THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 November 1925, Page 1

THE DUNEDIN EXHIBITION.

[by TELEGRAPH—rER PRESS ASSOCIATION

THE BIG SHOW -MOVES ON

DUNEDIN, November 19.

Seventy-five thousand visitors in two days was the tale told when the Exhibition gates closed last night. Today, favoured with continued summer weather, the attendance has been excellent, despite the counter attractions of People’s Day at the Agriculural Show at Taltuna Park.

To-night many people are finishing up their outing by visiting the veritable city of a thousand delights that lias arisen beside them. The brilliant illuminations outside and the tasteful decorations inside the pavilions charm the aesthetic eye, while the music of the Argyll and Sutherland military Band, eseoncod in the Grand Court Rotunda, is most seductive to the ear. For the lighter-hearted visitor, frankly out for fun. there are many devices in the amusement .-'.one to give him a frolicsome and even an adventurous time. Indeed, the acL of parting the. holiday maker from his cash is made so pleasant that it seems as if the god Mounts (of mockery and censure) were conferring a favour upon him. The great auditorium of the Festival Hull is transformed to-night into a brilliantly lighted and decorated ballroom, where an official ball is being given hy the Exhibition Management. Semi-official visits were paid to the Exhibition to-day hv the GovernorGeneral and the Prime .Minister. The latter, after a close inspection of the British and New Zcnnlnd Government Courts, declared that the displays were impressive beyond till description in the completeness of their presentation of Empire history and the manifold activities that have been developed among the peoples making up that Empire. The Governor-General made a tour of several Courts, taking keen interest in all he saw depicting the attractions. resources, and accomplishments of the Dominion in its short, but eventful history. II is tour included the Fiji Court, where an interesting ceremony took place, unique in character, and one never witnessed before in Now Zealand. This was the ceremony of welcome accorded only to Royalty, or Yiee-regal visitors, and was carried out hy native Fijians attached to the Court in a typical village scene from tile sunny palm-covered isles, set amidst the reefs of the South Pacific. His Excellency and Lady Forgusson were welcomed as befitted their rank and made recipients of sacred whales’ teeth, which are a mark of the highest favour in the native mind. The presentation was not made directly to the Governor-General, hut through the medium of a native acting as his herald, since, accordingto Fiji Court ceremonial, distinguished guests may only accept gifts through an intermediary. The Knvtt drinking ceremony followed after which valuable Island mats were presented to their Excellencies. The Fiji Government representative handed Lady Fergttssoti a tortoiseshell dressing set on behalf of the Colonial Government. The Governor-General briefly addressed tile Fijians, who were presented to his Excellency. They than sang a couple of native songs and as the Vice-regal parly left the Court, hoys’ voices were heard again ill a native version of "God Save the King,” remindful of the Southern United States. So the hie show moves on into the well-ordered routine of doily events:. Something that Mas yesterday new and wonderful is to-day not perhaps so startling to the senses as challenging to the intelligence, while to-morrow it will he regarded in the manners, customs nod doings, not only ol other peoples. but those a little nay off from our own connl r.v. All these things il i-. or will he, Imt never at any time shall a critic be able lo ascribe to ibis Exhibition the quality of tiiteness. Everywhere he will he able to find something dilferent from anything he