NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2769, 12 April 1890, Page 5 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND AND SOUTH SEAS EXHIBITION.

(KKOM OUII SPECIAL CORRKSI'ONDKNT). It is rather late to be telling you of Friendly Societies' Gala of the week before last, but I must just touch on it ere I puss to this week's doings. Dunedin hotels, restaurants, and boarding-houses were literally packed before the important event came off, and the town was more crowded than it has been at any time since the exhibition opened. About l-i.OOO is the sum total of our visitors. Of course, all were not Friendly Society delegates. Ciiristchnrch, Invercargill and the up couutry t.nvns furnislied their allowance of vititois. 'I'll? gala- proceedings commenced with a procession early in the morning of March (sth. .All the societies were well represented, as were also the Druids. On the inhibition the procession broke up. and the members of the variom societies joined tlu-ir fi ieuds aud streamed into the building, and from then until tight fa'l there Wiss one steady rush of people info the Exhibition. The sports were the great attraction. Tl).', course held over lawn and path, which is, fcisay the least of it, rather unpleasant. There were 110 accidents, however, although the winner of the Married woman's race fainted. The nports were a great sauce.-* and thoroughly enjoyed. Tliu baby show, ill the al'teruoou was very amu-ing. '11)9 concert hall, where it was held, was packed. All the proud mamas sat round the orchestra stage, with their dear little darlings. Poor Dr. Cought-rey, in the choir room, weighed the blessed infants. He performed a very unpleasant task with unfailing energy and zeal. In tho evening tho gardens and fernery were lit with tiuy fairy lamps and huge coloured flfres by the light of which some of the young people tripped it 011 the light fantastic toe 011 a specially-erected platform. In the meantime the Concert Hall was crammed to overflowing, and was one of the best and popular concerts that has yet been held. Only one thing occurred to in any way mar the harmony of the evening, Mr Joubert had beeu badgered into promising to read a paper on " Labour," in spite of his protests that papers were not; appreciated at popular concerts, and that he bad too bad a cold, etc., etc., but the society insisted, with the result that when the obliging old Frenchman commenced a red-headed beery lout commenced hammering the floor with a stick. Some youths yelled, some ctied " shame," and some applauded Altogether there was a tidy row. At last poor Mr Joubert remarked, " it's evidently music they want. Next item!" and marched off the stage with one of hi.} national slinks. The paper was a first rate one, and was afterwards published in the Times. To show the quality 1 give the concluding passages : — "Labour, possessing a secret far more important than the philosopher's stone transmutes the most worthless substance into the most precious; and placing in tho crucible of all potent chemistry, the putrid refuse of the sea and land, extracts fragrant scrubs, healing medicines, and minerals of priceless importance in the arts. Labour, laughing at difficulties, spans majestic rivers, carries viaducts over tnarshy swamps, suspends aerial bridges above deep ravines, pierces the solid mouutain with its dark undeviating tunnel, blasting rocks, ;;nd filling hollows; and while linking together with its iron, but loving grasp, all nations of the earth, verifying in a literal sense the ancient prophecy, " Every valley shall be exalted aud every mountain aud hill shall be brought low." Tho attendance was larger than on the opening day, aud the receipts on the gala day were £030, more by £100 than on any previous day. The band contest has been receiving all the interest last week. The air has been literally permeated with brass band melodies. Twenty-one bands entered, but St. Josephs, Launceston, Auckland, Sydenham, Caversham and Port Chalmeis showed the white feather. The following bands actually competed with their conductors : — Industrial School, Frank Craze ; Christchuroh Garrison, Leist Searell; Addington Railway Workshops, J. Fooley ; Napier Garrison Band, F, Tankard; Wellington Garrison Band, T. Herd ; Taranaki Rifle, Geo. Garry ; Oamaru Naval Artillery, H. Phelomy ; Oamaru Garrison Band, George Jones; Dunedin Garrison Band, D. Wishard ; Dunedin Ordnance, James Coonibes; Dunedin Engineers, T. Chapman ; Kaikoura, Edward Stratton; Invercargill Garrison, \V, Y. Siddall; Inveruaigill City, John Black ; Queenstown, Alex. iM'usor. Of these the winners turned up as follows :—Oamaru Naval Artillery Band, 1 ; Invercargill Garison Baud, 2; Oamaru Garrison Baud, 3; Dunedin Garrison Band, 4.—

Of tho squabble the contest enjendered I must tell you iu my next letter.