VICTORY GALA

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1919, Page 11

VICTORY GALA

CARNIVAL AT LYALL BAY

TO BE RUN ON VENETIAN LINES.

No stone is being left unturned to make -.the Victory Gala and Venetian Carnival, to be held at Lyall Bay on 1-t, 2nd, and 3rd January, the most memorable in Wellington's history. The promoters, as the Americans say, are bent upon delivering the goods, and have already arranged to present the public with such delectable fare that they may be said to be already assured of success. There are to be attractions by the dozen, big, bright, dazzling shows, morning, afternoon, and evening, which are going to make Lyall Bay the big holiday resort for New Zealand during New Year time.

The carnival is being promoted by the Lyall Bay Municipal Electors' Association, and the Lyall Bay and Maranui Surf and Life Saving Clubs, the object being to raise £5000 with which to build a surf and meeting house and gymnasium at Lyall Bay. The object, which primarily is to train members of the community in the noble accomplishment of being able to save persons from drowning, is one that must make its natural appeal to the public, and the executive committee, confident in this, is arranging a series of attractions which can be patronised with tho keenest personal enjoyment, as well as with the idea of trying to help along a worthy cause. The carnival, which is to be conducted mainly on Venetian lines, is to be run continuously for three days—lst, 2nd, and 3rd January. As will be seen from the special announcement in our advertising columns, there is really a remarkable series of events set down for each morning, afternoon, and evening. There are to be three big events on the opening day—a monster procession, a band contest in which all the bands of the Wellington Province will compete, and a sports meeting. The executive committee is specially anxious to make the procession the success it ought to be. Arrangements arc being made for the Territorials and Boy Scouts to participate, also trade unions and friendly societies, and business firms and private individuals with decorated motor lorries, motorcars, etc. A circular letter is being sent to various business firms in Wellington, asking for voluntary assistants for three days. Five hundred lady helpers for the three days are also required. On the second and third days there will be grand sports gatherings, dancing contests, musical competitions, a treasure hunt, and a baby carnival. Besides these attractions there are to be camp fires, darktown processions, water displays, a submarine mine explosion at sea, life saving displays and contests, and ja-zz bands, and jazz dancing couples on the beach. Added to these are to be a hundred side shows of the most original ahd best. The whole area at night, also, is to be brilliantly illuminated.

The carnival, indeed, is to be one to patronise and remember, a veritable three days of fun and frolic. There is to be nothing stodgy about it; everything is to be done on the grand scale. Programmes and tramway tickets are to be on sale in the streets soon. The executive urges the publio to buy these now so as to avoid the rush on the three great days, when tens of thousands will be finding their way to Lyall Bay The secretary of the committee is Mr. R. Leslie-Jones, of Wellington, who has had special experience in connection with the running of similar carnivals in Sydney.