THE EZHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8699, 7 January 1907, Page 2

THE EZHIBITION.

Day by Day.

By Telegraph —Special Se\ Christchurch, Jam

The attendance at the ExlteKtiori on Saturday was 12,293, making a' total for the week of 103,531, which well exceeds Christinas week aggregate of 90,981, and represents the highest weekly total since the opening week. A large minibef 6t visitors, especially from Dunedin and Wellington, have bought season tickets during the last few days. The chamber music concert by the orchestra on Saturday afternoon was well attended, and it is agreed that the orchestra has improved twenty per cent since its members have been playing together. In the evening a popular concert was very successfully given by the orchestra, Miss Phoebe Parsons and Mr W. 11. Montgomery. Mr Massey, organist of Bathurst Cathedral, who gives his first recital on Monday evening, expresses very high opinions of the Exhibition organ* and says New Zealand ( i's. fortunate to possess two such instruments as those in Wellington Town Hall and the Exhibition. Ho has not been much accustomed to electrical equipment, but considers it an excellent feature. After hearing the orchestra Mr Massey says it is a remarkably line one and we arc very fortunate in having it here.

People’s day at the dog show oh’ Saturday was very well attended. .

Pain’s London fireworks can bo seen on Monday night when an elaborate display will be given. The programmes for these displays will be varied on each occasion and a number of attractive novelties will be shown each time.

The Besses o’ the Barn Band will give their first performance on Thursday night, when the following programme will be rendered ; —March, “ Zealandia,” specially composed for the band’s New Zealand visit by its conductor, Mr Owen ; overture, “Poet and Peasant,” (Yon Tuppe); comet polka, “ Cleopatra,” (l)emare)';grand selection from Rossini's works ; waltz, “ Jeunesse Doree,” (Waudtcufel); trombone solo, “ Death of Nelson,” (Braham) ; operatic selection from “The Geisha,” (Henry Jones); National fantasia, “ Reminiscences of England,” (Godfrey) ; “ God Have the King.” Next Thursday it is proposed to make a bandsmen’s day at the Exhibition. Six local bands will take part in the reception ‘ to the Besses o’ the Barn. v and the Exhibition authorities will give every facility to make the function as effective and popular as possible. Later on the general manager proposes to organise similar days and nights in connection with the fire brigade, volunteers and friendly societies, and, if possible, to arrange for an old colonist day. It lias now been decided that a limited number of matinee performances' shall be given! by the Besses o’ the Barn Band in the concert hall. The first of these will take place on Friday next.

Wonderland is organisiug another of its exciting scries of toboggan races for next Wednesday night. This time the ladies’ doubles will be taken bv contests, and valuable prizes will lie given. Mr Donne, Superintendent of the Tourist Department, in expressing iu an interview ins disappointment that New Zealanders, and especially school children, have not made better use of the Exhibition, says : “As an educational institution the Value of the Exhibition is simply incalculable, and I sincerely hope this will be realised by every School Committee iu the colony before it is too late.” Preferring to the love of knowledge

and mental alertness which are characteristic of the American nation, and which might bo engrafted with advantage on the mind of the young New Zealander, Mr Donne savs : “ For this purpose I know of no better training-ground than the New Zealand International Exhibition. ft is to bo regretted, of course, that all countries are not so fully and so adequately represented

:is New South Wales and Canada, but still enough is shown to be of great value in broadening the mind and developing the intelligence : and, so far as New Zealand herself is concerned, the displays made by many of the Government departments are wonderfully complete and informative. Even to make no mention of private exhibits, if so great an opportunity is missed by school children from end to end of the colony it will be a matter for lasting regret.