THE GALA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 16, 29 October 1932, Page 6

THE GALA

HELD IN FINE WEATHER. LARGE ATTENDANCE AT OVAL. POSTPONED FUNCTION TO-DAY. Throughout the greater part of this morning it appeared that a deluge of rain would be experienced at any moment, and anxiousi eyes swept the heavens for prospects of a breaking of the clouds, everyone having in mind the Gala, which was scheduled to take place on the Domain Oval this afternoon.

Toward mid-day, however, there was a change for the better and the function, which had been postponed from Labour Day on account of the rain on that day, was carried out successfully. The sk> was clouded over, but the conditions' were warm and fine and the Gala Executive’s programme went through to schedule.

For several years a Gala has been conducted in Ashburton in October, the object being to raise funds to promote the work of the Advance Ashburton Association. By these means some thousands of pounds have been collected and the Association has been enabled to beautify many parts of the Borough, notably in East Street and along the Domain boundaries. This is the only appeal made on behalf of the Association, and the Gala is looked upon as the largest function of its kind in the County.

Preparations for the Gala- are in the hands of an executive which appoints sub-committees to deal with various phases of the programme. Considerable enthusiasm is shown each year, and the A.A.4. funds benefit accordingly. It was a great disappointment to the officials when rain caused a postponement on Mondaly, but their efforts met with success to-day. There was of necessity a reduction in the full programme intended for last Monday, but patrons were amply catered for in every way.

On the Oval there were scenes of great animation. Side-shows to a total of oyer 20 were in full swing throughout the afternoon, and those in charge put all their energies into their work. There were no dull moments anywhere near the stalls, and as there was a very large attendance on the grounds good business was done. The officials had the arrangements well in hand, and they .all worked with a will under the guidance of the organiser (Mr H. W. Sherratt). There were amusements for young and old, but the older people mostly felt more or less young in the gay atmosphere which settled over the Oval. There were brief periods o£ sunshine early in the afternoon and this added to the' zest of the officials and the enjoyment of those who attended.

THE PROCESSION. MANY FINE EXHIBITS. ' A good start to the afternoon was given when about 1500 people lined up in East Street to watch the procession, the event which precedes each Gala. Tliis year the procession was not up to the standard of those of previous years, taking it as a whole, but it is accounted for, no doubt, by the fact that many decorated cars and other exhibits which had been prepared for Monday had to be dismantled during the week and the owners did not tackle the task of decorating a second time. Only one private car' was in the procession in the decorated section. Therfe were more humorous exhibits this time but there was a falling away in all other sections, due to the postponement earlier in the week.

Many of the. exhibits, especially those in the children’s section, showed the results of many hours’ work, and there were several original and cleverlyexecuted designs. The Ashburton Silver Band headed the procession, which started from the lower end of East Street promptly at 1.30 o’clock. With it marched Mr G. D. H. Hefford, marshal of the procession. Behind the band came a humorout item allegedly depicting life in a relief camp. It was profusely labelled. Next-came “The King of Jazz,” enthroned on a vehicle, formerly a motorcar. Movie Week” was displayed on a well-decorated lorry, and then came Mr E. 0. Bathurst’s delivery van. Following this was an antiquated car with flat tyres and little enamel, but much noise. Messrs J. J.Tait’s bread delivery car was sandwiched between this and “The Boys of the Old Brigade,” who represented what, might have been, in some far distant year, a fire brigade. A private decorated car followed, and then members of the Ashburton Meccano and Hornby Club appeared with an exhibition of their constructive ability. Justahead of the Ashburton County Pipe Band were a number of decorated cycles. Several girls in Scottish, costume stepped out behind the band, and then came five mounted units, cowboys, Indians and an Arab. The Morris Minor car, entered in the trade section, came next and was succeeded by an exhibit entered by Mr Len Hopkins, setting his cycle shop wares. This was attended by several children on cycles.

A number of children in all manner of fancy costume took the attention next. There were fairies, and characters from the 3tory-books, a scarecrow and many other picturesque creations. The “Busy Bees,” with two mounted men with Gargantuan heads brought up the taif of the procession.

