THE EXHIBITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8390, 2 April 1907, Page 5

THE EXHIBITION.

By Service. CHRISTCHTJRCH, April 1. New Zealand attended its Exhibition to-day in immecse the multitude' that surged and crowded through the corridors all day, having drawn its units, one would think, from every part of the colony. Rain fell in the morning, and in the early part of the afternoon, causing the crowd to concentrate to a large extent inside the building, which has probably never held so huge a multituda since Show Day in November last, when the attendance at the Exhibition reached the enormous total of 45,000, a number that has not since been approached. After the weather cleared to-day the grounds and outdoor attractions received their share of the visitors and "Wonderland" and other sideshows were densely patronised. The Canterbury Band of Hope Demonstration, which was held at the Exhibition after the procession through the city, was taken part in by a great number of young people. The various Bands of Hope were welcomed by the Hon. G v Fowlds in front of the Exhibition. The football matches, Linwood v. Union and Albion v. Athletic, attracted a large attendance to the Sports Ground. The Concert Hall was packed for the organ recital by Dr. Bradshaw, of Christchurch Anglican Cathedral, and the orchestral concert in the afternoon, and the second concert by the Dunedin Phiiharmonic Society attracted a crowded and enthusiastic audience. "Musical," who contributes articles on the Exhibition music to the "Press,", referring to the large audience at the first concert of the Philharmonic Society, which was exceeded if anything to-night, says that the presence of such an audience, despite the powerful counter atractions, affords convincing proof of the rapidly developing taste for orchestral music, hundreds in the space of five months having become habitues at the Exhibition Concert Hall, intent on full appreciation of the works produced. The' must gratifying result of the labours of Mr Alfred Hill is that the feeling akin to stupefaction so evident a while ago, and the worried facial expression indicating despair of following the mysteries and intricacies of great master works, has given way to appearance of quiet happy enjoyment, joined with a desire to absorb and discriminate. One of the most memorable events in the musical history of the Exhibition should be the appearance in the Concert Hall next Wednesday and Friday evenings of Blanche Arral, the famous French soprano, in conjunction with the Exhibition Orchestra. This will afford an opportunity of hearing Madame Arral in her operatic arias to the best advantage. The items on the programme will be selected from the opera" Traviata, Laknie, Carmen, Dinorah and Mignon. The Exhibition authorities have consented to all holders of tickets for these two concerts free admission through the turnstiles of the Exhibition. The Canadian Commissioners will delight ten thousand school children during the present week. They have had manufactured ten thousand 1 sugar cakes from maple syrup that has been on exhibition in their court, and each pupil who visits the court will be presented with a cake as an Easter gift. The attendance to-day just missed breaking the record, the total being 44,747 as against 45,348 for Show Day. The takings at nearly all the side sl?ows, and the attendance at the Art* Gallery and in the Concert Hall in the afternoon passed previous records, the culminating feature of the magnificent last display of fireworks in the evqning was. the immense, triumphal arch giving the approximate attendance to date with the words "Well dor\e Munro." The arch was loudly cheered. The aggregate attendance is 1,729,152.