A RECORD SPECTACLE
CHRISTCHURCH JUBILATES WELCOME TO THE DUKE, A GREAT DEMONSTRATION. [Per Press Association. — Copyright.} CHRISTCHURCH .This Day. Surrendering to the spell of King Carnival, and casting traditional restraint to the .wind, Christchurch, through its illuminated riverside and fireworks display, provided on Saturday night the most spectacular and demonstrative reception the Duke of Gloucester had been accorded during his Dominion tour. For several hours the Avon became the Venice of New Zealand with gaily decorated and lighted rivercraft of every description. Across the water floated the melody of Maori voices.
It is estimated that 40,000 lined the banks of the river. In some places the sightseers stood 20 feet on each side. The cheering for the Duke was unprecedented, particularly when His Royal Highness, escorted overhead by an illuminated aeroplane, arrived. Seated in his launch in the floodlight illumination, the Duke presented a striking figure to all,,and one on which every eye rested ,as he traversed the course before mounting the dais to watch the procession and the subsequent fireworks display and fire brigade exhibition. There were many novel features of the firework display, one of the most vivid of them being the development,, as the sparks spread against the inky blackness, of a full face portrait of the Duke himself.
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Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 21 January 1935, Page 8
Word Count
212A RECORD SPECTACLE Northern Advocate, 21 January 1935, Page 8
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