CENTENNIAL PROCESSION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 February 1940, Page 2

CENTENNIAL PROCESSION

- DISPLAY AT GREYMOUTH. x With the majority ot the floats emphasising the improvement In transport, business methods and living standards since the days of the pioneers, the postponed Centennial celebrations procession, which was. held at Greymouth this afternoon, in| fine, sunny weather, was a creditable t effort. Excellent co-operation was received from local bodies and the business community, with the result that the procession was the largest seen in Greymouth for a considerable time taking over 12 minutes to pass a given place. While some of the displays were commonplace, many others showed considerable ingenuity and preparation, thei'e being at least a dozen floats which would have done caredit to a much larger centre. Among the latter clas were those of the Greymouth Gas Department; Borough Reserves, Railways Department, S. Burnett White Ltd., Grey County Council, Arahura Maori Party, and Grey Electric Power Board, while many of the trade exhibits were also of a high standard, especially if allowance is made for the effects of the postponement from last Saturday. Keen interest was shown in the procession, and with the business community generally acceding to the request of the Mayor to observe a halfholiday for the occasion, the streets were crowded, with onlookers all the J way along the route from the Grey Main School, via Tainui, Mackay and Boundary Streets, to Victoria. Park. The procession was headed by the. Greymouth Municipal Band, the Greymouth Highland Pipe Band leading the second section.” Following the Municipal Band were the pupils of the Marist Brothers’ and Convent Schools (in uniform), pupils of the Grey Main School, a few in fancy costume, the Greymouth Fire .Brigade (with two engines), Gibbs Motors Ltd. (a bus for the pioneers), Borough Reserves (a specially decorated float, with shrubs, trees and flowers), Grey County Council (a huge float built on a grader and. effectively decorated with greenery and containing four rilembers of the Maori party), Greymouth Motors Ltd. (Ford cars), P. R. Quinn Motors Ltd. (Chrysler and Hillman cars), Brown Walters and Co. (Wrecking Service), Arahura Maori Party in a, huge canoe, constructed on a lorry), Grey Electric Power Board (the uses of electricity), Railways Department (including a complete float devoted to the. Signals Branch, showing all phases of its work, including a working wig-wag; and also a model engine, on which rode Uncle Mick and Sambo), Schaef’s

Motors (Chevrolet cars, and showing old ’penny-farthing cycles), “Mum, Dad and Dave” (an. old-time party in a trap), Mines Department Rescue Van; Blackmore's Cordials, Balillie, Neville and Co. (Avon tyres), Technical School Pupils (a. float’ showing the activities of the school), White’s Fashion Corner (a dual display, showing in a landau the fashions of 1840, and then in the setting of a modern car, those of 1940); Greymouth Municipal Gas Department! (a. large float, showing gas-cooking equipment and with a model gasometer as the focal point, Girl Guides (stressing the national service of the movement), Grogan’s Cordials (another dual display. showing the difference between 1872 and 1940), Robert. Ford’s Brewery (large float suitably decorated). Dominion Motors Ltd. (Morris and Packard cars), McGlashan’s (South Island Motors, Wolseley Willys and Fiat cars). H. S. Ferris and Co. (a realistic illustration of washing by old methods and the new). Various displays of oldfashioned transport, decorated bicycles and individual fancy costumes completed the procession. On the procession’s arrival at Victoria Park, the gymkhana was commenced, there being a large public attendance.