THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8357, 13 February 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Telegraph—Special Service. CHRISTCIIURCH, February 12. The Band Contest, in which the "own choice" selection was commenced this morning on the Sports Ground, proved again a large attraction to the Exhibition, bandsmen and their friends from all parts of the colony being present in large numbers. The Orchestral Concert, held in the Concert Hall, attracted a large attendance, and Mr W. M. Monk, of Sydney, who gave an organ recital, had also a highly .satisfactory audience. Mr Monk showed himself to be one of the most gifted organists who have been heard in the Concert Hall, and his recital was greatly appreciated. His brother, Mr Cyril Monk, of the Exhibition Orchestra, played two violin solos with organ accompaniment. It has been definitely settled that the Fijians will leave for their homes to-morrow. They wilL go as far as Auckland in the and complete their journey in the Moura. The Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister in Charge of the Exhibition, was a spectator of a performance by the Hawke's Bay Natives in the pali , this afternoon. There was also a large attendance of the public. No. 3 Battalion of the Wellington School Cadets, who have been encamped at the Exhibition, left for the North this afternoon. Col. Loveday addressed the'lads before they took their departure, stating that he was sure both officers and boys would benefit by the excellent week's training they had experienced. A battalion of Cadets from Greymouth is expected to arrive on Thursday, one from North Otago on Friday, and one from Wairarapa on the 20th instant. The site for the encampment will be occupied without break,, it is expected, till the closing of the Exhibition. At least one department of the educational side of the Exhibition receives very close attention from the public, and that is the demonstrations of fruit preserving given, from time to time in the Canadian Court by the Government Canning Expert (MrJaques). Groups of over one hundred ladies follow these demonstrations with the greatest interest, plying Mr Jaques with questions and returning from time to'time to elicit further information on obscure points as the result of successive demonstrations. The collection of several hundred bottles of fruit and vegetables canned thus publicly in the Exhibition forms , quite an interesting exhibit in the Agricultural Court. The greatest gathering of firemen ever held in the colony will take . place from March 16th to 24th, after a second seascn of the Besses-o'-th'Barn Band, when the. annual New Zealand Fire. Brigade competitions will be held in the Exhibition Sports Grounds. It is expected that fully one hundred teams from all parts of the colony, and including some from Australia, will take part. A large number of New Zealand bands, and two from the other side, have already entered. The competitions will be on a larger scale than has ever been seen in the colony before, and over £6OO will be given in prizes. A torchlight procession on the River Avon, and water displays ,on the Avon and Victoria Lake, will be attractive features. The Besses-o'-th'-Barn Band's second season will commence on February. 28th. The attendance to-day was. 14,569.