THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8366, 23 February 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Telegraph—Special Servicfe. ; CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night School children have formed an unusually large proportion of the ExI hibition attendance to-day, three large Canterbury schoolsbeing represented in strong force. The Grey ;and North Otago Cadet battalions •took their departure, and their place '.was taken by the Wairarapa contingent of 283 of all ranks. There has not been a case of serious sickness at the Exhibition camps since they were inaugurated, and the boys apoear to enjoy greatly their : week of military life in which there are many -interludes for recreation. Church parades at the Cathedral have been made a weekly feature for the Anglicans among their number, and the religious needs of the rest are carefully considered. The Wairarapa boys will be followed by a detachment from Hawke's Bay. It is understood that the decision of the headmasters of the Wellington and suburban schools that, owing to serious difficulties in the way, it is not advisable to re-open the question of sending School Cadets to the Exhibition, will not prevent . Major Cowles arriving, about the Bth proximo, with a contingent of 200 boys chosen from the various Wellington schools. The judging of exhibits is proceeding busily, and the dates for judging various classes have been arranged up to the 27th • instant. It is expected that the first results will be available in about a week's time. After the Baby Show, the most popular exhibit in the Exhibition, yesterday, was undoubtedly the sweated industries collection, which was especially interesting to the large number of women present. Over 5,000 people are stated to have inspected the exhibit during the day. Motor launches, which had previously been confined to the river, have lately been placed on Victoria Lake as well, where they i are doing a large business. The inability of the New Zealand Rugby Union to assist in holding a football tournament at the Exhibition at Easter will not mean the aban donment of the .' project. It is probable that the Exhibition will offer a trophy of a specially attrac tive nature to be the prize of the most successful' team taking part in the competitions, and every club in New Zealand will be invited to send a team. The tournament will probably last from one Saturday till the next, and matches will be played both morning and afternoons. The present Exhibition should have a unique record for the good conduct "of its crowds. The police have not received a single report of pocket-pick-ing since it opened, and only one .man has been arrested for drunkenness. He slipped through the gates • drunk by some oversight, and was •arrested almost immediately afterwards. Some boys were arrested for pilfering during the early weeks, but the amount of £5 would probably cover the value of their thefts. ' Only ■ two men have been ejected from the buildings during the progress of the Exhibition, and their misbehaviour was not serious. A party of 110 Maoris from Hawke's Bay, now'on their way to the Exhibition, will be the largest that has ever occupied the pah at; one time; As the "Duke's Own'' tribe have already shown themselves to be possibly the finest haka dancers that the pah has held, the entertainment of this large contingent should be a great attraction. Extensive preparations are being made for the display of daylight fire ■ works which will take place on Saturday afternoon,. March 2nd, at 5 o'clock, and the display will be the first of its kind ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. The seventh display of fireworks by Pain and Sons will, take place next Wednesday night. The Besses o' th' Barn Band will commence a return season on the . 28th instant.