THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8738, 12 February 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by Day. By Telegraph—Special Service! . CnjaisTOHiTBCH, February 11. . Bandsmen and their relatives' and friends to the number of some thousands formed a large proportion of- the attend- 1 nnca at the Exhibition to-day, the prim, cipal event being the opening of the International Band Contest. This will bo the main attraction at the Exhibition during the present week, The solo sompetitions commenced to-day and will be continued on Wednesday and Friday in the concert hall and the grand selection and quick step will bo held on the sports’ ground on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. In connection with the contests a grand torchlight tatoo will bo held on Friday night, which should prove a most picturesque affair. It is suggested that the whole of the competing hands shall take part, together with the military forces and cadets, Maoris of the pa and Fijians, if they are still hero. Proceedings will commence with gun fire and playing of “ First Post ” by buglers of the volunteer forces. Bands will then march on accompanied by torohbearers, and playing a quickstep. Each band’s entry will bo announced by the firing of a rocket. Exhibition of gun drill by Artillery or the Naval Brigade will follow, and then the massed bands will play a march sot for the Contest, under the direction of Ad-jutant-Lieut, Bentley, An attack by military on the Tearaiterurn Pa, which will be defended by the Maoris, who will give a war dance of defiance, will bo the next event, after which the massed bands wi|] play tlie National Antnein, and gun firu and tiie playing of the “Last Post ” by the buglers will conclude the programme. Soma of the arrangements have not yet been completed, but it is hoped that it will be found practicable to carry out the tatoo on the lines indicated.

Record, both as regards attendance and cash takings at the Concert Hail, was es. tablishcd on Saturday night by West’s pictures and the Bresoians, when eighteen hundred and forty-five persons paid for admission and were accommodated within the building.

The orchestral concert, which was ia have been held in the -Concert Hall this afternoon, was postponed till to-morrow, the band competitions keeping the hall ongaged for the whole of the afternoon. The sale of etehings and photographs in the British Court appears to have started in real earnest, according to the large numof these beautiful works which now bear thp legend sold," Mr Mupro, the general manager of the Exhibition, has received from the Dega fire-walkers the supreme gift of a whale’s tooth, which they promised him before their departure from Christchurch. The tooth Is unusually largo and- liandsoille? One similar gift has conic to hand for-Sis Joseph Ward. Sir White, representative of Pain and Son, London, has arranged to give a dne play of fireworks on Wednesday night next. There will be a. double bill of sot pieces and the rcrial work will be of ovoi\ higher class and mors varied than on any previous occasion.

It is stated that tho international football carnival on tho sports ground, to 66eupy a week or ten days, just before tho conclusion of tho Exhibition:, hi April, is tjm latest--'suggestion in tho'wajf of entertainment. : It is pointed out that the sports ground will provido a splendid football field with seating accommodation for 1800 people, and standing space for many thousands. Teams could be ajj tracted from all parts of the colony, and even froni Australia, and sufficient playora would probably arrive to allow the carnival to be continued for the suggested period without playing any team more than twice in the week. Attractive cups and trophies would, of course, be provided, Thp Fijians, who have" boen giving dances at the Exhibition, and whose stay Is now very near its cud,'have won from’ the' General Manager and Sub - Inspector Dwyer, in charge of the Police Force at the Exhibition, high encomiums on their irfa< proachable behaviour’ during the entire' period of their visit, under circumstances altogether novel,' and which" might easily have had bad effects, “ Miss M. 0. Stoddard, who is recognised as a fiae landscape artist, and tho best painter of flowers in this colony, and who has Just returned from one year’s study of art in England and the Continent, when asked for her opinion of the picture gallery at the Exhibition, said—“ I think on thp whole the picture gallery is an exceeds ingly interesting collection. There ia somo very fine work there. It would bo unreason a h - “■ . ' —— vO expect perfection in a collection of the Ijind. I think the level of the water colours is more sustained than that of oils. ‘The Smugglers,* by Napier Henry,' is one of the finest of hip works I have seen, lam glad to notice Terriek Williams has sold so well, because he is one of the coming men. Taken altogether it is a most interesting and instructive show, and the people of the colony are fortunate in having an opportunity of comparing many styles of painting,