AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8351, 11 February 1913, Page 3

AUCKLAND EXHIBITION

REPRESENTATION OF PROVINCES. A BIG UNDERTAKING. Mr V. R. Holmes, secretary of the Auckland Industrial, Agricultural, and Mining Exhibition, 'who is at present in Wellington, explained to a ‘‘Times” reporter yesterday the steps that are being taken to secure a full representation of all the provinces or New Zealand at the exhibition, which opens on December Ist next. “I visited Taranaki on Tuesday last, ho said, “and discussed with the" Chamber of Commerce at New Plymouth the possibility of getting a firstclass provincial court from that district. We are trying to make a feature of these courts, similar to those held at the international exhibition at Christchurch. We have a very live agricultural committee, and it is .Hie desire of the executive to have various districts throughout the jtniniOM well represented. We are very pleased with the results up to the present. So far as I can gather, there will he at least seven of these provincial courts. The North Auckland court will_ include Whangarei, Bay of Islands, Northern Wairoa, and that of South Auckland will have Hamilton as its centre. Taranaki, which I visited last Tuesday, will, I hear, send a first-class exhibit. Wanganui, Manawatu, and Wairarapa also promise to come in. 1 also visited Eltham, Hawera, and Stratford in connection with the movement, and there is every encouragement shown. I visit Palmerston North on Friday, and hope to meet the Chamber of Commerce there on Friday next. “In Wellington Mr H. F. Allen, secretary of the last Industrial Exhibition here, is the local secretary. I have practically completed arrangements with Messrs W. M. Bannatyne and Co. tor 2500 feet of space. I am interviewing the Government lepirtments, Ministerial authority having been oh tained for them to he well represented. I hope to visit Nelson and Napier at an early date.- In whnstchurch our local secretary is Mr F. Motley Meadows, and Mr F. Mirams is acting for us in Dunedin. We are getting splendid applications for space from the largo southern towns. Timaru, Oamaru, and Ashburton have already applied for space. “The exhibition buildings in Auckland are all well forward. The whole of the framework of the main building, the Hall of Industries, is erected. They are also pressing on with the machinery and concert halls, art_ gallery, tea kiosks, etc., the main building covering an area of about three and a half acres. The buildings are all detached in order to give greater security against fire. Mr John Baillie, who was recently in Wellington with an admirable collection of pictures, has promised to bring out an entirely new collection valued at between £40,000 and £50,000. We hope to hear at any moment of a reply to an application made to the British War Office for permission for one of the best Guards’ bands in the Old Country to visit New Zealand in connection with the exhibition. If such A band comes, naturally it will prove a big attraction. “In regard to the space, 40,000 feet has already been applied for, rut of 56,000 feet available in the Hail of Industries. Applications close on March 31st, and we are urging intending ex-, hibitors to get their requests for space in to the local secretaries as soon as i-os-sible. As side attractions, there will be a military tournament, North Island Band Contest (towards which the executive has given £7OO in prizes), and a regatta (rowing and sailing championships), besides many other events for the entertaiftment of visitors. On the matters are working very satisfactorily for what promises to be a highly successful undertaking.”