THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8741, 15 February 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by Day.

By Telegraph—Special Service,

Christchurch, February 14.

There was a largo attendance at the Exhibition to-day, the Band Contest proving once again a strong attraction. Mr W. H. Monk, of Sydney, played an organ accompaniment to a violin solo of bis brother at a well attended orchestral concert in the afternoon and several organ [solos at the concert in the evening, which appealed strongly to a largo audience. Mr West, who has been exhibiting at half-hour intervals daily sinco tho Exhibition opened, moving pictures in the small hall known as the Castlo Theatre, gave his 1107th consecutive display this evening. West has now put through one and a half million feet of film, or over 255 miles, and some twentyfour million photographs have, he states, been projected on tho screen. He claims that this is a ‘ world’s record which is likely to stand for some time. Tho Hawke’s Bay Maoris gave a performance in the pa this afternoon before a large attendance. Already their entertainments have achieved popularity second to none that have been given in tho pa before them. Miss Jennings, who bad the distinction of being tho millionth visitor at the Exhibition, was presented with the promised gold watch by Mr Fowlds, Minister-in-Charge, this afternoon, tho presentation being accompanied by a congratulatory speech. Tho ceremony was not a public one.

Tho Westland School Cadets, numbering 231 boys, with nineteen officers, arrived at tho Exhibition to-day, and wont into camp for tho usual week’s training. Preparations aro now complete for the military tattoo to-morrow night, in which all competing hands will take part. Given favourable weather, of which there is at present every indication, a unique spectacle should ho afforded.

Tho secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association reports having received the largest entry on record for tho Association’s championship meeting, to bo held on tho Exhibition sports ground on Thursday and Saturday next. Entries for tho championship events number no less than 13G, and various handicaps have drawn tho enor, mows entry of 317. These entries arc from tho best known athletes in Auckland, New Plymouth, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Ashburton, Timaru, Dunedin, Gore, Invercargill, and other places in addition to local runners.

The battalion numbers 270 units, and includes representatives from Grey mouth, Eeefton, Hokitika, Co’oilcn, Taylorvillo, Kumara, Eunanga and Blackball schools. The demonstrations of boo handling ami hive manipulation, given by Mr Hopkins, Government Apiarist and his assistants at the Government bee exhibit, are a popular feature of the Exhibition, and the keenest interest is taken in observation of the hive \ also in the movements and working of the bees in boll glasses and in straw skeps. Bandsmen, who have been witnesses qf the popularity of competitions in ptbej; centres declare that the Quickstep Contest, should attract an attendance to the Exhibition of fully 20,000. This event is expected to he far ami away the most attractive to the public of the entire programme of contests. It will be easily the largest and probably the finest exhibition of its kind yc{ seen in the colony,

A novelty will bo the strong feature of the Canterbury Automobile Association’s motor gymkana to be held on the sportsground on Saturday, March 9 th. The function will bo preceded by a procession from the city, in which it is expected' a largo number of cars will take part. The programme of the gymkahna itself wil| include a tortoise race, Turk’s head and pig-sticking competition, tilting race and other curious competitions.