POPULAR ST. CLAIR

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 11

POPULAR ST. CLAIR

CARNIVAL THIS MONTH On these beautifully fine summer evenings thousands of Dunedin folk are obeying the call of the beach. From early evening till the stars come out there is a constant stream of people who seek relief from the heat in the cool and refreshing air of the seaside. Motor cars line the esplanade till there is room for no more, and hundreds arrive by tram. Down on the sand people sit about in groups, and in and out of the waiter there is a constant procession of bathers, who find great delight in being buffeted about in the cool and white-flccked* breakers. Later, when the stars come out one by .one and the moon climbs up the sky, St. Clair provides a poet’s dream. The glistening electric lights on the esplanade, their reflection on the sand, and the moonlight on the water, whose waves shine silvery in its rays, present a picture to charm tile eye. Here is one of the finest beaches in the Southern Hemisphere, with a stretch of fine white sand that cannot be bettered anywhere. There is infinite joy for those who care to sit and gaze on the scene, and for the energetic pedestrian there 'is ample scope for a walk on the gleaming sand or along the track through'the lupines St. Clair is worthy of the patronage which is being bestowed on it these days. It is just now “coming into its own.” It is a beach worthy of the improvements which the recently-re-vived St. Clair Improvement Society intends to bring about. To secure the funds necessary for the improvements the society has arranged a big carnival to be held on the esplanade on February 16, 17, and 18. Permission has been granted by the council to close the esplanade to vehicular traffic on those days, and badges will be offered for sale to pedestrians, The esplanade will be brightly illuminated at night, and there will be the hundred and one attractions of an up-to-date carnival. Assistance will be given by the bands, and a good orchestra will also supply musical items. The carnival will be opened by the mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner) on the Thursday night, and immediately after his opening address the “ Administrator of White Jsland ” and his retinue will grace the proceedings with their presence. On the Saturday afternoon a baby show will take place for which prizes have already been donated by the Warehousemen’s Association. A great attraction should be the competition for bathing beauties. Mr A. Barnett will give a prize for this event. In the evenings it is proposed to have dancing round the band rotunda, and to give tho necessary carnival touch people are asked to wear fancy costumes is they possess them. A strong committee is at present working on the arrangements, and it will be assisted by a ladies’ committee, which will be formed at a meeting on Monday night.