THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8322, 31 December 1906, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

EECORD ATTENDANCE,

NEW YEAR'S DAY ATTRACTIONS.

CHRISTCHURCH, December 29.

The attendance at the Exhibition during the five days which ended on Friday, as recorded by the turnstiles, was 76,614, which is largely in excess of the total for any previous successive five days since the first week of the Exhibition's progress. To-day, again, there was a very large attendance, and crowds of visitors to the city enjoyed the various entertainments and spectacles of interest which the great show affords. The sports grounds were the scene of an athletic meeting, which was excellently organised by the Pioneer Amateur Bicycle and Athletic Club. There was a very good attendance considering the strong counter-attraction of the cricket match, and some interesting contests were witnessed. Great interest was taken by the visitors in the splendid collection of pictures in the Art Gallery, and this part of the Exhibition is always patronised. The Hon. W. Kidston, Premier of Queensland, expressed surprise and gratification at the extent of this collection and the excellence of the works. On his return to Queensland he will endeavour to induce the Art Society there to, make a selection of the pictures on view. Besides the British court, Mr Kidston was very much impressed with the fine display that is being made by Canada. A Chamber of Music Concert, this afternoon, and an Orchestral and vocal concert, this evening, delighted satisfactory audiences. Although the fire-walkers have now gone, a party of nearly thirty Fijians, who came-first to the Exhibition, still remain, and their entertainments in the form of native songs and dances are always much appreciated. The Fijians have made numerous friends in Christchurch, whom they entertain on "off" occasions with songs and "kava" drinking in the quaint Fijian house which they have built for themselves on the. grounds.. The Niue Islanders are also a most interesting people, who show much dexterity in making hats and model canoes. "Wonderland" has found its projected Floral Fete too large an affair to organise within a v/e\ek of the last carnival, and a postponement has been made till Thursday, January 10th. There will be no lack of amusements at the Exhibition during the next few weeks. The new year will be welcomed in by a display of t Pain's famous fireworks, starting at 10.30 p.m. on Monday from a position near the Maori pah. Eighteen special displays will be given by Messrs Pain and Sons during thenExhibition season, and some highly elaborate and dazzling effects are promised. At the Scottish Society's "Gathering of the Clans," on January Ist, and 2nd, nearly two hundred 'competitors will take part in the Highland games alnd dances, pipe music, solos on the great Highland warpipe, and other distinctive competitions. The great Dog Show, on January 3rd and 4th, is .certain to attract a large attendance. The approaching Band Contest js also being looked forward to with great interest. Lieutenant Bentley, of Syndey, has been appointed judge of the quickstep marching, and selection competitions, and the North Island Brass Band Association has been asked to appoint two other other judges for the solo contests. The Besses-o'-th-Barn Band, which will arrive on January 10th for a fortnight's season, attained a unique record ' in the history of bands in 1892, when its victories in the Bellevue Contest made them the holders of every Challenge Cup in Great Britain. Between the years 1884 and 1892 the "Band competed in 105 contests with the following results:— First prizes 74, second prizes 13, third 9, fourth 4, fifth 2, sixth 1, unplaced 2. In addition, they won forty-one special prizes offered in "own selection" competitions. The Band carried off prizes to the value of £1,504 and in the test pieces competitions prizes to the amount of £1,490. Out of 58 successive competitions they took 1 46 first prizes and 25 specials against all the leading bands of the j United Kingdom.