THE EXHIBITION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 8

THE EXHIBITION

OPENING DAY

WELLINGTON THRONGED INSTANT SUCCESS HUGE FIRST-DAY CROWDS (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Wednesday Wellington dressed itself in bunting to-day for the great event it has been awaiting—the ceremonial opening of the Centennial Exhibition. The unkindness of the northerly wind with the morning’s doubts about the continued fine weather could not dampen the spirits of the capital’s population or of the thousands of visitors who have come to Wellington to participate in New Zealand’s greatest commemoration of its hundredth birthday. There was a tense feeling of excitement about the streets, and city buildings, while children on holiday from school looked forward to the opening of the Exhibition gates with great expectations.

Traffic began to move toward Rongotai between rows of pylons several hours before noon, swelling later to long packed streams of cars. The tramway authorities, anticipating one of the busiest days in their experience, had made preparation for handling enormous crowds and the Railways Department had arranged a heavy schedule of trains from the outlying Wellington districts. The main city hotels had a large booked-in list, hundreds of prominent people—municipal, political, chucch and business—having been invited to attend the opening ceremony. The Exhibition grounds were the scene of frantic activity from early morning, exhibitors, officials and attendants struggling to have the whole show in a state of perfect readiness for the eyes of the first-day crowds—and the Exhibition authorities with New Zealand’s greatest show to put on were confident that no man among those crowds would be disappointed. Press representatives who inspected the Exihibition yesterday, or who saw as much of the huge affair as three or four hours would allow them, were unanimous in the expectation of instant and continued success and popularity. Transport Not Taxed Though suburban train services are expected to handle heavy traffic later in the day, long distance services did not carry much over normal traffic, nor did the inter-island ferry services. This repeats the experience of the Dunedin Exhibition’s opening day, the attendance being mainly confined to city and environs. City transport of the Exhibition was not taxed up till noon, but factories and business houses closed down then and a rush set in. The primary schools from the Wellington side of Paekakariki Hill and the Ri mutakas are closed for the whole day, and secondary sch?.ds are observing a half-holiday. Heavy bookings to Wellington from distant places are not expected until the holiday season sets in. The weather proved splendid.