FLORAL PAGEANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 19

FLORAL PAGEANT

SCENES IN ADELAIDE CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS GAY CROWDS THRONG CITY Scenes never before approached in the history of South Australia were seen in the streets of Adelaide on September 18, when uncontrollable crowds in scores of thousands took possession of the city to witness the centenary floral pageant. The exquisite beauty of the floral floats, the enthusiasm of the people, the radiance of the flower-decked buildings, and the whole gay scene of carnival and celebration surpassed anything ever before known in Adelaide. Conditions for a festival of flowers were ideal, and glorious sunshine streamed down upon seething masses of people and unrivalled splendour of floral decoration. For two and a-half hours the pageant struggled through the city streets, impeded every few minutes by surging throngs, who broke across its path, completely out of the control of the police. The crowd was a record, for at least 200.000 people packed the route in solid masses. Hundreds of women fainted during Iho long wait in the warm spring sunshine, and St. John Ambu- | lance officers were kept running from j one patiViit to another. Twenty-seven ; floral floats, the result of weeks of I labour by thousands of workers, took I part in the procession with 56 other j decorated vehicles, 36 bands, 300 flag | bearers, and hundreds of other attenel- ! ants on floats. j At the rear of the procession a scene ; reminiscent of 100 years ago was provided liv a hushman with pack-horses. ; Ho accompanied a float representing the cottage in which the surveyor of the site of Adelaide. Colonel Light, once resided. Another historic reminder was contained in a magnificently decorated float giving representation of Queen Adelaide seated on her throne with attendants attired in costumes worn during her reign. Representations of the ship Buffalo, i which brought the first settlers to Holdi fast Bay, the old gum-tree near which j the colony was proclaimed, and a ] pioneer's hut were among other rej minders of the past which contrasted with the colourful representatives of modern times. At night carnival scenes prevailed throughout the city. The decorations, beautiful by day, took on added charm in the glow of myriads of coloured lights. Thousands of people again thronged the streets to see tho parade of pri/.e-winning floats and vehicles. They endeavoured to dance with indifferent success to music amplified i from a dance orchestra.