THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8362, 19 February 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Telegraph—Special Service. CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. The reent rain has had a remarkable effect on the Exhibition lawns and gardens, which are now more beautiful than they have ever been before and compel the admiration of all visitors. Of these there is still a steady influx. To-day was the. Dunedin special excursion day, and the Otago capital sent over 400 of its citizens to swell the attendance of the next week. The North Island rail a'nd steamer' excursions, another of which comirienced to-day, have been successful ih bringing large crowds to the Exhibition. The number of cadets who will go into camp from first to last is estimated at about > 5,000. The Grey and North Otago Battalions, who are there at present will remain throughout the«week, and on the 26th inst. a second Hawke's Bay contingent will arrive, and they will be .followed by Taranaki and Southland Battalions and, others at later dates. ; Everything at the camp is carried out on correct military lines, and the discipline is all that could be desired. No breaches cf discipline or disobedience of orders have been dealt with so far, and there have been no cases of serious sickness. The cadets are able to spend a good deal of time in the Exhibition, and the General Manager has arranged for them to have free passes to the Art Gallery and orchestral concerts in future. Pictures of the Exhibition camps and parades have been sent to the Old Country, and will be used as lantern slides to. assist the cause of the cadet movement there. Prom 1,500 to 2,000 special tickets have been issued to Canterbury, school children for admission to the Exhibition tomorrow. Mr Baird, manager of "Wonderland," is desirous that admission fee to these popular'places of amusement should be abolished, and the public only charged for tl e sensations of its numerous side show s. It is probable that this change win be brought about. The Exhibition has been largely attended during t*v> day, and a million and a quarter [is close in sight at a satisfactorily eaily period. The orchestral concerts iu the afternoon and evening were very largely attended. The evening programme|included Beethoven's great symphony in F (No. 6) "The Pastoral," Which was given for the first time at the Exhibition. Toe symphony was splendidly interpreted, and was very highly appreciated. The Hawke's Bay Maoris, whose entertainments have been very popular, gave a final preformance of pois and hakas at the pah this afternoon. They will be succeeded without delay by a contingent of fellow tribesmen. Entries for the baby show, to be held in the main corridor on Thursday, close on Tuesday night. Prizes to the number of 36 will take the form of gold, silver and bronze medals, stamped with a view of the Exhibition, and name of the winner and class. All babies who enter will be 'expected to remain at the Exhibition during the entire afternoon and during the evening till "9 p.m., and all who do so will receive mementos of the occasion whether they win priaes or not. One of the set pieces at a free display of fireworks to be given on Wednesday night will be a portrait of Sir Jno. Hall in honour of his kindness to the school children in obtaining a concession for them at the Exhibition. Large contingents of athletes from other parts of the colony are expected to take part in the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Championship Meeting on Thursday and Saturday. One of the features of the meeting will be the walking of H. E. Kerr, of Taranaki, who equalled the world's mile record (6min 26sec) at Wellington on New Year's Day. Kerr, who is undoubtedly the finest heel and toe exponen tin Australasia, is in active training, and is stated to have covered a mile in the sensational time of 6min Usee. The officials of the Athletic Association are taking every precaution as to judging the measurements of the course and time-keeping, so that in the event of Kerr breaking a world's record, the necessary certificates will be in order to secure recognition of the record by the world's athletic authorities.