THE EXHIBITION

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8321, 29 December 1906, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION

PRESENTATION TO v; <{ > •,. MUNRO. ATIRACTIONS FOR VISITi ,-•!, CHRIsTOHURCH, Deo. 28, There were closß up.ou 17,000 admittances to the Exhibitiou yea'cr.day and *o-day. Again the immfroe* buildings and grounds were o;ow lorl with a busfliug throng, many o2 them strangers to this city. Th<> large attendanoos that are now being experienced mean a great -:o;.i----more to the financial side of 'ba undertaking than the saaie li ixw would have indicated a few v iekg ago, as the proportion of local .vet;son tioket-holdars to visitors vho pay at the gates each ii;no is very much smaller. Over sir huu rerl excursionists came to Ouris'ich :i'i)h by the three boats which arrived from the North to day. The concerts given by the splendid Exhibition Orchestra, which have not been attention nearly &u well as thoy deserved by the -local oitzena in the past, seem to be moregenerally appreciated by tin visitors, who arc now pouring into the city. During the last three daya especially the attendances have been very much improved. This afternoon indeed the general manager decided that it was no longer necessary to let this fliio orchestra play to a free attendance ia i.he corridor, and transferred its «ntevtainment to the £ Concert flnH,. where a small charge was made for admittanoe. There was a good attendance at the, Orchestral concert, and oue of the bands was loft to make free n?usio in the Aveuno.

The Wanganui School Cadets, to the number of about 260, who have, been enjoying a week's camp training on the Exhibition Ground, left for their homes to dny. The oamp has been conducted on strict military lines, the boys ably carrying out all the rontiue duties of adult soldiers, aad enjoying tii3mselvca in the Exhibition when ' off duty. They have Lad a most delightful time, and were all loath to leave. Cadets are expected to ponr in for training from all parte of the colony as soon as the Christmas holidays are the total arrivals oE no less than aeven thousand being anticipated. Thoao memoers'of theWellington Cadet Battalion Vba have not done bo already leave for their homes to morrow. The Fire Walkers, who also leave for Wellington to morrow, took leave of the general manager (Mr G. S. Munro), this afternoon, presenting him as a memeur.o of their visit, with the leafy skirt in wnioh their chief walked for tho first time across the burning stones in New Zealand. The chief stated that theFire Walkers had been afraid to take white people over tne stones in Obristahurob, booßuse they thought thuy would get burnt. Nos* that certain iottera bail appeared in the papers, however, wiiica sought to discount their performances, they had decided that if any Europeans wished to attempt the feat at their next performance in New Ztaland, they would be allowed to do so at their own risk, the Fijiana being positive, however/ ibat they would be burnt. When they returned to Bega they would send Mr Munro a whale'e tooth, that being the supreme gift in their country. Mr Munro replied that he was quite satisfied with the performances of the Fire Walkers, and complimented them on their bright and happy dispositions, their cleanly appearance and good conduct. Mr Kidston, Premier of Queensland, who visited the Exhibition today, says he oonsiders it a highly creditable achievement, and one whioh even should it rnaan the tosa of £40,000, would be well 'worth that sum to Now Zealaud in its indireot results. The buildings are much better than he expeoted, and the ssale of the whole Exhibitiop well up to bis aut'cipalfions. He .could profitably spend a week, be says, in the British Court alone. The Turakina Maori Girls left for home this evening. Preparations aro being made to replace them by a large party of North Island natives: Wonderland having attraoted 8,000 visitors to its carnival last night, is now preparing for a floral fete on Thursday next, for which a tnoet sensational act ispromised. To-day a programme of athletio sports will be given uuder the management of the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletio Club. Ibe dog show on January 3rd and 4th promises to be au immense suo ■ oess, and very large entries have been reoeivod from all parts of the colony for the Scottish spor<a on January Ist and 2nd. A unique programme has boon prepared of Highland gajnes, Scottish music and heavy athletics. Pain's (London) fireworks, beginning on New Year's Eve, will also be an attraction not to be lightly missed.