THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8353, 8 February 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Telegraph—Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, February 7. .' The influx of visitors to the Exhibition from other parts shows no , sign of abating up to the present. ! Two. steamers which arrived from Wellington this morning brought 600 and the Melbourne steamer brought 100 from Australia. The third Wellington Battalion of School Cadets, encamped at the Exhibition, were inspected 1 this afteri noon by the Hon. Mr Fowlds, Minis-. terof Education, who complimented the lads on their appearance. The battalion will remain in camp till Tuesday next, ; and will probably be succeeded by a battalion, from Grey-, mouth, \others following' later on. Seventy-five Maoris from the Hawke's Bay district arrived at the Exhibition pa this morning. Their J tribe were specially complimented for haka dancing by the Duke of Cornwall and York when they performed before him at Rotorua, and'; they proudly retain the name he gave ' them of "Duke's Own." Among . the newcomers are a number of i women, who will dance pois, and the . - singing of native songs will also be a , feature of their entertainment. They will remain a week or ten days, I perhaps longer/and will be succeeded immediately on departure by another ' larger contingent from the same tribe. To-day they were welcomed with ppis and hakas by a few Maoris .. who had been left in the pa, and on Saturday they will be formally welcomed by the Fijians when the of kava-- drinking will take place, and representatives of both races will perform their national dances. The Begonia Show in the main corridor attracted a large number, of admirers again to-day. The attendance at' the Exhibition generally has been unusually good all day. The fireworks display last night was given under the disadvantage of a drizzling rain, which threatened every minute to be converted into heavy showers. There was,, however, a large crowd to witness the pyrotechnic exhibition, which was fully up to the high standard these displays have hitherto maintained. Lieut. Bentley, who is to judge the „ Grand Selection and Quickstep Competition'at the Exhibition Band Contest, commencing on Monday next,, has arrived in town. The prize money for this contest totals £7OO in addition to which the North Island Association's Besson Shield will be awarded to the band securing the highest aggregate of. points in the Grand Selection arid Quickstep, and the shield presented by Begg and Co. will be presented to the South Island band obtaining the highest aggregate in the selection.- The Minister of Railways has definitely refused' concessions to bands travelling to the contest. It is now announced that should the Taviuni proceed direct to Fiji on .her next trip the Fijians will return to their homes by that-vessel on Wednesday next. Should this arrangement not be possible they will proceed via .Auckland on Saturday week. The sheep-yarding event in connection with the Christchurch Dog Trial Club's events will take place on the- Exhibition Sports Ground on March 23rd. It has been definitely decided that the orchestra will not visit Dunedin during the week of the Band Contest. It will play on three afternoons in the Concert Hall, and on three days it will play in the Hall both afternoon .and. evening. The majority of the'' Band. Contest events will take'place on the Sports Ground •Rotunda* leaving the Concert Hall , free af- those times. A record . audience ;for the ha H was attained to-night* When West's' Pictures and Brescians attracted an of 1,700.