THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8712, 11 January 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by Day.

(By Telegraph, Special Service.) C KEiSTCHUP.cn, January 10.

Mr James Allen, a leading Opposition member of the House of Representatives, has formed highly favourable opinions of the Exhibition as the result of his visits. “The interesting part of the Exhibition to me,” he said, in an interview “has been the Canadian, Fijian and British Courts, the British Court, especially its valuable statiaical information and information about schools in the mother country. The picture gallery, too, is very interesting, and I am very glad to know that wo have in this colony secured so many of these pictures. I think the aquarium is worthy of special mention. It seems to me to be excellently got up and the Department deserves every credit. I think it is one of the best New Zealand exhibits in the Exhibition. Ido not think enough has been made of the Agricultural Department’s experimental plots of grasses, etc. They seem to me to be a very valuable lesson to those who aro on the land.” The Besses o’ th’ Barn Band arrived from the North to-day, and was mot by a large crowd at the Christchurch railway station. The band was welcomed on behalf of the Exhibition, and escorted to their hotel by the Garrison Band. In the afternoon the band was formally welcomed at the Exhibition concert hall, there being a large attendance of the public to witness the proceedings. Deputy - Mayor Payling apologised for the absence, through indisposition, of the Mayor, Sir John Hall, and extended an official welcome to the band. Mr G. T. Booth also spoke on behalf of the Executive Commissioners. Mr A. Owen, conductor, suitably responded. The Exhibition orchestra then rendered a choice programme of high class numbers, all of which were enthusiastically received and encored. Mr Munro, General Manager, entertained the bandsmen afterwards in his room. The Cook Islanders gave their last performance to-day before leaving for the North Island on their way back home, and the Maoris of the pa assisted them with poi dances and hakas. The songs of the Cook Islanders and the dances of the Maoris were all excellently given, and no less than eleven hundred spectators enjoyed the varied programme. At the conclusion of the performance the Cook Islanders, through Dr. Buck, who acted as interpreter, expressed their gratitude for the kindness they had received during their stay at the Exhibition and the appreciation with which their singing was received. They leave for the North to-morrow.

Contingents of Wanganui and East Coast natives are expected to arrive shortly ‘ lo give dances at the pa. In the meantime a number of Wanganui and Ngaitahu Maoris will give very clever representations of both hakas and poi dances. The Ifijiaim, who leave on Tuesday next on a short visit to Dunedin, gave a farewell performance this afternoon before a very large attendance.

A tremendous crowd visited the Exhibition this afternoon, attracted by the first perfppxiappe of t|»o Besses o ? fir’ Baiui Band. The band was played to the Exhibition sports ground by half a dozen local bands. There was a very large attendance on the sports goound, and the quality lii Bie bapd.s music was a revelation to local bandsmen aud'mpsic lovers, while the popular nature of the programme added to the delight of the general public. It was agreed that no such band music had been heard Here'betore, and'that the combination fully deserved’ its unique reputation;