THE TATTOO

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 10

THE TATTOO

AN INSPIRING SPECTACLE A PAGEANT OE EMPIRE The many thousands who flocked to Newtown Park-, last night to see the second presentation of tho big Military Tattoo saw a performance which will live long in memory. Brilliant as was the first presentation of the great historical pageant, there were one or two hitches inseparable from a iirst night, but last night these were entirely removed, and as, the glorious story of Britain's past was unfolded in brilliant pageantry the large assemblage was roused to a pitch of enthusiasm seldom equalled in Wellington. The whole performance was a triumph for those who organised it and for those who participated. Undoubtedly, the Tattoo is by far the best thing of its kind that it has ever been the privilege of a New Zealand audience to see.

Very fittingly the arrival of His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Pergusson) and party from Government House marked the commencement of the proceedings last night. His Excellency had a rousing reception from the crowd. Once the Vice-Regal Party was seated* in the Royal box, the pageant commenced, and for two hours r.r more thrill followed thrill with 'jlock-Uke precision. First" of all came the pageant of tho Queens, and as each stately party made its way round the ground it was followed by rounds of enthusiastic applause. With the full flare of tho powerful searchlights upon them, the dresses made up a str.'king picture. One of the most popular groups was that which ■ depicted' Britannia, surrounded by her family of young nations of Empire. Following this'striking pageant the Military Tattoo commenced, opening with' a bugle march by the Sixth .New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Manawatu), and a sprightly march by combined bands under the baton of Captain T. Herd. The marching of the combined bands won the instant approbation of the large crowd, with the drummajor ever ; . popular figure. Then came a series of events which kept the large crowd in a state of expectation all the time. Tent-pegging with biasings pegs, musical rides, gymnastic displays, .and the,plaiting of an illuminated maypole each found favour :n turn, and left- tho crowd wondering what was coming next. One of the most impressive items on the programme was tho grand display of fireworks This exceeded in beauty anything that has yet been seen in Wellington, and as the the rockets made their way into the heavens and there broke into a myriad ot multi-coloured lights there "were many exclamations of wonderment. Tho final scene of the pageant was also impressive to a degree, the grouping of l Solf™ oi «'O ages being particularly effective. To all this a pleasing finishing touch was provided by the singing of the massed choir under the n>, Of X r '- Tomr>lo Wllitc- Last night tho choir was placed to better advantage than on the first night, and the singing made a marked impression. Officials ot the pageant desire to make it known that members of the audience are desired to join in the sineinir of two verses of "Abide With Me " Ihe pageant will be repeated to-night. On Monday there will be an afternoon performance with the "livi,, e Hag .".s an additional attraction, and tZ V T, ? fOT" C 0 wi" b0 tended by Du^essT^rif 1" 108508 th° ™*

In keeping with the spactacular preeminence of the- Searchlight Tattooes the official souvenir programme (print--0(1 at the "Evening Post" office), which sets a new standard for this kmd of publication. The front-cove? design shows an excellent coloured picture of the artillery drive. The 48 inside pages o' high-quality art paper include fifteen full-page illustration" St. George the wedding of Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of \ork, the groups rf the queens and their mauls in tho pageant costumes, the "Campaigners of a Thousand Years," the "Old Guard" of 1790 the Brock fireworks, the "Artillery Drive," and the 1924 Pageant and Living Flag." The letterpress includes interesting notes on the queens, and the soldiers of the centuries ami there are suitable descriptive passages throughout the programme which will assist any spectator in enjoyment of the entertainment, and will be well worth preserving as a memento.