CARNIVAL WEEK-END STARTS TONIGHT

Northern Advocate, 23 October 1936, Page 7

CARNIVAL WEEK-END STARTS TONIGHT

With the arrival of Mr James Khana in town this evening, and the tyre bowling competition along Cameron Street, Whangarei is on the verge of an outstanding carnival event. Hundreds of visitors are expected to arrive within the next 24 hours, and the executive who have laid such comprehensive plans anticipate that the attendance at Kensington Park on Labour Day will constitute a record gathering for the town.

Special trains, which will leave Auckland at midnight tonight and at 2.10 tomorrow afternoon, have been heavily booked. The first will convey visiting bandsmen to Whangarei to compete in the Auckland provincial contest. Teams have entered as follows: —

B, Grade. —Onehunga Citizens, Takapuna Citizens, Auckland Waterside Workers’ and Whangarei Municipal. C. Grade.—Te Awamutu Municipal, Mt. Eden Boys’, Balmoral Boys’, Kaikohe Maori, and Whangarei Hoys 7 . The musical judge will be Mr T. Gray (Lower Hutt), the supervisors, Capt. G. Buckley and Mr J, R. Williamson, both of Auckland, and Mr H. W. James will be parade marshal. The chief military judge will be Captain H. M. Foster, N.Z. Staff Corps, The Bandsmen’s Programme. Except for the Kaikohe Maori organisation, which will arrive by the express from the North tomorrow morning, and the local bands, all the visiting musicians will be aboard the special train, which will arrive from Auckland at 5.2 a.m. tomorrow. The bands will remain in the train until 7.15 a.m., when a light breakfast will be provided by members of Whangarei women’s organisations and the gymkhana authorities. At 9 a.m. the bands will march to the Town Hall, where they will be accorded a civic reception, after which they will proceed to their billets. So far, private accommodation has been arranged for about 100 of the 210 visiting bandsmen, and a large number of the remainder will be housed in the Settlers’ Hotel sample rooms. Meal tickets for use at a specified Whangarei restaraunt will be issued to those who are not billeted. Previous experience in organising band contests gleaned at the first gymkhana in 1934 is standing the Whangarei A. and P. Society in good stead.. On that occasion only four bands took part, but, drawn by the magnet of the first Auckland provincial contest to be held in the North, the number this year has been increased to nine. Varied Programme. At 1.30 p.m. tomorrow the bands will fall in at Nixon Street and will march to Kensington Park, where the contest will open at 2 p.m. with the quickstep. In the evening the bands will march from the Triangle to Jubilee Park, where the test selection will be played; At Jubilee Park special lighting arrangements have been made. The hymn contest (afternoon) and massed band recital (evening) will also be staged at Jubilee Park. On the route to Kensington Park on Labour Day, the bands will participate in a street marching competition. Tho procession will form at the Regent Theatre at 9 a.m. and the bands will be followed by a grand procession of decorated vehicles, competitors and the public. A copy of the standing orders has been issued to all bandsmen, which will obviate any possibility of confusion.

The most varied programme of spectacular and amusing events ever presented in Whangarei has been arranged for the gymkhana, and throughout the day. laughs and thrills will follow in rapid succession. Particular interest will attach to the visit of a team of nine Old Grammarians, all of them either Dominion or provincial title-holders, who take part in the amateur athletic events. The Whangarei Harrier Club will make its first appearance in a threemile run, while the Whangarei Model Aeroplane Club will give numerous demonstrations, also for the first time before the Whangarei public. Arrangements Finalised.

All the classes which made the gymkhana of 1934 such a memorable event, have been included, and', in addition, there will be bicycle races, a motor cycle T.T., and ambulance competition, and hosts of novelty, contests, ranging from hurling a rolling-pin to peanut diving. A well-attended working bee was held at the park yesterday making final arrangements in the laying out of the grounds. A special control tower will be a feature, enabling the strictest supervision of all events, and ensuring pubic safety.

New hurdles for the ring events have been built of first-class kauri in sections which can readily be bolted together so that not only at the gymkhana, but at future A. and P. Shows the whole of the ring fixtures will be assembled in half an hour.

With the co-operation of the Whangarei Borough Council and the Chamber of Commerce, the main business streets of the town will be illuminated with festoons of coloured lights. It is hoped that business people will decorate their premises with bunting and the display of flags.