Marlborough Exhibition.

Manawatu Herald, 27 September 1904, Page 2

Marlborough Exhibition.

(From our own Correspondent.) Cheap fares, and a prospect of,fine weather induced us to take a run as far as Blenheim; also to have a look at the surrounding country, ana last but not least to see * our exhibition as the Marlborough people proudly caU it: and well they might hold high their beads, for it is an exhibition that a district and town of times the size might well be proud of. The weather for the opening day was anything but favourable; raining hard and blowing cold, it was enough to dampen an ordinary mortal’s enthusiasm. But not so the Marlborough people’s, for as the train containing the gubernatorial party steamed in, the bands military and civilian,—mounted rifles, and veterans joyfully got in the mud and with a splosh, splosh, splosh, es. corted the distinguished visitors to the triangle, where addresses were read ... and replied to. The speechifying over A the people once more gotin the. mud and marched boldly to the Criterion, where ‘ my lord ’ was to eat, drink, ana be merry, and where the most miserable son of Adam could dine at the same table as ‘my lord ’ for £i is. The exhibition was to have been opened at 13 o’clock sharp, but you see it was such a dinner, and, besides, the local Jehu thinking he was i wanted no longer had driven homeward and was donning his best t> when some mounted infantry galloping madly up, orders our man with the carnage to reharness with all speed. The buildings were quite three hundred yards from the hotel, and to walk that far-well it could not be done. However, the carriage ultimately arrived, also ‘ ray lord ’ with the golden key; a few choice words and the exhibition is declared open at 2 o’clock. (An hour or two of a wait is nothing in Blenheim, as when one leg gets tired of your weight, well there’s the other leg). But to resume. Half-a-crown admitted us to the whole show, so In we went. The building was of spacious dimensions, but large as it was it was none too large, for the exhibits and populace. Wellington firms were largely representedT and everything was arranged in such a systematic and artistic manner, that one lot of exhibits alone would rivet your attention for the afternoon so that as our time was limited; we coulc| only take a passing survey, and With our appetite whetted but not satisfied. Already everything bespeaks a great success. For .ourselves, we can only say that no matter how great the success, it will be no more than is deserved. However, all good things have an end, and as our boat was waiting, we had to take our leave, determined to return again to this charming valley to see and learn more of the country and its people.