THE EXHIBITION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8759, 9 March 1907, Page 2

THE EXHIBITION.

Day by 3ay.

Per Press Association. Christchurch, March 8, ' It is too late to say that the Exhibition will not be a success. To-day witnessed another large attendance, and it is confidentially anticipated that the high average of visitors now being experienced will be triumphantly maintained until the great fair closes on the 15th prox. Indeed the opinion has been _ expressed in the highest quarters that,' ih view of the attractions still to come and the natural rush towards the close of any great event,’ the attendance for the next five weeks will be the most consistently maintained of any five weeks since the opening of- the Exhibition. If the total of two million is not reached, and there are expectations that it will, the total of one million nine hundred thousand visit- | ors is looked upon as well within the ! bounds of possibility. The Pet Show of Wonderland, under the control of the Sopioty for the Prevention-of Cruelty to animals, which was the main event to-day, attracted a very large attendance, but in the afternoon and evening the show was formally declared open by the Hon. Mr Fowlds. The exhibits were mostly contained in two large marquees, one of which was given up almost entirely to dogs of every size and breed, while the other was a veritable Noah’s arlc of birds and animals, ranging from a four-legged hen to hedgehogs. For the essay competition, essays were received from every part of the colony, and judging is not yet complete; Mr Munro has received a telegram from the General Manager of New Zealand Railways that an excursion numbering 230 persons, from Auckland, loft Wellington last night. . In connection with the Exhibition, farmers from all parts of the colony have been taking great interest lately in the experimental plots attached to the Agricultural Department’s court. Quite a number of visiters from Otago and Wairarapa were taking written notes of the growth of different crops this morning, and this has become a common sight. Several local schools have adopted the plan of visiting the different parts ot tho Exhibition in turn for tho purpose of I intelligent study, and pupils of the ' Milton Girls’ High School, now hi Christchurch, have been copying this admirable example. ■ Arrangements have been made for a second visit of the Turakiua school girls, whose pdi dancing was a pleasant feature at tho Maori pa some time ago. Five Dunedin and Wellington football clubs will play their annual match with the local clubs on tho sports’ ground at Easter. Two matches will be played on Saturday and three on Easter Monday, j It is suggested that tho Exhibition ! orchestra shall give two sacred concerts on the sports’ ground in tho afternoon j and evening of Good Friday. It is expected that the orchestra will have tho I largest audiences it has ever known on these occasions. No. 1 battalion of tho Wanganni School Cadets, numbering 280 boys and 12 officers, arrived from Wellington this morning. Over five hundred boys, who have been in camp during the past week, took a regretful departure.