THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8326, 7 January 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

J RECORD ATTENDANCE. ATTRACTIVE NOVELTIES. CHAMBER OF MUSIC CONCERTS. EXCITING TOBOGGAN RACES.' (By Telegraph —Special Service.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 6. The attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday was 12,293, making the total for the week 103 531, which well exceeds the Christmas week's, aggregate of 90,981, and represents the highest weekly total since the opening week. A large number of visitors, especially from Dunedin and Wellington, have bought season tickets during the last few days. The Chamber of Music concert by the orchestra on Saturday afternoon was well attended, and it is agreed that the orchestra has improved 20 per cent, since its members havebeen playing together. In the evening a popular concert was very successfully given by the orchestra and Miss Phoebe Parsons and Mr W. H. Montgomery. Mr Massey, organist at the Bathurst Cathedral, who will give his first recital on Monday evening, expresses a very high opinion of the Exhibition organ, and says New Zealand is fortunate to possess two such instruments as those in the Wellington Town Hall and the Exhibition. He has not been much accustomed to electrical equipment, but considers it an excellent feature. After hearing the orchestra Mr Massey says it is a remarkably fine one; and we are very fortunate in having it here. People's Day at the Dog Show, on Saturday, was. very well attended. Pain's (London) Fireworks can be seen on Monday night, when an elaborate display will be given. The programme for thesedisplays will be varied on each occasion, and a number of attractive novelties will be shown each time. The Besses, o' th' Barn Band/will give the first performance on Thursday night, when the following programme will be rendered:— March, "Zealandia" (specially composed for the Band's New Zealand visit by its conductor, Mr Owen); overture, "Poet and Peasant" (Von Tuppe); comet polka, "Cleopatra Demare"; grand selection, "Rossini's Works;" waltz, "Jeunesse Doree Waudteufel," trombone solo,' "Death of Nelson;" Brahm operatic solection, "The Geisha" (Henry Jones); National fantasia, "Reminiscences of England" (Godfrey); "God Save the King." Next Thursday jt is . proposed to make a bandsmen's day at the Exhibition. Six local bands will take part in the reception to the Besses o' th' Barn Band, and the Exhibition authorities will give every facility to make the function as effective and popular as possible. Later on the general manager proposes to organise similar days and nights in connection with Fire Brigades* Volunteers and Friendly Societies, and if possible to arrange for an old colonist day. It has now ' been decided that a limited number of matinee performances ' shall be given by the Besses o' th' Barn Band in the Concert Hall. The first of these will take place on Friday next. Wonderland is organising another of its exciting series of toboggan races for next. Wednesday night. This time the ladies' doubles will be the form taken by the contests, and valuable prizes will be given. Mr Donne, Superintendent" of the Tourist Department, in ex , pressing in an interview his disappointment that New Zealanders, and especially the School children, have not made better use of the Exhibition, says: —"As an educational institution the value of the Exhibition is ; simply incalculable, and I sincerely hope this will be realised by every School Committee in the colony before it is too late." Referring to the love of knowledge and mental alertness, which are characteristic of the American nation, and which might be engrafted with advantage on the mind of young New Zealanders, Mr Donne says:—"'For this purpose I know no better training ground than the New Zealand International Exhibition. It is to be regretted, of course, that"all countries are not so fully and so adequately represented as New South Wales and Canada, but still- enough is shown to be of great value in broadening the mind and developing the intelligence and so far as New Zealand herself is'concerned, the displays made by many of the Government Departments are wonderfully complete and informative, I even to make no mention of private I exhibits. If so great an opportunity is missed by School children from end to end ot -the colony, it will- be a matter of lasting regret." v