THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8383, 18 March 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Telegraph—Special Service. [ CHRISTCHURCH, March IT. 8? The attendance at the Exhibition on Saturday reached the highly satisfactory total for a wet day of 12,814, making the total for the week 72,917, and the aggregate to date 1,592.292. The diplay of daylight fireworks in the afternoon was witnessed by a i*very numerous gathering, and there were large audiences at Mr Pegson's final organ recital, and the orchestral concerts in the afternoon and evening. At the evening concert several vocal items were given very successfully by Mrs IJArthur Meade. An interesting addition has been made to the natural history court in the shape |of a fine painting (life size) of the North Island mountain lily (ranunculus insignia). It is the work of Mr David Turner, of Masterton. The plant was collected by him during the recent excursion to the Tararua Mountains. It is doubtful if this court has received the amount of , attention from the public that its imi portance and interest deserves, owing to its somewhat isolated position in the north-east corner of the gallery. It is really one of the most interesting courts in the Exhibition. There fine cases contain specimens of the '. taxidermist's art in the shape of many New Zealand birds, including; ' some of the famous wingless 3pecies, animals of various countries, and fishes, curioiTis and uncouth. Stand- . ing in the centre of the court is an idealistic representation of what the moa was supposed to be like in prehistoric days, and two Immense speci- ', mens of vegetable sheep were carried with great labour from a position three thousand feet up steep slopes of Mount Torlesse before they were deposited in the court. Two interesting cases show extraordinary i methods adopted by some animals for defence; a>nd beautiful casts of i Australian snakes, with implements used for extracting' poison. A numi ber of aquaria contain specimens of paradise fishe3 from China, fighting; fishes from Japan, carp and gudgeon i 1 from,: Australia, red-bellied newts from Japan, and other curiosities, ber I sides some highly interesting aquatic plants. The committee in charge of the fire brigade competitions to be held on the Sports Ground from Tuesday till Saturday next are spending £6'oo in prizes for the events. The committee's total expenditure on the I competitions will amount to over £1,200, so that no expense is being | spared to make these contests a success. Visiting firemen to the number j of over 800 are now practically all in town. The annual conference will I begin to-morrow morning, and the competitions at the Exhibition on Tuesday afernoon. On Tuesday night there will be a coloured water display on Victoria Lake. On Wednesday competitions will occupy all the morning and afternoon, and in the evening the fire rescue act "Fighting the Flames," will be given in realistic manner by the firemen. Other attractive features will be held on succeeding days. Some objections having been made by the Woman*s Christian Temperance Union and some individuals to the beauty show which it was proposed to hold in Wonderland on Friday, March 22nd, in conjunction with the gold rush and physical culture competitions, Mr Munro has explained that the management of the Exhibition has not authorised this additional attraction and Wonderland authorities have been requested not to hold it until permission is received. The physical development competition, and search for buried treasure will take place on the date proposed.