CARNIVAL OPENS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 12

CARNIVAL OPENS

NATIONAL ART GALLERY AND MUSEUM FUND HUGE CROWDS LINE »STREETS EVOLUTION OF TRANSPORTATION The first of a series of pageants in connection witli the big carnival iu aid of the National Art Gallery and Museum Fund took place on Saturday. This was to assist the candidature of Cleopatra in the queen competition The weather was at its best, and the pageant and procession from -Waterloo Quay to Newtown Park, through the main streets of the city, took place under ideal conditions. It was believed to be one of the largest, if not the record procession that lias been seen in Wellington, and was reasonably estimated to be two miles long. lhe front was entering Newtown Park before the tail had reached the Basin ’Reserve. .

The assembly of such a mass of vehicles of all sorts, sizes, and ages Was a problem in itself, but after a considerable section had formed, up in Waterloo Quay, other sections were in readiness in Featherston Street, Stout Street, and* Bunny Street, and so well were the arrangements made, that they all fell into position without a hitch. It was no light task to get such a monster parade away on time, and it is to the credit of the chief marshal,'Mr. "J. C. Drake, chief traffic inspector, and his assistants that the word “Go” was given within five minutes after the hour, and thirty minutes, later Dep.-Superintendent Clark, of the Wellington Fire Brigade, brought up the rear of the procession as it turned the corner of Government Buildings into Lambton Quay. Meanwhile the staff of the traffic department handled the incoming and outgoing traffic most expeditiously, and there was no undue delay on this account. Big Crowds Line Streets. Wellington people* turned out in their thousands, and at Lambton, along the Quay and all the way through the city, lined the streets six, eight, and ten deep, and many balconies and windows were crowded. Among them tlie members ot the various queen committees got to work with their collecting-boxes with good results for Queen Cleopatra, in whose honour as the transportation candidate the pageant was organised. The object of the pageant was to demonstrate the evolution of transport from the days of the Roman chariots through the ages to the present day. and this was achieved in a manner worthy of the highest commendation, for it was a very representative one. There was a realistic model of an old chariot with wooden wheels, rickshaw, an antiquated growler, one of the earliest motor-cars to take the road, motor-cars right through the period of this method of transportation with many beautiful and luxurious models now on the market, lorries, fuel, and oil transport, a string of about 30 horses belonging to the City Council, all looking well cared for. The milk department’s activities were well represented in the procession, while undoubtedly the coolest place was the ice cart with great blocks of ice from the milk department’s freezing chamber.

The Railway Department’s section was unique and well worthy of notice, including a full-size model of an express engine and a sleeping car, while another lorry carried a perfect model, 12ft long, of a tourist carriage, miniature engine and passenger car. The signals branch was represented, and two other cars proclaimed in practical manner the pleasurable holidays to be enjoyed at Rotorua, Mt. Egmont and the Hermitage. Motor-cycle and cycling clubs were strong in numbers, as were trade and industrial lorries and vans, the New Zealand Artillery with tfuns, kitchen, and pontoon bridge, Sea Scouts, Boy Scouts, and St. John Ambulance, the latter including some of the equipment and old hand-cart ambulance in use many years ago. The Wellington Fire Brigade brought up the rear of this spectacular parade with 10 appliances ami 49 men, not forgetting Tubby, the fire dog, under DeputySuperintendent Clark and Station Officer Ledbrook. The range of machines covered the period from 1840 to present-day motor engines. Queen Cleopatra and her maids occupied the position of honour about the centre of tlie procession, and they were’ the recipients of many congratulations upon so fine a display. The procession was interspersed with bands, including the Wellington Tramways, Artillery, and Boys’ Institute. At New town Park.

It was about 3.15 when the first portion of the procession reached Newtown Park, when the attendance was disappointing and did not exceed 1000 people. Tlie parade passed right round the drive, and then a carnival entertainment commenced, the programme including exhibitions of dancing by Miss Cresswell Vaughan and pupils, and Scottish-dancing,-quick-step and drill by the Tramways Band, and a massed bands parade. completed the proceedings. In the morning the Bristol aeroplane, flown by Captain Buckley, arrived from Trentham, and flew over all parts of the city, dropping pamphlets from an altitude of 500 to 1000 ft., but the fresh northerly often carried the papers fully a mile away from the spot where they were released. Prizes were to be awarded, to the holders of certain numbers, so where they fell in the vicinity where youngsters were there were exciting rushes to secure them. A MAYORAL APPEAL TO CLEAN UP BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR The Mayor of Wellington (Mr. G. A. Troup) has made the following appeal :— “If Wellington people get the right spirit during the next fortnight, and enter into the carnival with two thoughts in mind —to help along the Art Gallery and Museum Fund, and to get all the fun out of the entertainments arranged—the fund can be rounded off before the year is out. The donations and promises now exceed £BB,OOO. “The effort to raise £lOO,OOO, the city’s share of the cost of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum, to be erected in conjunction with the National War Memorial and the Carillon Memorial on the Mount Cook site, has met with a very * wonderful response, and I am sure that every

zen and every subscriber will agree with me when I say that. Over £BB,OOO has been received and promised to date, and it is hoped to bring this amount up to £90,006 by direct contributions. That was the objective of the committee when the second stage of, the campaign was entered upon, and it is pleasing to know that theii - anticipations are likely to be realised. “It was decided to raise the last £lO,OOO by means of a carnival, and for that reason the general campaign committee did not include in its programme entertainments of any kind, leaving the field clear to the carnival committees. Now the first stage is being entered upon, and it is sincerely hoped that everyone will join in in the right spirit and help to make it the. success for which the promoters have so willingly been working. I therefore appeal to all citizens of Wellington, and to the many who will visit Wellington, taking advantage of the excursion arrangements made by the Railway Department to enjoy themselves, and by donating so 4 to carry the carnival on to success and the fund on to the full £lOO,OOO. So far, under 3000 persons or firms have subscribed to the fund, which leaves a very large number of citizens who have not yet contributed in any way, many of them doubtless because they did not care to send in small donations. Now Is their opportunity. They may subscribe a shilling or a couple of shillings in entrance fees, and at the same time get something substantial in entertainment in return. “I heartily commend the efforts of those who have gone to such pains in producing the three spectacular pageants and other entertainments to every citizen. Wellington has done very well, much better than many people believed was possible; we ask now that Wellington shall not tire of well doing, but shall carry the campaign on to £lOO,OOO before the year is out,”