THE FLORAL FETE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17337, 8 December 1919, Page 9

THE FLORAL FETE.

v. CARNIVAL At ELLERSLIE, ' i — A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE. j I I . ATTENDANCE OF 12,000, 1 - 1 AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION FUND, j 1 The floral fete held at the Ellerelie rac®- | course on Saturday, under the auspices of < the St. John. Ambulance Association and ! Brigade, was regarded by many as the ] most brilliant function of its kind witnessed ] in Auckland during recent years. The , grounds of Ellerslie are themselves an attraction of no mean merit, but on Saturday their beauty was considerably enhanced by the gaiety and charming scenes which accompany a -managed floral fete. The delightfully green lawns, and the flower beds with their bright blossoms, provided a fine setting for a gigantic floral display. Altogether the fete was a worthy and successful effort on behalf of a particularly worthy cause. The weather conditions were ideal, and about 12,000 , people were present. Claims on Public Sympathy. The fete was held in aid of the appeal for £10.000, which the local centre of the St. John Ambulance Association seeks in order to extend its work in the Auckland district. The campaign was launched a few months ago, and prior to Saturday about £2000 had been collected from various sources. The receipts on Saturday amounted to over £800, so that from a financial point of view also the fete was most successful. The claims of the association for liberal monetary support were brought prominently before the public during, and subsequent to, the influenza epidemic. The sum of £10,000 is required f° r the purpose of providing motor-ambulances for the transport of those suffering from the effects of accident or illness, with trained attendants, who will be available at any hour of the day. or night, and to ' provide trained nurses for work in the city and suburbs under the direction of the Order. One nurse has already been appointed. The Decorated Vehicles. The principal features of the fete were the decorative competitions. There were separate classes for large and small motorcars, tradesmen's lorries and delivery vans, light pleasure vehicles, horses, ponies, motor-cycles, go-carts, perambulators ; in fact, there appeared to be no limit, and floral emblems of a novel nature were to be seem everywhere. In addition, there were maypole dances, ballets, and national dances, while donkey races, hunting competitions, and many side-shows added to the gaiety of the scene and to the entertainment of the crowd. Apart from the dancing, the decorated vehicles, especially the motor-care, appealed most to the public appreciation. For originality of design and effective colour schemes some of the cars would be hard to excel. One car, the prize-winner in its class, was symbolical of the peace carnival. The body of the car was covered with red geraniums and ivy leaves, while overhead was a canopy of red. and black ribbons. The attire of the occupants was appropriate, and one had no difficulty in associating the party with fun and frolic. Some Artistic Designs.

Another exhibit, "Fairyland," whic] unfortunately did not take part in th grand parade of decorated cars and othe vehicles, was th© object of much atten tion. , The predominant colour was yellow the car being almost covered *by larg butterflies of this colour. The car, 11 which were several little fairies, was draw: by half-a-dozen attractively-garbed gnomes Another fine exhibit was a car on whic the framework of an aeroplane had been built. The wings and body were composed of red rambler roses, and there was no doubt that great skill had been required to produce such a perfect result. The popular fancy was appealed to by the exhibition of a war tank, which was a particularly well-built specimen. A Japanese effect was secured in the handsome decorations of another car. l The car was covered with rambler roses and wisteria, Japanese sunshades and lanterns were placed in prominent positions, and the occupants were attired in national costume ; in fact, the exhibit was particularly artistic. The trade vehicles were handsomely decorated with floral emblems, several of them bearing in a prominent position the cross which is comprised in the badge of the Order. The decorated motor cycles were of more than average merit. Much artistic skill was shown in the decoration of the ponies, -which, with their diminutive riders, earned warm applause. The grand parade of decorated vehicles passed along the training track in front of the stands. At the head of the procession was Mr. A. Selby, clerk of the course. The parade was a kaleidoscope of colour, a bewildering array which feasted the eyes of the many thousands present. Round after round of applause greeted the cars, the spectacle being made more dazzling by the confetti showered about by the occupants of some of the cars. Participation by the Children. A charming feature of the fete was the .part .taken by the children. Indeed it was quite a children's day. The little ones figured largely in a variety of competitive sections. They appeared one as an airman, with scooter-aeroplane, the propellers, wings, and tail of which were I made of flowers, another as a motorist, | with a miniature car, which was the envy lof a'l the other children. A little market

