THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8720, 21 January 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by Day.

(By Telegraph, Special Service.) Chbistohurch, January 20. Another successful week ended on Saturday for the Exhibition which bae been progressing in a most gratifying manner. For years past there has not been such an auspicious summer. Attendance is being well sustained and the royalties daily pouring in from side shows and refreshment rooms are gladdening to the managerial heart. On Friday, which was a cold and showery day, the attendance fell with a big drop to 7167, but the amount of cash taken exceeded by £SO the takings of December 12 when there were a thousand more visitors. The explanation is that the present crowds include a greater . proportion of strangers to the city who pay their shillings at the gates, than in the earlier large attendances, which were made up largely of local season ticket holders. At the same time the proceeds from the sale of season tickets have been very largo. The exceptionally wood fortune that has attended the Exhibition in regard to weather threatened to desert it on Saturday, the day fixed for the conclusion of the Axemen’s Carnival. All Friday night rain foil heavily and Saturday morning, advancing till noon with piercing wind and gusts of hail With the prospect of losing several sundry pounds the authorities announced postponment of the Axemen’s Carnival till Monday. Then with surpmmg suddenness tho weather cleared and a beautiful afternoon sot in. The postponement was rescinded and several thousand people gathered again on the sports’ groundto see tho champions wield their axes. The absence of the Besses 6’ th’ Barn, which had been announced to give a perforinivn.ee in tlio concert hull when tlic wcatliOT was so threatening, deprived tho meeting i of an enjoyable feature, but the contests, tbomaolvcs were keenly fought and full . of interest. Tho Exhibition Handicap, of 150 sovs., » with 18in logs standing blocks, resulted— J. Hartnett (Hawko’s Bay) 305e0., 1; W« Weston (West Australia) 25see., 2; P. ' O’Rourke (West Coast) scr., 3 ; H. E. Egan (West Australia) 4. Time, 4mm.

3*d&cc. _, a Single-handed Sawing Handicap, of J)8, 2ft logs, was won by W. Casey (furanaki) scr, with 6; Morrison (Daupevirko) 20sec 2, J. Hartnett (Hawke’s Bay) ssec 3. Time, 2min 1G 4-ssoc. N,Z. Underhand Championship, -£25, 18in logs—C. O.Eourke (West Coast) 1, P. J. O’Kourko (West Coast) 2, Featherstone (Tasmania) 3. Tims, Imiu 2soc. N Z. Double-handed Sawing Championship, of iHS, 2ft logs—T. Kelly and Cowan (West Coast) 1, Morrison and Benbow (Dannevirke) 2, C. W: Casey and Coombe 3. Time,32sec. The Besses o’ th’ Bam Band played to crowded audiences on Saturday afternoon and evening and tho Governor ■will bo present at the final performance of the band on Wednesday. An exceptionally fine display of fireworks will be shown m conjunction with the band concert. Nine fine pictures have arrived at the Exhibition, for which the painter, G. Kowe, received a bronze medal at Loudon Exhibition in 18C2, depicting Melbourne and tho Victorian goldfields m the early fifties. One of the most interesting represents the first race for tho Melbourne Cup. Tho paintings arc of much artistic merit, and will bo hung in the entrance

corridor. Nineteen thousand people have made the ascent of Exhibition tower in five " Preparations are well advanced for N.Z. Athletic Union’s mooting on Thursday and Saturday on the sports ground. The selection pieces for tho band contest arc coining to hand in large numbers. It is hoped to run a special train from Christchurch to Invercargill after the band competitions on the Saturday night-. The contest has awakened unprecedented interest among bandsmen and the entries even after allowing for some defections constitute a record for the colony. The Auckland Orchestral Society will give concerts in the Concert Hall on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights.