THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8758, 7 March 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by Day. j Per Press Association. j CHiitSTCHUEGH, March 6. j The fruit and dahlia show, which opens q in the main corridor of the Exhibition I to-day, and will be continued to-morrow, I is much the largest and, if possible, most beautiful held there. It is half as largo again as the begonia show of last month, w'hich broke all previous records. Tho r present show has expanded beyond the a limits of the main avenue, and a large J amount of space beneath the entrance n dome is taken up by exhibits that are not c for competition. In fact, the promoters of the show have been at their wits end ; to provide space for the collection, which i includes grapes from Waikato, dahlias ( from Oamaru, and fruit from Central > Otago, in addition to products of Canter- | bury gardens arid orchards. Ihe dahlias are a magnificent collection, quite the best that has ever been shown in Christchurch. • The improvement in these flowers, which is conspicuous year after year, is again most noticeable. There is also a splendid show of begonias, and pot plants are present in great variety and beauty. Tho numerous exhibits of fruit and vegetables shown are of high quality. Altogether there are 501 entries, of which 450 are for competition. Over seventy cases of golden chasselas grapes have arrived from tho Government’s Waeronga vineries in tho Waikato, and wore on exhibition this at-oruoon on a stand which has been erected just inside tho main entrance of the Exhibition, where they attracted much favourable attentio n The Flower Show, though it attracted many hundreds of visitor', was only one of tho many attractions at the Exhibition to-day. Tho orchestra gave a concert this aftonmon and evening in the concert hall to a big attendance, and tho Besses o’ th’ Barn had a largo audience on the sportsground in the afternoon. But the evening saw the principal attraction of the day in the form of a combined outdoor concert by tho Besses and tho display of fireworks by tho representatives of Pain and Sons. The night was perfect for both events, and there was an enormous crowd to gratify tho double enjoyi ment of eyes and ears. A colossal por- . trait of the late Mr Seddon was a feature ! of the fireworks display. The portrait ' was a remarkably close likeness, and was ’ loudly cheered by the immense crowd.

The total attendance at the Exhibition to-day was 16,568, which makes the aggregate to date 1,418,665.

Over two hundred entries have been received for the pet show in Wonderland on Friday. The motor gymkhana is fixed for Saturday afternoon, and will commence with a parade of motor cars tlitbugh the city, and will include many novel events, on the Sports’ Ground in conjunction with the gymkhana. Also a concert will be given by the Besses o’ th’ Barn.

Elaborate preparations are being made for the International Fire Brigades Competions to be held from the 18th to the 23id Inst, which are expected to rival recent band contest in attendance, interest and importance. The Easter holidays will be made a very attractive period at tne Exhibition.

The Southern Union and Alhambra Football Clubs, of Dunedin, and also the Wellington Club, have definitely arranged to play off their annual matches with the local clubs at Easter on the Exhibition sports ground, and several other games are expected to take place there. Special fireworks displays will be given at Easter, and the United Bands of Hope demonstration on Easter Monday, in which delegates to the N.Z. Temperance Conference, to bo hold in Christchurch at that time, will take part, should prove a very popular function.