gardener, with yegetable-laden bailow, i bedecked in brightest hues, marched off 1 proudly with a first prize. The girls were ; by no means behind the boys in originality < of designs, the standard of make-up being equally high. Quite a dozen maidens wheeled attractive dolls' prams into the prize ring, and dainty little nursemaids they looked. There were children carrying parasols bedecked with gaily coloured flowers, while others had sweet sunbonnets crowned with blooms. Tiny tots of two summers lovingly clasped dolls as large as themselves. (.'harming human flowers, the gallardia winning a first prize, created a perfect galaxy of colour as they flitted in and out of the gay crowds. Fairy like figures alio added to what was a perfect picture. Special interest surrounded those taking part in the dancing competitions. The fancy dresses worn were of exceptionally clever design. There were fluttering i " night, moths." pupils of Miss Daphne Knight, who delighted everyone by their tasteful exhibition of non-competitive dancing, white and yellow "roses" and "irises" of various shades, one and all proving talented exponents of their art. In addition to the floral dances there were Highland dances, performed in creditable fashion. About 150 girls from the Kdendale, Newton Fast. New- | ton West. Maungawhau, and Normal schools, dressed in simple white frocks, relieved with blue and pink ribbons, took part in a maypole dance, an event, on the programme which attracted a great deal of attention. Donkey Races and Hunting Events. Amusement was created by the appearance i'f a lilliputian Red Cross ambulance, drawn by a pug dog, in charge of Miss "Ruvu Cave, who was the deserving possessor of a first prize for the turn-out. The competitors in the baby show, numbering about a dozen, came in fur unbounded admiration. Their ages ranged from four months upwards. After due consideration Orton Wellesly Stratford, a fine, little fellow of four months, was declared to he trie best specimen of young Sew Zealand entered in the competition. The crowd had fun in abundance when t.he donkey races were run. Two races were included in the programmethe St. John Cup and the Donkey Derby. Each donkev was named after a well-known racehorse, and each rider sported colours. For the St. John Cup Gloaming- started a warm favourite. -Que of the conditions

of the race was that the d ankles were to be mounted after, the signal -to start had been given. Some of the donkies did not wait for their riders, _ but set off helterskelter, dragging the riders after them and dispersing officials, bandsmen, and others in all directions. The winner of the Cup was Maugamahoe, ridden by ah apprentice ' named W. Solomon. The Donkey Derby was won by Affectation, also ridden by Solomon.- The winning mount in each race -was decorated by the president, Mrs. W. H. Parkes. The hunting competitions-' were greatly I appreciated by the public. The entries were numetous, and a fine exhibition of jumping was provided. The first competitionthe best horseman and horse over three fences— won by Mr. J. Patton, on Dick. Mr. H. Bullock-Webster was second on Dominion. In the ladies' competition Miss Maher was declared the winner. She also rode Mr. Patton's horse. Miss Briggs was second, the hunter in- this case also being Dominion. Work of the Officials. Side-shows were provided on a liberal scale. Several games of skill formed ■ the centre of attraction for sporstmen of all ages. Another source of considerable revenue was a Hall of Mystery, where some clever tricks and illusions were performed before large crowds. Stalls at whidh various refreshments were obtainable were patronised by the public, in addition to the lunchon and tea rooms, the arrangements in connection with which were satisfactory. The call for workers was a very insistent one, because there were so many things to be done to ensure the success of the fete, but it was typical of the popularity of the Order of St. John that all classes and sections of the community came forward with offers of assistance and worked unceasingly. The bulk of the work of organisation fell upon the president, Mrs. W. H. Parkes, and the honorary organiser, Mr. C. P. Rickford, whose capabilities in this direction are so wellknown and appreciated. The assistant commissioner, Mr. C. J. Tunks, the corps superintendent, Mr. F. J. Hutchinson, the members of the ladies' and the men's committees gave splendid service. The Prize Winners. The following were the prize-winners: — Carriages of any kind: Red 'Cross Depot, 1. Light vehicles: J. Beattie (Thome roadster), 1. Special award to A. R. Cole for tiny pony and cart. Children's vehicles: R. Cave, 1 Doreen Cole, 2. Bovs' pony: R. Denniston, 1; A. R C01e,"2 Girls' Pony : Iris Hale, 1; N. Horfcon , 2. i Tradesmen's carte: J. B. Bull and Co. . 1. Motor-lorries • Telephone Exchangi Girls, 1; Ton-son Gardick Co., Ltd. (Wa Tank), 2. > Motor-delivery vans: McQuillam (Smitl , and Caughey), 1; National Reserve, 2. Large motor-cars : N. K.. Brett, 1 [ Girls' Realm Guild, 2; Miss M. Hender . son, 3. 3 Small motor-cars: Mrs. Louisson, 1 > E. Culling, 2.

Milk float: G. H. Kinghorn, 1. I Motor-cycles : Gladys Buddie, 1; E. E. | . Crothall, 2. Go-carts, perambulators, wheelbarrows, trolleys, and scooters: Z. Ritchards, 1; " M. J. Fogarty, 2; Doreen Roberts, 3. Best decorated City or Borough Council j vehicle: Takapuna "Borough Council, 1; 0 Newmarket Borough Council, 2. j Child's original fancy costume: Bobbie j Watson, J.; S. Gwyllam, 2; Eileen Hole, f special prize. e Floral exhibits from patriotic societies: if Miss Burke (Mount Albert Patriotic Society), 1: Mount Albert Ladies' Patriotic Society, 2. Baby show: Mrs. Stratford, 1; Mrs. A. Aukett, 2, Mrs. Newton, 3. 1 Fancy dances : Miss Burmester's pupils, 9 1 and 3; Joyce Mansell and David Court (Highland fling), 2. Decorated propelling chairs: Areta ' Barnett, I.' ® Decorated dolls: Betty Thorburn, 1; . Edna Patterson, 2. Decorated bicycles: Mrs. Wright, 1; L. Mason, 2.