FLOWER CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 288, 5 December 1910, Page 6

FLOWER CARNIVAL.

SWEET PEAS AND CARNATIONS. "THE QUEEN'S FLOAT." In spite of the unfortunate weather the committee's exhibition was a decided success, and the committee have every reason to feel satisfied at the result of their first carnival. Till the glorious displays in sweet peas and carnations, the public of Auckland had little idea of the great advance these lovely flowery had made in the district. Their cultivation is easy, simple, aud above all most fascinating. The work is not too hard for ladies, nor is it too simple for men. It meets all tastes, and the results to be obtained are prcubably more noticeable than in any other departments of horticulture. Imitation is the sineerest form of flattery, and no doubt many people will after last week's great 6how take up the hohby of either sweet peas or carnations —perhaps both. It is the intention of the society to make next year's carnival an even bigger affair than this one, and it is to be hoped that growers will assist them in making this event something to 'be looked forward to with anticipation not only by the gardening enthusiasts, but the great •body of the public, many of whom have neither the time nor the opportunities to indulge their love of the (beautiful in a little patch -of their own. With such a magnificent climate as Auckland possesses, this carnival should rival the famous "Battoilles de Fleurs" of some of the cities of Southern Europe. The floral fete at Ellerslie was rather too ibig an irndextaJcing, but the combined exhibition and decorative display which the Auckland Society has initiated seems to be just the sort of gathering that ds wanted. The society is very anxious to foster a love of flowers, and intending growers will find the officials only too pleased to give any information as to what to grow, and how to grow it. An ounce of experience is certainly worth much theory, 'but there are a number of points at the outset on which the beginner can 'be set right 'by the old hand, and saved much disappointment and many failures. Mr. G. W. Plummer, the hon. acting secretary, Rutland-street, will be pleased to hear from anyone desiring information about flowers or the society. The rain interfered with the show on Friday, but, fortunately, the society was favoured with fine weather on Saturday for the competitions in decorated vehicles, etc. The second competition in sweet peas attracted a large number of entries, and some admirable specimens were staged. There was a large attendance of the public during the afternoon, and the display more than compensated for Friday's disappointment. The chief item on the programme arranged Was the procession of the decorated vehicles, etc. Each class was well contested, and the competitors and their exhibits looked very pretty as they marched round the grounds. The Queen's Float, a new idea to Auckland, was well worth the time and trouble the Ladies' Committee took | over it. The design of the carriage was i ■uncommon, and the decorations of white peas and crimson rambler roses gave the exhibit a distinctive appearance. The i Queen (Miss Isabel Reeve) looked very pretty riding in state, and she was- attended by a number of dainty little pages and maids of honour, all dressed in white with touches of red, which harmonised well with the scheme of the carriage. The lorry on which the float was driven was drawn by four greys, with whitfl trappings edged with red, and two little outriders rode in front on cream ponies •with similar trappings to the greys, and led by a page in white silk with red facings. The design was splendidly carried out, and the little Queen and her court ■took their parts admirably. The judges awarded the exhibit a double first—an honour in which the public quite agreed. Those who were responsible for the work of decorating this novel turn-out were Mesdames R Bedford, P. Oliphant, P. Lindsay, MUnes, Colgrove, C. Hudson, [Andrews, Archdale Tayler, Benjamin, Ashton, Gore Gillon, Peacock, Misses E. Kent, Henderson, Snelling, Towle, Kirker, Binney, Oliphant, Lindsay and others. A Bweet stall, looked after by Mesdamfts At;wv>od, Monckton, Mactierr, Misses Mather, ffoties, and Mactier attracted many sixDuring the exhibition a prettily decollated lorry was used for advertising purposes. Those who supervised the ornamenting of this novel feature were Mesdames Green, Hayden, and Dorling, assisted by several others. After .the procession a large ring was formed, and Mrs. Heaps' young ladies went through marching drill to music, which was much appreciated. The Tui Troop of Boy Scouts (Heme Bay) and the Northcote Troop gave exhibitions cf drill etc., and the little fellows were loudly applauded. The A.M.R. Band, under Bandmaster Whalley Stewart, gave a popular programme during the afternoon. The lighting arrangements for the carnival, which were excellent, were carried out by the Lnx Light Company with their incandescent kerosene gas lamps. The grounds and tents were almost as brilliant as daylight, and the different shades and colouring of the flowers showed up to the greatest a-dvantage with this light. The Lux being a perfect white light of great brilliancy, and not affecting colours, the exhibits were seen at night in all their natural shades, as well as in dayU S ht - - ,T 4.1. 1 A The exhibition was again well attended in the evening, and the total takings came to about £200 for the three days. Following are the awards in the decorated classes: — DECORATIONS. Decorated Table.—Miss D. Bacon 1, Mrs Mowbray, jvmr., 2; Miss V. Palmer 3. Basket of Sweet Peas.—Miss N. Tlzard L Miss Anderson 2, Miss V. Palmer 3. Decorated Two-'Wlieeled Vehtele.—A. G. Decorated Pony Carriage.—Miss K. Buxton 1. Miss and Master Lundon 2. Decorated Bicycle.—Miss Mollie Baker 1. Decorated Parasol for Ladles.—Miss Beresford 1, Mrs Edmunds 2, Miss Inez JThompsou 3. _ ... . _. Decorated Doll's Pram.—Miss Dons Lipscombe 1, Miss Maureen Hood 2, Miss m. Ballantyne 3, Miss Muriel BruTault h-c-Children's Tricycles.—Molly Doube 1, Douglas Hutchison 2, Eobln Hood 3. Children's iG-d-Carts.—Rita iCWtnaga 1, airs Wm. Rich 2. o-™*= Novelty Class—Tui Troop of Boy Scouts, Heme Bay (A. 6. Stebblng, scoutmaster), decorated tent ...