N.Z. PAVILION AT WEMBLEY.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1924, Page 3

N.Z. PAVILION AT WEMBLEY.

VIEWED ON THE OPENING ( DAY. STRIKING MAORI MURAL DECORATTO.ss. LONDON, April 24. Circumstances over which the Commissioner (Mr A. F. Roberts) and his staff had no coiitiol pievented the New /-.calami Court from being ready yes- „ terday. During the Raster holidays | an enormous amount of work was done, and a startling transformation was . achieved in the four days, but it must . he frankly confessed that the race with time had failed. Electric power was connected mi on Good Fi'itlay and it toon came through intermittently until the day before the opening. Scores of barrels of brine had to he pumped into the system hefoie the freezing plant was in proper order to produce tht' correct temperature for the meat. This work was -till in process yesterday, and no meat was on show. Apples and cheese were already in their glass chambers, hut the day was spent in arranging them. Owing to the iion-uppearame of show (uses, the wool exhibit was not in | lace. This take- the central position of the hail in which the non-perishable exhibits are placed, hut a barricade of packing-cases and a high calico screen was all that met the eye of the first visitors to the pavilion. Inside this the plasterers were still at work constructing the dome, which is to bo the centre of the exhibit. On the top of the dome is to he the figure of a shearer in the act of shearing a sheep. The wool will apparently llow down all sides of the dome from this ahiin■laii tly productive animal. Round the base of the dome will he a series of eases with particular exhibits. Away from the dome will be,a circle of IJO wool cases, showing various classes of wool, with a description of its qualities and origin, and beyond this circle will be four .segment cases where manufactured woollen goods will le displayed. It should be an attractive centrepioro for the ball, and an instructive exhibit. It is yet too early to estimate the attractiveness of the re-t of the exhibits in this wing of the building. There is much to lie unpacked, and re-ar-rangcmciits will he made in the next few days. I’iet lire hanging was taken on by a party of willing winkers during the holidays, and a great many of tint, flamed photographs found a place on the walks of this court. Many of these will need to he redistributed, and should find positions where they will he seen lo hotter advantage. A FAMOUS RESTAURANT. (if one feature ol the pavilion it is possible to speak with whole-hearted enthusiasm at the present juncture. Tt is complete, and has already become lamou.s. This is the ra-tauraut. All those who sought refreshment there yesterday—and (monos awaited tables throughout the day will have carried a wav with them a vivid impression of the most striking decorative scheme which is to he found in the whole of the Exhibition, ft is a series of Maori designs done in red. black and white 1 colours, which were the dyes used by the natives in their old rafter decorations. Those who saw the decorations yesterday must have felt that they were being introduced to a wholly newart something which bewildered ami amazed, but which left an altogethe' 4 pleasing impression. The whole elTeel is startling, to sav the least oi it. and 1 leaves a mental picture which stays fast in the mind, just as forked lightning remains impressed on the letina of the eye for an appreciable time after

The artist responsible lor these decorations is Air Norman Howard, who is a pupil of Walter Bayes. Hi- name cfiine into prominence in (onnexinn with certain decorations which were executed in the lien l.oiicdn County Collin i! Buildings, but tthidt acre iejeeteil as being too mu niivoiitional for so august an assembly hall. I lie.-e same work's have since been placed in the recently renovated Westminster I iihi? Station. Air Howard obtained Ids inspiration from Hamilton’s text hook oil the subject and from other works in the British .Museum, and lie lias produced a scheme which will he a real delight to all those who know anvthing about Alaori art. and a source of wonderment to those mho have never seen its like la-lore. Ihe whole of a deep frieze is occupied with these strange Maori designs, and desolated plasters si ivleh from floor to ceiling at intervals of a low foot around the v ails. The window I rallies and the door posts are painted replicas of one ol the carved columns in the Alaori lions;.. Alata Atua.

CHARMING RE'.t KI'TION ROOM. Another special feature to the building. which was not publicly on view yesterday, is tin- roocnlinn room. 11 i-h-.'l t. I,y 2li t. and i.- eovered with all fit t rai-l ive carpet. which will evclitllabt i-1 11 1 u-11 i-1 1 Governini.nl chamber in Wellington. The vail- of this room aro ol figured rinin panel-, merely oiled. The-<• panel- arc ino-i -Hiking in I heir Ic-aitl \ and will lorni a worthy uddii ion to the limber exhibit. AH lb,. I'lti-uii me ol lid- room i- also made of limn. Round three wall- al'" the head- of stags, a select groun from the M'd which are decorating the wall's of the whole building. Yiseoinit Ohtirchi|| l chai nna ii of the Great Western Railway), who .saw these heads, was so enthiisiastie that he has decided to spend half a day examining them m detail. the: f.ntranck iiai.i..

1 1 is piis.-iMe to visualise what the hall will he like when it ; s eiimplete in all its details, tree lei im have long since been set apart for the hull, but Mr Rolc-rt- iia.s deemed it advisable to delay placing them in position until tin- warm weather has become continuous, and not a.s it is at present intermittent. The hall us well as the rest of the building is l” luive parquet linoleum laid over the concrete floor. Under the fern trees easy chairs and 'lounges, will be placed, and tlusse will all'nrd pportunity lor rest while the splendid paintings ol New Zealand scenery done b.v Air Nugent Welch are examined. These ale arrangeil high up on the wall at an angle to lace squarely the spectators. Tliev rcallv take u]> the angle where Gie inward slope of the domed root -begins. As thev are Sl't. by Hit. m liiensiou. the distance is needed for the right efl'ect. From these paintingpeoph this side Of the world w.H have an excellent opportunity of learning something of the scenic wonders of the Dominion. The subjects in e; . iI'oril Sound. .Mount Lnqk. Ng.tuiu mi Wanganui River. Waimakariri Gorge. AYiiikiiremoaiia. Alauapmiri. Mount E.gmont. Tarawera Lake. Southern Alp-. Tikiteri. Lake Kanieri. Rotorua, le Allan and Arthur's Bass. In the centre of the bull is the g ascase containing the model of the not. Diesel eigiue liner Aoraugi. Other exhibits that were visible vesterdav in the hall were the models ot Lyttelton Harbour and of D.modin Harbor (the latter on a heuutif.il stand of mottled kauri). a ease of native birds, and a case of sea birds, eases of miscellaneous furs and of opossum fin's, and the two models of moas. which invited a great deal of attention and many enquiries. The alcove at the far end ol the main hall is to !»• devoted to a timber display. This should he one of the most attractive in the pavilion. Yesterday it was not in position.

NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF. Air Roberts has decided to close the doors of the pavilion to-day, and get on with the work of preparation. Mr B. L. Hutchison, who was responsible for packing all thw exhibits in New Zealand, worked his passage over to London and was one of the first to apply for a position in the New Zealand Court. He has proved himself an invaluable worker, and has now been appointed oHirer in charge of the attendants. Messrs Hcsford. Bixdonc. J Anderson, and Davidson have heen chosen a. s attendants, who will he provided with blue uniforms, and four other attendants are to he chosen front the volunteers who have heen assisting during the past week. I'our attendants will he on duty I ruin i a.m. to M p.m. and four from J p.m. to 10 p.m. Night watchmen and cleaners are additional niemlicrs of the staff yet to lie selected.