LABOUR DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 246, 14 October 1908, Page 5

LABOUR DAY.

- PROCESSION OF TRADES. SPORTS IN THE DOMAIN. Each year the celebration of Labour Day becomes more and more a general holiday, and to-day there were comparatively few business premises that were not closed, it being really closely observed as a holiday. Even the Stock Exchange was closed for the day, and at j the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday afternoon it was decided to observe the holiday, and instruct the Bylaw Committee to add it to the fixed days on which the Board's offices were to be closed in future. The Government buildings, courts, legal offices, fire insurance offices, banks, warehouses, and all wholesale premises were closed, also the railways goods shed, but there was \ no difference in the Post and Telegraph ' Department, with the exception that I there was only one delivery of letters. I The pupils attending the city and suburban public schools had a holiday, but some secondary schools only allowed the scholars out to see the procession go past. The weather being fine, there was a very large gathering of onlookers in Queen-street, to see the start of the procession, verandahs and balconies of the hotels being well filled with sightseers, and even the top of Victoria Arcade wap occupied around the cupola. A good deal of bunting was displayed in honour of the occasion, and further up the town other large crowds had assembled to see tbe procession. ! TheTe were four bands marching, and , when the pipers passed it was in every : instance the signal for cheering and clapI ping on the part of the onlookers. A i posse of mounted police was in attendI ance to keep the street clear, and the whole affair was well arranged. i The procession comprised a large num- ! ber of individual displays, and so great ! an interest was taken by the various j participating firms and unions that it ! was snmp time after the leading files ; entered Well -ley-street before the last j of the line left Queen-street wharf. The i route taken to the Domain Cricket ; Ground was by way of Weilesley, Hobson, and Pitt streets, Karangahape- ! road, Symonds-street, Khyber Pass-road, and Grafton-road. All along tbe line of march the progress of the procession was watched with keen interest by tbe large concourse which lined the streets. The tram traffic was suspended in the various thoroughfares en route to allow the procession to pass. Whilst tbe procession was undoubtedly a snceesß in every sense of the word, it cannot be denied that it would have been far more so had the various unions been better represented. With the lengthy list, for which places were drawn in the line of march, it afforded something in tbe nature of a surprise to tbe onlookers to observe the striking paucity of support which was received from the workers themselves. Most of these appeared to be content to witness the proceedings from the sidewalk and to participate only ia the capacity of spectators. Had these been actuated sufficiently by the energy which formed so marked a feature in many other instances m the procession, to share the parade with their fellow-workers, it cannot be doubted that the display would have proved much more . effectual than was actually the case. THE PROCESSION. At about 10.15 o'clock, the first of the procession moved off from Customs-street West. Headed by a squadron of mounted ! police, a military band led the line of j march to_ spirited being followed by the eight hours' banner, supported on ! a lorry, and the banners of the Bricklayers, Painters, and Buildters, Labourers, and Carpenters and Joiners. WATERSIDE WORKER,'. The display provided by the Waterside i Workers' Union was, p.rhaps, .he most i unique in the procession, the Union's banner being followed by a miniature steamer, mounted on a huge lorry, and | presenting, in every detail of construction j and finish a remarkably clever appearance. i The vessel was manned by a crew of y oungsters, of which a number were busily engaged in the capacity of lumpers in discharging the cargo. Flag 3 streamed from the masts and rigging, and from the funnel issued a column of smoke which materially added to the picture. HANCOCK AND CO. The well-known firm of Hancock and Co. made a fine display. On one twohorse lorry was a pile of barrels of Imperial ale.' The driver was attired in a blue costume with white wig. Alongside of the driver sat, in great contrast, a wahine calmly smoking her pipe. On the next lorry was a pyramid composed of Imperial ale pints, and to this was added the graceful decoration of cabbage trees and ferns in barrels. Behind this came the large delivery van of that firm, which was decorated for the occasion. CITY COUNCIL. The City Council's quota to the proCession oi decorated vehicles comprised several vehicles of various descriptions. First came a dust cart upon which was erected a large screen bearing at the summit the legend " Advance Auckland/ In the centre of the screen was a model full-rigged schooner on a blue background. This was surmounted with a pick audi spade in the right hand corner, and an anchor in the left. Below the ship was placed a sheaf of oats and a plough share, and opposite this was a beehive, a scythe lying between them. The framework of the screen was tastefully decorated with nikau palms and other greenery picked out here and there with arum lilies. Tti_ horses were gaily decorated with ribbons, and the wheels andi body of the cart were a mass of arum lilies. This vehicle was followed by a water sprinkler, also prettily robed with fernery and arum lilies. The street sweeper followed this, and much ingenuity has been displayed in transforming this useful article of municipal equipment into a veritable fairy bower. Not a trace indicating the prosaic functions of the vehicle could be seen; all was a mass of bloom and ferns. NORTHERN ROLLER MILLS. The Northern Roller Milling Company's display was one of the most prominent in the procession. Their line of vehicles was headed by a Highlander on horseback, who was followed by a single lony drawn by "Mick," a splendid horse, which for several years has been a prizetaker at various shows. On this vehicle Admiral Poore, assisted by his gunner, superintended the manipulation of the "Champion" long-range gun, which, it was intimated, was "well known to the flour trust." The pipe band, some 18 strong, paraded in the rear of this lorry, announced to be piping the praise of the "Champion Muscle-raiser" and "Standard Soother." Another waggon, entitled "The only Champion," drawn by three beautiful grays (also former p_izet_c_rs), and three lorries to which -were harnessed fine „bays, ytere also loaded with "M-iade-