Prizes, awarded in the procession were as follow: Motor-car or horse-drawn vehicle: Mr J. It. Richardson; decorated advertising display (open): Messrs J. and J. Tait 1, Majestic Theatre 2, Mr L. Hopkins 3. Original or humorous display : Messrs Chambers and Choat 1, “Boys of the Old Brigade” 2, Meccano Club, special. Decorated bicycle, poy or girl, 12yrs or over: Lena Grindley (Chinese Junk) 1, Betty Furniss (Wedding Bells) 2. Fancy da-ess, boy or girl: Bobbie

Travers (baker) 1, Helen Louden (military) 2, Helen llooke (balloon girl) 3, Cecil and Nola Reeves (Grandma and papa), Ean Rollinson, Jane Young and J. Hydes, lie. Children’s decorated pram, tricycle, barrow or scooter, under 12: Marjorie Griffiths (Maori) 1, Daphne Bishop (Sunshine and Butterfly) 2, Bertha Good (Amy Johnson) lie.

TpiE GALA SPORTS. KEEN COMPETITION SHOWN. The sports programme conducted on the Oval attracted attention from an early hour. There were large entries in all the events and some good running and cycling were witnessed. Results up to the time the “Guardian” went to press were as follow: Running Events. 100 Yards Gala Cash HandicapFirst heat (2): E. J. Samuels (Byds) 1, T. G. Scott (73yds) 2. Time, 10 l-ssec. Second heat (2): J. A. Brown (73yds) 1, A. F. Ellis (3yds) 2. Time, 10 3-ssec. Third heat (6): N. Billcliff (73yds) 1, R. A. Jorgensen (scr) 2, G. Cartwright (33yds) 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Fourth heat (4): J. W. Scott (73yds) 1, E. J. Croy (4yds) 2 AV. S, Smith (61yds) 3. Time, 10 *2-ssec. Semifinal—First heat: E. J. Samuels (Byds) 1, W. S. Smith (63 yds) 2, E. J. Croy (4yds) 3. Time, 10 2-ssec. Second heat: N, Billcliff (73yds) 1, J. W. Scott (73yds). 2, A. F. Ellis (3yds) 3. Time, 10 l-ssec. Final: N. Billcliff (73yds) 1, E. J. Samuels (Byds) 2, J. AV. Scott (73yds) 3. Time, lOsec. 220 Yards Amateur Handicap—First heat (5): W. J. Fitzsimmons (scr) and A. C. Bray (18yds), equal, 1; F. C. Barwell (6yds) 3. Time, 23 3-ssec. Second heat (4): J. J. Dickinson (11yds) 1, 'll. F. Shearman (12yds) and N. A. Keeley (18yds), equal, 2. Time, 23sec.

220 Yards Cash Handicap—First fieat (3): N. Billcliff (15yds) 1, G. Cartwright (9yds) 2. Time, 23 l-ssec. Second heat (4): E. J. Croy (9yds) 1, R. Burns (16yds) 2. Time, 24sec. Third heat (4): T. W. Gifford (16yds) 1. S. J. Cain (14yds) 2. Time, 23 3-ssec. 100 Yards Amateur HandicapFinal: AV. J. Fitzsimmons (43yds) 1, A. C. Bray (93yds) 2, J. J. Dickinson (43yds) 3. Time, 10 1 -ssec. 220 Yards Amateur HandicapFinal: J. J. Dickinson (11yds) 1, R. F. Shearman (12yds) 2, N. A. Keeley (18yds) 3. Time, 23 l-ssec. 220 Yards Cash Handicap—Final: N. Billcliff (15yds) 1, T. AV. Gifford (16yds) 2, G. Cartwright (9yds) 3. Time, 22 2-ssec. 100 Yards Amateur Handicap—First heat (3): R. F. Shearman (53yds) 1, J. J. "Dickinson (43yds) 2. Time, 10 2-ssec. Second heat (2): N. A. Keeley (9yds) 1, AV. J. Fitzsimmons (43yds) 2. Time, 11 2-ssec.

Cycling Events. Half-mile Dash Cash HandicapFirst heat (3): R . B. Daly (55yds) 1, L. AV. Hill (10yds) 2. Time, 63sec. Second heat (3): T. E. O’Brien (15yds) 1, L. Pither (20yds) 2. Time, 64 2-ssec. Third heat (6): A. C. Hlill (65yds) 1, F. E. Pope (90yds) 2. Time, 59 2-ssec. Fourth heat: C. O. Bearman ( 1 oyds) 1 J. Elliott (90yds) 2. Time, 67sec. Final: A. C. Hill (65yds) 1, T. O’Brien (15yds) 2, C. O. Bearman (70yds) 3. Time, 59sec. One and a Half Miles Scratch Race (10) i T. E. O’Brien 1, L. Pither 2, A. C. Hill 3, S. A. Jordan 4. Time, 3min 21sec.