WHANGAREI GOES GAY FOR CORONATION

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1937, Page 4

WHANGAREI GOES GAY FOR CORONATION

Decorative Effects Transform Town

Whangarei town has never been more gaily dedecked than at present. Trades-people and private citizens have followed the lead made by civic authorities and the State in giving expression in colourful displays to the sentiments of loyalty now so strongly evident.

Patriotism is the dominating spirit everywhere, and to serve

it an immense amount of time and labour has been put into the decor-

ative work.

On Saturday .night, by which time most business people and shops had completed their .preparations, citizens jvere given an introductory impression as to how the town will appear this W eek—the week, of the Coronation itself.

The Town Hall, flashing with a myriad of coloured lights, stood put like a monument, easily discernible from a wide:radius. 1 So'bright wasithe illuminatioh that ■.. it, was; possible to read a newspaper in the middle of the street fronting the building. Surmounting all was the illuminated crown and shield device. , Spectacular Displays. Banners suspended from cables hung at close intervals across the whole length of Cameron and Bank Streets constitute the'main part of the general street decoration scheme carried out by the Whangarei Borough Council. Electrical bulbs usually employed for this purpose, have been all required for the Town Hall and the spectacular display, being arranged in Central Park, where most of the evening entertainments will be staged.

Preparations of the Government buildings are now reaching completion, and the floodlights will be turned on tonight to disclose transformed buildings. Proudly waving from the turret of the Public Trust edifice, the highest building in the North, are four large flags—the Union Jack, blue ensign, and two red ensigns. Suspended across the street from the parapet are rows of banners of the different British possessions and of many foreign countries. Six thousand candle-poWer of floodlighting in various natural colours will be turned on to the buildings this evening. . ,

The Royal motto, shown on a shield around portraits of the King and Queen is the central piece of the Post Office. A gold crown surmounts the whole decorative scheme. The pillars are draped with crepe in the national colours, and the building is festooned with flags. , n . • ■■■■- ! vRich and Vivid Colours.

. The whole (town is blossoming into rich and vivid Coronation colours. Red, white and blue streamers and bunting have been employed most lavishly, and flags are representative of practically every nation on the face of the globe, with those of lands in his realm predominating. Photographs of Royalty and representations of the Crown have been given much prominence, and for every one of these on exhibition outside the larger stores there dozens inside over tM counter. The same applies io flags, the

total number now hanging in Whangarei running into thousands. In

fact a glimpse inside many of the business places reveals some of the most pretentious and original dec-

orative work; A walk round the business area today showed that, no matter how small they were or what tEe”nature of their business, almost every shop in Whangarei has taken some notice of the Coronation event. The result has been that windows have been made more attractive and in keeping with the arrangements made by the local authorities to transform the streets. Variety of Displays. While many have been content to use the standard type of decoration, the general effect is one of variety and some displays show great imagination and originality of design. The window display and dressing of Crosby’s shop has evoked a great deal of interest. Britannia, clad in flowing robes and holding a trident in her hand surveys a number of lady models dressed in Coronation gowns.< Trains of rich velvet add to the regal air.

On the opposite side of the street, Hosking’s, Ltd., have devoted one of the windows of their mercery department to a large arch picked out in red, white and blue. ,Coronation colours are associated with every article 6f attire displayed. In Bank Street the three windows of the same firm form a colour sequence, red, white and blue —with the largest bay hung with royal drapery on a blue background, and an illuminated crown as the centre.

The main windows of Mr L., C. Trembath, opposite the Tbwri TTall, is done out in fashionable goods in keeping with the Coronation spirit’, featuring evening apparel in Coronation colours.

Generally, Coronation colours are featured in women’s hats and clothing,, and windows draped and trimmed, with harmonising backgrounds in the national hues. Mr K. G. M. Kelly has an effective general tailoring and mercery display artistically tempered with emblems and symbols. Hairdressing Modes.

Women are particularly interested in a model display arranged oy Mr H. Preebc. showing the Coronation style of hairdressing. A beautiful lady is seen reposing underneath an arch, her curls arranged artistically to accommodate the coronet. On either side of the arch are Targe etchings, cone by Mr M. Preebe, to illustrate other Coronation modes.

Eccles Brothers have been fortunate enough to secure models depicting some of the symbols which will be used in the Westminster Abbey on Wednesday. Among the articles shown are the Sceptre, Orbs, Mitre and Archbishop’s Hat. , A most artistic window is that of Wallace Supplies, representing a room, the colour scheme of which is purple, gold and chromium.

Portraits of Monarchs.

Everything from hot water bottles to toothbrushes, which Mr Jack Woolley has on view in his pharmacy window, is red, white and blue. Here, and also in the window of Mr H. Menzies’ pharmacy may be seen a most interesting plate with the portraits of every British monarch from Alfred the Great to King George V.

Mr Menzies also shows a picture of the nave of Westminster Abbey daring the jubilee ceremony. Burfoots have made effective use of electrical illumination, and Arthur Sargent shows British goods, with red,. white and blue background and ' silver screens.

In Wilkinson’s Bakfery there are cut out figures of the Royal Carriage and attendant troops, while the Rialta Tea Rooms next door have been chastely distinguished.

Coronation crepe has been used most effectively by boot shops. Every type of shop has its own sort, of decoration. To further enumerate the special window display would be almost impossible. In some stores whole sections of the windows are devoted to the special occasion, in others a few drapings of red and blue decorate a corner.

Brisk Business.

Practically all the goods displayed are British and as brisk business is being done another aspect of the week of celebrations will be that Empire trade will benefit. One shop, which had a special display of Coronation china, crystal and glassware, made almost a complete clearance by Saturday closing time.

Private preparations were by no means complete this morning, but it is already apparent that by the arrival of Coronation Day itself, Whangarei will be en fete in a manner not hitherto approached.