KING'S BIRTHDAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20272, 4 June 1929, Page 11

KING'S BIRTHDAY.

FINE PUBLIC HOLIDAY.;

CELEBRATION IN THE CITY.

LARGE CROWDS OUT-OF-DOORS

Favoured with clear, crisp, autumn weather thousands of holiday-makers were ablo to spend an enjoyable day out-of-doors yesterday in honour of the King's Birthday. From the early morning all roads leading from the city wero crowded with motor vehicles going to the country, to playing areas and to the Ellerslie racecourse. At the same time there was a steady stream of traffic into the city from the outlying suburbs and adjoining rural districts. The fact that the day was set apart for the celebration of the King's Birthday was shown by the display of buntting on the vessels in port, which gave a festivo appearance in keeping with the holiday spirit abroad Buildings in the city also flew flags on their staffs. The first observance of the holiday was the official ceremony in the morning at the Domain, where large crowds gathered to seo what proved to be one of the finest military spectacles seen in Auckland since the war. The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergussor# took the salute at the march past and also inspected the parade. A lloyal salute of 21 guns was fired from the Outer Domain. The King's Empire Veterans were then entertained at a luncheon in the Town Hall by the Mayor, Mr. George Baildon, the City Council, the Auckland Provincial Patriotic .War Relief Association and the Returned Soldiers' Association. Many Sporting Attractions. The greatest sporting attraction was the second day of the races at Ellerslie and all the morning a long stream of motor vehicles, ti-amcars and trains conveyed crowds to the course to see the Great Northern Steeplechase, one of the biggest attractions of the winter racing season in the Dominion. Other sports fixtures were well patronised and the various transport systems experienced one of the heaviest days of the year. A number of) sports fixtures was arranged by the different codes, an Association football match being played at Blandford Park between teams representing Auckland and the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, while the Auckland Rugby Union representatives visited Hamilton, where a match against the Waikato team was played. Several Auckland League club teams journeyed to Whangarei to tako part in the Northland seven-a-sido tourney. At Remuera a hockey match between the Auckland University College and a Cambridge eleven was played, while special golf matches were arranged. Large Crowds Travelling.

Although many thousands of Aucklanders and visitors spent their holiday in the open the theatres and picture houses in the city were packed during the afternoon, in some, instances all the seats being sold before the programmes commenced. In the case of two Queen Street theatres the crowds filled the lobby and queues four deep extended from the entrance about 40 yards down the street. In the evening there were again busy scenes at the theatres.

Special trains were run to Ellerslie racecourse throughout the day, while the station presented a busy scene. In 'the evening a number of visitors left on the two Southern expresses, all the accommodation on the United having been reserved some days ago. The second express was a long train and was well patronised. This morning a heavy rush is expected on the llotorua, Bay of Plenty and Whangarei expresses.