THE PAGEANT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18968, 5 April 1927, Page 14

THE PAGEANT.

LARGE CROWDS AGAIN. MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY. All roads led. to the Show Grounds last night, whan the ifilitary Pageant and Searchlight Tattoo was-again presented. The record attendance present on Saturday night was fully maintained last evening, and hundreds found difficulty in obtaining a seat or a posi- . tion from which to witness the performance. Good though the performers were on the previous occasions, they have now attained a high pitch of perfection, and their display last night vras a revelation. Opening trite, the beautiful and in-prc-ssive Pageant of Queens, the performance is a series of brilliant and magnificent spectacles. Striking aid brilliant uniforms, picturesque and romantic dresses, colourful illuminations, dashing and skilful horsemanship, and iuperb skill shown by those taking part, all combine to make the pageant and display an unforgettable and memorable one. The lively music rendered by the City's best bands relieves anv suspicion of heaviness in the performance. There is a wealth of beauty, variety, and magnificence in the Pageant of Queens, -which, graphic and full of beauty, gives -an- insight into the history of the British Army and, with it. of the British Empire. Wonderful organisation has made" the tattoo a striking success, and the most intricate evolutions and movements are carried out trithout a'single blemish to rr.ar the effect. A music-loving public, the crowd showed its approval of the massed bands' display. Arrayed in the brilliant uniforms of the Grenadier - Guards, over 100 bandsmen, comprised of members of the C.Y.C. (Berry's) Baud, the Municipal, the Woolston, and the Ist Battalion (Canterbury) Begiment Bands, march up and down the arena to the strains of stirring music. The Highland Pipers also participate, and their exit to "the strains of. the "Lament" is one of the most impressive-scenes of the evening. Myriads of flying, sparks, soaring rockets, showering globe 3 of many-col-oured flame, and burst upon burst of golden light, mark one of the best fireworks displays ever seen here. Dashing and spectacular, the Eoyal New Zealand Artillery perform the most intricate evolutions in the musical drive with a skill which speaks volumes for military precision. Fine horsemanship marks the display given by the C.Y.C. and New Zealand Mounted Eifles, who play a considerable part in the programme. The whole performance culminates in the most impressive and splendid scene imaginable, that of the Finale, "Soldiers of the King." Grim and realistic is the battle scene, which gives the spectators a vivid idea of the methods of modern warfare. The memorable closing scenes, in which the spirit of the Empire i 3 symbolised by the figure of "St. George," make a fitting end to a wonderful pageant, depicting the splendour of the army. Preliminary Events. Prior to the pageant, military tournment sports were held. Last evening the programme consisted of an artillery competition. Two teams, from the 9th and 10th Batteries participated in _ an artillery section alarm competition, which demonstrated the. speed and precision which mark the movements of this branch of the Service. The teams fall in. harness up, mount, move 50 yards, lay, aim, and fire (blank ammunition being used). Both teams gave a polished performance. The competition resulted: — 9th Batterv, N.Z.A. (Si pts) ..- 1 ' 10th Battery, N.Z.A (77 pts) .. - 2 The concluding performance will be given to-night, when it is anticipated that, a record crowd will attend..--