raiser" and "Standard Soc-ther," there ■being on the top of each lorry a number of danuurtive miller boys distributing sweets -to- the small fry. Three springcarts and two drays brought up the rear, the last being loaded with two large boxes, marked respectively "Standard Gruel Meal for Invalids" and "Standard Rolled Oats for M.P.'s." Each of the ten vehicles was gaily decorated, and the whole formed a most picturesque display. WIN STONE, LTD. . The firm of Winstone, Ltd., presented one of the most striking displays in the procession. Mounted on a lorry was a huge bag of "Wyandotte Cleaner and Cleanser," which reared its bulk almost up to the tram wires. On the top reposed a stalwart redskin of the Wyandotte tribe, who, with generous indiscrimination, distributed to the crowd sample packets of the brand. His agility in dodging the overhead wires commended itself to an expectant crowd, which, observing him standing upright on the top of the sack, watched for . possible downfall with unholy avidity. Following on behind wis another display by the same -firm, which also attracted a large share of interest and applause. The flooring of a lorry was transformed to depict the forge of "The Village Blacksmith," who plied his craft- on the hoofs of a diminutive pony under the shade of a spreading chestnut in the guise of a clump of willow. BROWN, BARRETT AND CO. This old-established firm had a good display, a large van being occupied with chests of Butterfly Tea and large tins of their various brands of coffee. At the top of the pile sat two young ladies, who were busily engaged using butterfly fans to keep them cool, and at the same time apparently taking copious draughts from teapots, drinking from the i spouts, to the amusement of the onlookers. AERATED WATERS. The aerated "water manufacturers were to the fore in the procession, displays being made by three firms. Messrs Scott and Co. had four vans nicely decorated and loaded with their various manufactures. On one floated the Union Jack, and the vehicle itself was wreathed in lilies. Another was resplendent in streamers of red, white an-., blue. Messrs j Sharp Brothers also showed several of their vehicles, and Messrs Simmonds and -Osborne, of Devonport, fe_d- a in the procession. NO-LICENSE DISPLAY. As usual, the No-license party took advantage of the opportunity afforded by the procession to advertise their cause, having two large lorries. On the first was the usual invitation to "Strike out the •top line," and there were also some striking designs exhibited, in one of which a gentleman with a pitchfork (but without the taxi or cloven hoof) was shown to have secured a small Iboy on the portion of his clothing, usually sat upon, and was either dangling the little lad over the jaws of a crocodile, or else rescuing him horn falling into the mouth of the reptile. The second velticle was filled wtoh little girls waving invitations to the people to save the children by striking out the top line. Ahead of this display marched the Salvation Army band. OTHER DISPLAYS. At various points throughout the procession came the butchers' carts,.express carts, milkvendors' carts, hansoms, and decorated horses. Many of the vehicles ■were decked out in flowers, greenery, and drapery in a manner, and the horses on exhibition comprised a capita- display. * . '. '. 77 T ' The Singer Sewing Machine Compaoy contributed four vehicles to the procession, these being piled with a cargo of the company's manufactures, displayed to striking effect. Messrs. Tyne Bros.' exhibit took "the" form of a decorated horse and trap, the latter presenting a very picturesque appearance in a wealth of arum lilies, with which the were almost concealed, whilst above was a very tastefully decorative set piece. Messrs. Wright Bros., carriers, had a lorry in the procession, which was drawn by six beautiful greys. The vehicle itself was loaded by young fellows, who were evidently enjoying the ride. The Great Northern Brewery was also represented. Mr. L. R. Eady displayed to the spectators one of their -makes of pianoforte, on which a veritable Paderewski, if not in musical technique, then certainly in the luxuriance of hair which crowned his poll, thumped with an animation which spoke volumes for the strength of the instrument. A single vehicle of unpretentious appearance, and befitting in every way its unlovely occupant, contained a very masculine looking lady, who announced in strident tones the "fact that she had fish to sell. Other attractions which were warmly appreciated by the juveniles were a couple of vehicles accommodatm*** parties of Darktown Minstrels, wh__e antics evoked much amusement. (Continue.; on page 3.) SC-C-CHERN OBSERVATIONS. (By. Telegraph.—Press Association.) - WELLINGTON, this day. Labour Day is being observed to-day in fine weather. The principal attraction is a carnival at Miramax. Large crowds of people are picnicking at the various bays, and the races at Otaki are t also well patronised. ASHBURTON, this day. Labour Day is being observed as a close holiday. The weather is fine. DUNEDIN, this day. The weather is fine, but unsettled, and a close holiday is being observed. The principal functions are the Labour Day sports at Outrani and races at Wingatui. EEH-OING. this day. There is no special recognition of Labour Day here. BLENHEIM, this day. No special holiday is being observed toi day. The Government offices, factories, • and the schools are closed, but the shops • remained open this morning, closing at : 1 o'clock for the usual Wednesday half-' [ holiday. NELSON, this day. Except for a few picnics, Labour Day .is not being observed here. The shops , are open, but factories and some offices are closed. The weather is fine, but very • co-d, after heavy hail and rain. r •—•»