WANGANUI CARNIVAL

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 22 February 1935, Page 2

WANGANUI CARNIVAL

MANY ATTRACTIONS. Wanganui is richly endowed with an historical past and it has been decided that during Carnival Week, which .opens :ncxt Saturday and continues until the Sunday a week later (March 3), the programme of events should merge the past with the present. Natives from Ratana in all their tribal glorj r , will afford a welcome to Her Highness the Princess of the Carnival by staging what is known as “The Taalia, “ a weapon display based on customs of a very far distant past. It is said that vesy few natives of the older generations alive to-day know anything about this ceremonial dance which becomes very warlike as its progress reaches the finale. Over 600 school girls have been

trained to stage an ope:n-nir>‘p resenta * tion of the life of “My Lady Dragon Fly’-’ through the four seasons and to dance in flow'er ballets, in which will be represented fiowers ranging front buttercups to sunflowers. Entries fof a big trade and floral procession indicate that it will be over two miles irt length.

The North Island buck jumping contest lias been set down for decision on the final Saturday of Carnival Week (March 2). Riders from Manawatu, Taranaki and the Main Trunk have entered.

A special train leaves Wellington at' 12.u0 p.m. on March 2, and two others are being run from Taranaki on Sunday, March 3 —one from New Plymouth at 7.40 a.m. and the other from Hawera at 8.55 a.m. Those who are wise, however, will stretch every point they can to stay in the city throughout the whole of the carnival period. Thefe will be something attractive staged every day from Saturday, February 23, to Sunday, March 3.