BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1923, Page 2

BRITISH & INTERCOLONIAL EXHIBITION.

CONTINUED SUCCESS. The Exhibition continues on its round of puceess. Yesterday witnessed another good attendance, despite the fact that it was both an off day nut! i/wet day. There were a large mi tuner of visitors to the town, and all patronised the Exhibition. The nine of tltb display is spreading abroad ai d there Vs not likely to be any vu.'i.ts /decline Tin the public patronage. The Exhibition continues up to February 2 There is heavy booking tor n-commo i t tion over the first fortnight of J.-nt"-nry, thus ensuring a large influx o', outside visitors. Yesterday there was music in the main avenue, and at night the Buck ;’.t troupe drew large attendances So successful has been this company tint by special request the season is to he extended for two nights and the troupe appear on Monday and Tuesday nights, giving one extended programme each evening. The announcement of this fact hits been received very popularly.

The Exhibition lias now run a fortnight. and its all round success seems assured. The receipts are exceeding the estimates and expectations. Many thousands of people have visited the Exhibition, and what is most satisfactory of all. all have gone away satisfied and given an excellent report ol the display. The entertainments have proved a useful draw and these are to he supplemented. Altogether the Exhibition promises exceedingly well, and with the sustained support- ol the people will end in being quite a pronounced success.

To-night should witness a large attendance. There will be a large influx of new arrivals by the overland service. The Burkett troupe will he the main entertainment attraction.

Over the New Year holidays there will be much revelry at the Exhibition. To suit the convenience of the competitors tin" tug-o'-war competition has been put back till next Thursday, and the receipt of entries extended till Tuesday night. On both Monday and Tuesday nights the Buckett troupe will give special performances. On Monday night New leaf's Eve) tin" lust dance of the your will he held in the Orpheus Theatre, commencing at 10 o'clock. Thereafter Hokitika will proceed to sec the old year out and the new year in at the Exhibition. The Pipers Band will parade the Exhibition at 10.15 o’clock and the Municipal Band at 11 p.m. At midnight when the lireboll will strike the hour announcing the death ol 792 A and the birth of 1921. tlie Band will lead in

"Aulil Lang Svne,” and all in Urn avenues will join hands and sing the song of the times. It should he a very animated scone, and no doubt the buildings will he thronged as hundreds of visitors are coining from the con litry.

On New Year’s Day the Exhibition will he open all day, special trains running from the north. The Buckett troupe, will make its final appearance, and will be followed by a leap year dunce Tile following night there will be a Caledonian concert in the Orpheus Theatre, and on Thursday night the great tug-o'-war competition begins. 7t is announced to-day, that commencing .Monday next for the duration of the Exhibition, the stand of the Hokitika Gas Coy. will be a special centre of attraction. Twice daily, at A in the afternoon and 7.A0 in the evening, there will lie cooking demonstrations and lectures. This should prove of special interest to the ladies.

MV-stnn Bros, stand in Ihe Gorge avenue is of special interest for the reason that it is a replica of the stand the firm is sending to the British Empire Exhibition in London. Bishop Brndic was a visitor to Hokitika and the Exhibition yesterday. His lordship expressed a high opinion ef the Inhibition anil of the general excellence of the all round display.

DUCKETTS THOUPE. Mr Charles' Buckett and his troupe of schoolgirls from Christchurch have, completely captivated the public fancy. Mr Burkett who follows the trade of an engineer in Christchurch, is the champion amateur dub swinger of the World and holds live world’s records for endurance, ami with the aid of the young ladies he has trained, gives a most attractive entertainment. His own effort- is swinging not only cltilis. hut axes, razors, and electric lights. The grace and speed of his evolution with each has an indescribably beautiful ell'ert. Miss Dorothy Wicks is the accompanist, supplying suitable music lor the various turns. The programme submitted is one of all round excellence. Miss Alice Chapman in her song ‘‘Carden of My Dreams, and character impersonation of a Japanese girl, was a delight and her duel in character with Miss Irene Stacey. “I Don’t Want to I’lay in Your lard." added to the enthusiasm of the audience. Miss Jean Irvine, who danced an Irish jig. a sailor's hornpipe and a Spanish dance, quite won the plaudits of the audience. Du the trapeze Misses Alma .McLeod. Evelyn Hobbes, Amelia. Dasher and Vera Curveu performed some very pleasing and diflicult feats. On the Homan Bings Misses Phillis Matson, Alice Chapman and four others displayed grace and skill that caused at times a tin-ill to run through the audience. Ihe team work with clubs, dnml.'-bclls, and wands by Misses Watson, (uracil. Swausloti, McLeod. Hobbes and Dasher was the poetry of motion. Tumbling. including the double and treble roll, fancy marching, pyramid building. and tableau by Misses Watson. Curwen. Swanston, McLeod. Hobbes. Dasher. Chapman. Irvine. Stacey, and little Xnnic Buckett made up :m ~u- tertainiiieut tertainiiieut that was quite a oelightI’ul novelty.

Evert credit is due to Mr Puckett for the general excellence of the peifortnance. ami the girls for their excellent response to the tuition. The company arc great favourites and to.' th.ir (losing performances am sine to draw very large attendances. The Ld go ware Quartette from (‘hris.tclmrc'fi <j;iws t"'o yeriorniaiH-i*' ni the Exhibition " ll J«'*nyary »>t!i. ;nul 7th. It is « very lin.* omcert l*<irty, and has been secured through the kkid offices of the Bristol Piano Coy. The artists coming are:—M*s Jessie Duff, soprano: Miss Vera l.a.vry. contralto; Mr V. C. Peters, ten»r and Mr K. Hobson bass. In addition the services Ot Mr H. Inkstone have been secured. This artist gives speiially tine turns in character and is a humorist of the verv first rank. A very entertaining treat is in store for those who keep the dates in mind, aid patronise the eutortainnuM'its. The school picnics to Hokitika will he held mostly over text month so as to participate in tin Kxhibition period. A very large picnic is coming front Bunanga, and other centres will send huge continguits also. Hie picnics may not be lehl till after the l-2th. January, and will have to ie held not later than 2nd. February, when the Exhibition clo-cs. DERBY'S FOKTKCOMTXO VISIT. The visit of Demy’s well-known military band from Christchurch is being eagerly looked ftrward to at jubilee time next- tpontl. It "'ill bo an ex*

ceptional' opportunity of hearing a first-olaea military band, of which there nro only three - the Dominion. Derry’s being the largest. The programme will ineitde the fantasia, ‘‘A Day at M'est Point.” describing a day's work at a military academy; the Andante Con Moto end Allegro un i’oco Agitato from Mendelssohn’s Scotch Symphony; the popular foxtrot, "By Heck,” the overture “Ruy Bias” (Mendelssohn-Bartholdy), iVitli 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 aic.s cleverly arranged. "The Smithy in"* - ilie Woods” describes night, the approaching dawn, morning bleaks, the rushing brook anil 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. The band has a very strong brass section and several firstclass soloists.