THE BIG EXHIBITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 171, 10 July 1908, Page 4

THE BIG EXHIBITION.

XEW ZHA LAND COl'liT. VIEWED UY KlN'f! AX I) I'IiKSIDEXT. Writing on May 30th. the Loudon correspondent of the New Zealand Herald savs:—

" It is too much -ono cannot expect to sco everything." said King Kdward tJ President J-allieres, as tlioy at. tin* entrance (o ihe New Zealand Com'l. Yet this court proved to be so interesting to them that tliey spent no less than twenty minutes of their valuable time in it, a longer space than they devoted to any of the larger courts. The alectrie light had not been put. into I his pavilion until Friday night; on Saturday Mr. 11. C. Cameron and u big stall' of assistants were hustling ail they knew to have tilings in readiness, so that by Tuesday all was in perfect order.

With Ilis Majesty and the ['resident wore the Queen, the Prince of Wales, I'rincess Victoria, and their suites, the lloval party being received at the main entrance by Mr. Walter Kennaway, 0.M.G., in the absence of the JJigh Commissioner. who is still on llie Continent on business connected with the Dominion.

His Majesty and the rest of the distinguished party were conducted round Jiy Mr. Cameron, the visitors being shown grain in sheaf, flour, and oatmeal, and the finished article in the shape of biscuits. Canned meats and fruits, Puriri mineral water, beer, and wines were looked at, a point being made of tiie produce of small farmers. The party was then taken to a court devoted to sport which appeared to interest the King greatly. In French he explained to -the President that Xew Zealand wag 'a wonderful country lor sport, and he directed particular attention to a group of stags' heads which had been forwarded by Mr. Donne, one of which was a Itoyal sing with 10 lines. A huge ; rainbow trout, 21'/gibs. in weight, caught at Rotorua, also came in for considerable notice. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wale.? was showing the Queen some Maori carvings and photos, and her Majesty, in turn, speaking in French, explained these to her foreign visitors. And some of them wanted a little explanation, for one of them inquired. if Xew Zealand was not in Canada. While at this alcove, Mr. Cameron explained to the King that the stags' heads were the progeny of deer which had been seuj v wit by the late Prince Consort, and King Edward was deeply interested at the information. Uoth he and the Queen, too, seemed highly amusI ed at a comparison and likeness drawn by Mr. Cameron between New Zealand I and Scotland, even to a resemblance of tjie Maori dress to the Highland kilt and »tartan. And certainly one of the Maori mats and its pattern presented a striking resemblance to a Gordon tartan? Passing 011 and reaching Mr, F. Jlyams' greenstone exhibit, the Prince of Wales became gnide, pointing out the various things and being himself personally interested in a photograph of the greenstone presentation made to him by the citizens of Auckland. Then a splendid collection of kauri gum claimed the attention of the Koyal party. At first the Queen thought it was amber, but when the Prince tokl her it was a fossil gum she became greatly intensted, and promised Mrs. Xielson, of Auckland, who was showing it. to pay her another visit when she bad more time. Potli Queen Alexandra and the Prince stood for some time before the Mosgiel and Kaiapoi rugs and tweeds. ; MoaiittMio the King and the Presi--1 dent had been attracted by the timbers, i (living a good knock with his hand to a diuing-table of mottled Kauri, exi hibited by Mrs. Tilbura. of Dunedin—j which has been shown in Dunedin and ! in Melbourne—the King called the attention of Monsieur Fallieres to the beauty of the wood. Then, calling Mr. Kennaway to him. he anketl for further particulars and seemed greatly interested. As the party left the Court the Queen and the Prince of Wales remark - ed? how fine were the products exhibited, while the King, who throughout bad described what he had seen and interpreted into French what he had beard, expressed the keen pleasure which he had derived from the tour ol the court. The Pvoyal party and their respective suites then left for the Australian courts, and for a lour of the exhibition generally.

The visit to the stadium was the most spectacular event of the afternoon; ili'Tt' the friendly r"lers Avrre brought into contarl -with thousand*. (Juilu 20.0(H) people rose a I tlie entry of the I'oval party, and remaineil uiieovored while tin- Marseillaise and the National Anthem were played, and then followed round upon .round of ehoerin^. Tt is understood that Edward will be present at the; inauguration of the Olympic games 011 July 13.