THE BIG FAIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81884, 9 November 1906, Page 2

THE BIG FAIR.

MORE DISAGREEMENTS. A CONCERT CANCELLED, PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Cliristehurch, November 8. The total attendance up to last night was 107,, 117 , or an average daily attendance of 17,1)52. Friction has occurred between the chairman of the Executive Commissioners and the manager for Mios Narelli, the Irish national sonsr-'trcss. It had been arranged between Iter manager and Ihe Executive Commissioners that Miss Narelli shou'd give two performances in the concert hall, and on Tuesday the lady arrived here s o fulfil her engagement. The performances were fixed to-night and tomorrow night, but yesteiday afternoon

it was announced that the Exhibition* Oichestra would play this evening in the main avenue lead ; ng to the concert hall. The manager appealed to Mr Munro against fixing the first l'reo concert of the season on this particular night, and the result of the protest is the abandonment of Miss Nardil's performance. Both morning papers have sub-leaders on the subject. The Press remarks that "It is unfortunate that the difficulty, as it is usually described ill connection with the management of the Exhibition, should be intensified most by a difference of opinion between the Chairman of Commissioners on the one side and on the other by the Entettainment Committee and the representative of Miss Narelli.'

The Times, under the heading "A D.scrcdiiablc - Proceeding," states that the people of Christchurch "will strongly resent the großa discourtesy, and worse, that has been shown towards M'.ss Narelli by the Exhibition authorities." The Times concludes: "We have been loth to believe many of the things said of Mr Munro, but this last example of his manners and his methods simply loaves us no alternative." It is understood that the Entertainment Committee has refused to have anything more to do with the musical airangements. Thirty-five bands have accepted for Ihe Quickstep and Grand Selection al the Exhibition Band Contest in February.

Mr Clarke, accountant to the Exhibition, states with regard to the Narelle difficult}' that Mr Munro last night endeavoured to arrange with her manager that the free concert should not be held at an hour to clash with hers, but without success. The position stands as it was. Mr Munro is absent this afternoon.

PROGRESS OF THE MUDDLES. (Per Press Association.) Chrisichurch, November S. To-day the Exhibition authorities requested the Dresden Company nut to return money paid for reserved seats for Miss Nurelles concerts, as the difference between the Executive Commissioners and Miss Narcllcs manager would probably be arranged, but Mr Shipman countermanded this instruction, and requested that the money shou'd be returned, as Miss Narelle would definitely not sing tonight. Interviewed to-night, the Premier slated that no decision had yet been arrived at regarding the diffeience between Mr Munro and his fellow Commissioners, though he might be able to state after 11 o'clock what conclusion had been come to.

ROW WITH A BAND. MR MUNRO AT IT AGAIN. Per Press Association. Christchurch, November 8. The treatment to Miss Marie Narelle and to tho Woolston Band has been the ta:k of the Exhibition and the city to-day. Mr Munro ordered the band out of the grounds yesterday because it demanded a payment of 10/ to each member if it played in "Wonderland."

The position taken up by the band is that it, together with other local bands, was engaged by the Commissioners to play at the Exhibition for Z. 4 for each performance, and 30 season tickets for members. When the Woolston Band arrived 011 the grounds yesterday it was ordered to play 11 'Wonderland.'' Mr Munro was informed that as "Wonderland" was a side-slicjw, the members had to be paid 10/ each. There were 25 f them, and the total cost would therefore have been 10/ instead of £4. Mr Munro then told them they had better hand in their tickets, and they ietiied..

statement he narelle INCIDENT. In reference to the Munho-Narelle affair, Mr Munro lias made tne following' statement tu a Star representative : —"Untii ten o'clock last night 1 knew nothing ot Mr Saipman s objection to the Exhibition orchestra picviding the public with some free musjt in the nia.n corridor of the Exhibition buildings. Without admitting tfle reasonableness of the objection which, indeed, 1 cons.dered to be unreasonable, 1 suggested to Jvlr Shipman, for the sake of peace and qu.etness, .that the orchestra should play from 7 to 8 o'clock only, or not commence until 8.30, so as to interfere as little as possible with his concert, but nothing short of total suppression of the orchcstia would be accep.ed by Mr Saipman'. Exhibition patrons a'e clamouiing lor more mu»ic, both inside and outs.de of the buildings, and 111 my opinion rightly • s >. Ine occupation ot me concert Hall by Mr Saipman made the orchesua ava table for the fir-t time for playing c sewherc, and 111 the best inteiests of the Exinbui.il and those wiio ate dauy paying fin; admission, i was bound to lake advantage of it. Wi S(i.pnuu»' position is a little selfish, to say tae least of it, as there are numbers of people attending the Ex; hibition who could not possibly attend his concert, The attendance to-night will probably be 10,000, wlule the concert hail only seats lOoo."

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN COURT 1 he South Australian court 18 sny : ;[[ compact, and cojisiv~- uous Ueing situated jieaj t lie south entrance, abU "'ng on "Wonderland," it catches the eye as (jjp v ; s i tars enter, and its neyt display of wines, cereals, lireserved fruits, and textile fabrics, at once attracts attention. The Government of South Au-thalia, hav.ng decided that it would not be advisable to forward a display of manufactures, as there was no prospect of business resulting, resolved to invite wino makeis and fruit preservers to make an exhibit commensurate with the inn-, portance of these natural products of the tra'e between that colony and New 7 Zealand, and hence there ia a display, and a very ftnp one of these products. an{J textile fabrics only. The space Occupied is 1000 square feet. Amongst other things shown are the natural products of the Northern Territory, with descriptive samples of the mineral resources of that cotuUry, including samples of cotton, arrowroot, commercial fibres, tropical products "t food and medicinal drugs, which I are further illustrated by photographs. There are also samples of w lie. grain, dried fruits, alive oils, preserves, jaips-, almonds, etc. The display is exceedingly artistically arranged.

Tliel'iemier entertained all thoConi missioners at lunch in the Exhibition build ngs to-day. OVERCHARGES. It lias been that tin 1 Selling kiffhts Committee should tako in It Hid reports that overcharges an 1 made at the tea room- and in <>th»»r catering branches. Jt js <<xpecletl that (he maUor wi' l hi 1 inves t iraird and if necessity remedial imagines adopted.

A COMPROMISE EI-TECTED. I'ER TRESS ASSOCIATION. Ch r'stchurch, November 8. A meeiinjf of Cabinet was held ill tlie I'.xhibi'ifo to-day to consult further matters in connection with the Conun'ssioners. It '"s understood that an attempt will be made to ■mooih over the difficult es by arrangin fv for one member of the Ministry to remain in Christ-church during the remainder of tho Exhib'tion period. This arrangement wou'd prnv'dc a court of appeal for aggrieved Commissioners or other persons. The attendance at the Exhibition May was 14,988, ' ■