CELEBRATIONS IN LYTTELTON

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27056, 3 June 1953, Page 11

CELEBRATIONS IN LYTTELTON

CIVIC SERVICE AND PROCESSION BIG CROWDS ATTEND Big crowds attended the Coronation celebrations in Lyttelton. Yesterday a civic religious service was held at the borough’s Coronation archway. The service began with a Coronation fanfare by a quartet of trumpeters from the Lyttelton Marine Band. Participating ministers were the Rev. J. R. Witty, vicar of Holy Trinity parish, Lyttelton; the Rev. D. K. Boyd, of St John’s Presbyterian Church, and Lieutenant E. Ward, of the Lyttelton Salvation Army Corps. The Lyttelton Marine Band played the music for the hymns and the National Anthem. A large crowd braved the rigours of a bitterly cold north-easterly to watch a procession after the service. Those taking part included the Lyttelton Marine Band, the Scottish Society’s Pipe Band, the Mayor (Mr F. G. Briggs) and councillors, representatives of the merchant navy, the Lyttelton Volunteer Fire Brigade, sea scouts, wolf cubs, girl guides, a team from the Lyttelton Marching Association. the Lyttelton Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, and , children from all the Lyttelton schools. X -J’here were many attractively decoratpj floats, cars, bicycles, and nramk Of the floats, probably the most was the Lyttelton Kindergarten in which tiny tots from th® kindergarten, dressed as newly-hatched Thickens, peeped from a huge straw nest. -T 4 ’ 43 float , waB P?*" ceded on foot by a 't 4 g r J o3>er > who evidently considered he'll®* 4 something to crow about—and did sßc . Other attractive floats vere tn® “Queen of Lyttelton” and P er 5? u a Maori whare surrounded py Maori maidens and youths in cf*?tume, “Britannia,” a display by childreß 01 a Lyttelton Chinese family in costuißS; and an entry by the Lyttelton Harbour Board staff in which helmeted divers were being entertained by rather masculine looking “mermaids.” Outstanding among the trade floats was . one bearing a large crown. In the playground of the Lyttelton Main School, about 700 children were afterwards treated to sweets, apples, drinks and ice-creams. Prizes for children’s fancy dress were awarded as [ follows: prams, Caroline Brown: tri- ■ cycles, Peter Beaumont; bicycles, Garth ■ Crawford; best-dressed girl, Gloria ’ Neilson: best-dressed boy, James Gilmore; special prize, Linda Wilson. i Last evening, there was a parade of i a “dark-town” fire brigade, “dark- ’ town” band, and the Lyttelton Marine s Band. A “cottage” of highly inflam- • mable material was set alight, and the I efforts of the “dark-town” brigade in s dealing with the outbreak greatly s amused the' onlookers. A bonfire on i the recreation ground and a fireworks s display brought Lyttelton’s celebrations to a close.

A Coronation dance was held on Monday evening in the Excelsior Hall. All ships in the port are gaily decorated with flags and bunting.