“A NIGHT IN VENICE”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 4 May 1937, Page 2

“A NIGHT IN VENICE”

CORONATION CELEBRATIONS TWO NIGHTS OF FESTIVITY IN QUEEN’S GARDENS > On Wednesday and Thursday week, i 12th and 13th May, Nelson and the whole of the Dominion will be in the midst of the Coronation festivities. A comprehensive programme has been arranged for our city when the Queen’s Gardens will be transformed, into a veritable Venetian fairyland and a replica of the city of Venice will be staged with its gondolas, gondoliers and contadini, and where the sable hood of night will be rent with myriads of coloured lights reflecting in the lake all the colours of the prism. The gondolas will be manned by bevies of ladies and a pryrotechnical display destined to be a really brilliant and inspiring spectacle in keeping with this historic and memorable event will be a feature. Huge set pieces include the peacock display of bouquets, the Prince of Wales feathers, the colourful rainbow, fountains, the rippling cascades, the “storm,” the batteries of giant romans, the port fires augmented by batteries of star shells, mortars, and Verey lights bursting into millions of stars, the “haven of illuminated model yachts,” “the fountains of delight”—a display lasting 20 minutes by the Fire Brigade during which fountains of water illuminated by flood-lights. and coloured port fires will be thrilling, novel and instructive. Some of the novelties will be a paddle wheel steamer which will carry the wee tots the length of the lake and the miniature power boats, steamers and full rigged ships will add to the aquatic atmosphere. Music will be' wedded to the attractions by the introduction of the Garrison Band concert items, piano accordeon orchestras, vocalists, etc.

“A Night in Venice” will open its “waterway to joy” nightly at 8 o’clock, and the committee wishes it made known that they would welcome fancy dresses to lend the carnival atmosphere to the fine setting in the beautiful gardens.