NAPIER CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 101, 23 January 1933, Page 4

NAPIER CARNIVAL

. Colourful Pageant OFFICIAL OPENING Highly Successful Effort Dominion Special Reporter. Napier, Jan. 21. The opening of Carnival Week was signalised by the jamming of streets with people and motor-cars, colourful. decorations in the shop windows, and bunting from every other flagpole along the main thoroughfares.' His Excellency, the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, . In delivering his opening speech at McLean Park,, epitomised’ .the attitude of visitors to the New Napier. In his view the city seemed likely to point the way with• its beautiful urban architecture and lay-out, and sound, up-to-date trading methods, to the whole of the Southern Hemisphere. ’ By virtue of a cloudless sky aud bright sunshine, the procession of over a hundred -.floats was set off to full advantage? providing pleasure—and in some eases amusement —to the thousands of people who packed the stands at McLean Park, where Miss Sheila Williams ■ was; crowned Queen of the Carnival. ' ' ■

Visiting mayors .fro in' Palmerston North, Gisborne, and Hastings joined in congratulating the carnival committee upon the way in which everything co-ordinated toward a successful functioning of the programme. Mr. A. E. Hansford, Mayor of Palmerston North, said it was the best he had seen for years; > In the afternoon the Napier Aero Club’s flying field at Westshore was the focal point of even larger crowds than had swarmed on to McLean.Park earlier in the days. Cars, -motor-lor-ries, bicycles, and motor-cycles in a mile long whirl of dust crawled impatiently, two, abreast, along the' road contiguous to the aerodrome. Thousands had heard of “Smithy” and the Southern Cross, but few had seen either at close quarters. Consequently, the ticket sellers were obliged to work like men possessed. After the fly past, of the Southern Cross and its attendant units:—the Wellington Aero Club’s three-seater Waco, three Hawker Tom-tits, and three D.H. Gipsy Moths—-Sir Charles KingsfordSmith was presented to their Excel-’ lencies. There was no speeches. “Smithy” conversed for a few minutes with Lord and Lady Bledisloe, then the Vice-Regal party moved toward the plane, their Excellencies being pleased to accept the offer of Sir Charles to take them, for a trip over the city. As soon as the Vice-Regal party left the machine there was a stampede for. the booking office, and throughout the afternoon there was an almost continuous roar from the engines of the

Southern Cross. Interviewed on Saturday night, Sir Charles said he was well pleased with the result of the commer- ; clal flights that afternoon, which had returned not far short of the figures reached at New Plymouth. Commenting upon the flying ground, he said that when the area was properly grassed it would make one of the finest aerodromes in the country, capable of accommodating practically all types of aircraft. At 9.45 a.m. to-day the Southern Cross left for Hastings, where the plane had a heavy schedule of flights during the remaining hours. At nine o’clock to-morrow morning the Southern Cross, accompanied by the Waco, leaves Hastings for Wanganui.