HUGE SHOWGROUNDS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 221, 18 August 1937, Page 8

HUGE SHOWGROUNDS

SYDNEY’S SEVENTY ACRES,

A VISITOR'S IMPRESSIONS. “One of the most impressive things I saw was the Showgrounds at Sydney, where the Royal Show is helh,” remarked Mr C- Louisson who has returned from a visit to that city, in an interview with a “Standard” reporter to-day. Mr Louisson left on August 5 and returned last Friday accompanied by Mrs Louisson, wlio had been visiting their son, Mr lan Louisson, who has been stationed in a bank atBrisbane tor the last two and a-lialf years.. While in Sydney Mr Louisson had only a brief period in which to visit various places ot interest, but he has returned with vivid impressions of what he saw.

There were two things which impressed him mainly about the Showgrounds, Mr Louisson said. One was the size, the other the buildings of their own which various firms had on the grounds. The buildings had been erected seemingly for all time, and the ground covered an area of 70i acres. The building where dances are held was very large, big enough to acconynodate 3000 persons. Everything appeared big and was done on a grand scale in . comparison with New Zealand undertakings. As an instance, the tea-rooms at one wellknown establishment were about twelve times as big as the largest in some New Zealand cities.

At the Cricket Ground, Mr Louisson proceeded, size was again impressive. The stands, which he had been told accommodated 75,000 persons, made the ground itself look small. They were buib practically halfway round the ground. it was natural that Mr Louisson, who is president ot the Manawatu Pacing Club, should visit racing stables, and here again the size and the “grand style of doing things” impressed him. The horses had unusually high, almost lofty, loose-boxes, aiid wide verandahs round the stableis further added to their attractiveness, ine horses were “treated like kings” and the visitor smiled when he explained that silk covers were used. The Rose Bay Golf Course was another resort the New Zealander visited. There, he said, the entrance fee was £IOO. It was a most exclusive club. Again, the Zoo, known throughout the world, had been an “eye-opener.” Such exhibits as birds • he had seen m Queensland before, but the Zoo included everything —giraffes, lions, polar bears—all one could think pf. The aquarium had been especially interesting, all the more so to see sharks swimming about with little fish, the latter unharmed because, it had been stated, the sharks did not touch anything 1 which was not dead. Touching on the competitive shipping services, Mr Louisson was high m his praise of the appointments of the Awatea. The service had been excellent, the accommodation spacious, with all the amenities therewith one could desire.