes, clarionets. , saxophones, cornets, tenor cornets. . euphoniums. baritones. trombone.-, basses, drums, mid tympani. About 40 , performers will come to Hokitika. Jim | hand paid a visit lately to Wellington j where four consecutive hand concerts | were given to crowded houses. 1 i hand had a remarkable reception at evorv appearance and the Wellington newspaper reports wrote most highly of the performances. From this it will be seen that local patrons are m . for a musical treat of a very high order The hand arrives on V ruiay, January 11th. and gives the first concert the Mum* e\eniuj4. Following the departure of the Christchurch Concert I‘arty, yester- ( day. musical votaries will now he look- , ing forward to the early visit of the Edgewaro Quartette, which will appear tit the Orpheus Theatre on the

sth. and 7th. January in two distinctive programmes. The party will be supported by a light comedian who has a New Zealand reputation, and the advent of the Company "fill he looked forward to with keen interest.

Entries for the tug-o'-war competition to open on New A'ear’s Eve will close with the general secretary at the Exhibition to-morrow (Friday) night. There is the promise of a good entry, and that will ensure a very popular competition. The Committee in charge of the tug-o’-war competition is working up the details for the event, which is sure to attract a great deal of public interest.

•Jubilee time during the Exhibition has been fixed for January (!. 10. 11 and 12. The opening day is Jubilee Day, and the Coast will probably make it a general holiday. The Greymouth Municipal Band has been invited to come down for the day and assist the Hokitika Municipal Battel with tlie musical programmes required for that day. There is to be a procession of the pioneers, who are to he entertained at luncheon, and various gatherings arranged m their honor. All Coast pioneers of 1864. ’fin and fie who can make it convenient to attend the gathering should send in their names to the General Secretary at the Exhibition. It is hoped to arrange a picnic excursion to Lake Mahinupua, and also to visit the dredge at Rimu Flat, as also other mining centres. The occasion will mark the sixtieth year ot tin* AVestland goldfield, which gave the Coast its real start in European habitation.

Mention of the old days, recalls the fact that at the Exhibition there are some interesting links with the past. Outside the Secretary’s Office hangs a picture of Hokitika in 1807. It is a panoramic photograph showing the beach and water front, with the business quarter of the town along • tl> water-front. Tlie photograph was taken when the police camp occupied the present site of the Exhibition, aim before the Town Hall was erected. Hamilton Street may he seen only partinllv formed ami *1 a acred Street- call be seen also, but it is even more backward. The Supreme Court is on the site of the present Government buildings, with the bush in the rear, and there is no sign of Government House nor its orderly ground. A tew buildings with familiar names can lx* picked out. The only hank to be seen is the New South AA'ales office, a smalt shack on the site of the present twostorey structure. The other banks on the opposite corners had not been built or tbe sites occupied at the time tltc photograph was taken. At. the out ranee to the river may he seen many ships ashore, with some in process of launching. One vessel is apparently negotiating the bar with a smooth sen. and a crowd of folk assisting to haul the craft into the rivermonth. The wharf is lined with several large boats ranging as far up stream as Fitzherbcrt Street. Altogether it is a very interesting picture of Hokitika nearly GO years ago.

Another interesting exhibit is a Hokitika almanac dated 1869. This is illustrated profusely with buildings of those days, and business cards of many firms. Only two of the buildings depicted remain to-day in anything like their old-time architecture. I liese are the Swan hotel (now Occidental), are the Australasian Hotel (now occupied by Afr AVoods’ fish preserving works). Even in those days there was the Railway Station hotel, so that nearly 60 years ago the folk were optimistic about rail connection with the outside world. Vet- another exhibit of the printer s art is a copy of the Kxhibiton News of fifty years ago. printed to advertise the first Exhibition held at Hokitika. The copy is printed on satin, and is a facsimile of the copy printed the sanw day and handed to Sir James Ferguson. Governor of New Zealand, who vifiiteel Hokitika in November. 1873. Jte is to be saiel to the creelit of tbe printing press of those days that Ihe journeymen printers ol the old elats were till high class craftsmen when it came to turning out a neat job, even though at that period, the printers’ press was primitive, and there were no artificial aids to the special setting of type.

Visitors to the Exhibition who patronise the refreshment rooms speak in terms of praise of the service accorded by Airs Jones and her staff. Ihe luncheon and refreshment rooms have proved a boon to many visitors to the town over the holiday season. 1 hoc are certainly well conducted and made as attractive as possible.

The official catalogue of flic Exhibition is in itself a souvenir of the occasion which will come to be highly prized in the future. It is excellently produced, and contains much interesting matter relating to Westland and the Exhibition.