OTHER CENTRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22727, 13 May 1937, Page 14

OTHER CENTRES

COLOURFUL SCENES , SUNSHINE IN THE SOUTH . ] PROCESSION IN CHRISTCHURCH [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] ] CIIRISTCHUKCH, Wednesday Christchurch was bathed in brilliant sunshine to-day as citizens joined in ex- j pressing loyalty and affection to King George VI. Public buildings and business houses were gaily decorated and the scene in Cathedral Square was one , of colourful splendour as troops and ; bands marched to services in the Cathedral and the King Edward Barracks. One of the highlights of the day's rejoicings was a procession which was symbolical of the growth and wealth of the province. Functions were also held in the schools. DUNEDIN OBSERVANCE IMPRESSIVE BE VIEW' HELD [BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION] DUNEDIN, Wednesday Coronation Day was introduced with an impressive naval, military and air review at Tahuna Park, the centralisation of all district troops in the city for training making a spectacular dis- ! play possible. The parade was witj nossed in perfect sunshine by a great crowd, while city streets were densely lined for the subsequent route-march. The reviewing officer was Colonel S. C. P. Nicholls. , . A flight of aeroplanes participated, giving the Prince of Wales' feathers salute. When the Royal Salute was j given the New Zealand Ensign was j hauled down and the Royal Standard j was flown. Six bands participated. A parade of decorated motor-cars followed the troops. Church services were held this morning in St. Paul's Cathedral and the Town Hall. BOROUGH CEREMONIES PARADES AND SERVICES Special messages to the Herald descriptive of the Coronation Day observances are as follows: Otahuhu. —A service was held in the grounds of the Otahuhu District School, " when a commemoration fountain was I unveiled by Mrs. J. M. Deas, wife of the chairman of the school committee. The pupils of the Otahuhu Technical High School and of the Convent Schools attended and the assembly of I children numbered about 1500. There was also a large attendance of parents and the public, including members or . the Otahuhu Borough Council, the clergy and Business Men's Association. I Prior to the combined service, tree--1 planting ceremonies of Windsor Oaks ' and native trees were carried out at i each school. The children from the • visiting schools marched in procession > through the town headed by the Aucki land Mounted Rifles Band, with the High School cadets, under the command 5 of Captain T. H. Sissons, leading the ' parade. The Mayor of Otahuhu, Mr. t C. 11. Petrie, M.P. for Hauraki, save I the address. Whangarei. —Coronation celebrations , were held in Whangarei in perfect weather. Tho sunshine was so warm ' that three of the High School cadets - in the guard of honour and one woman f spectator had to receive attention from 3 members of the St. John Ambulance 1 Brigade- There was an attendance of ) more than 2000 at the dais outside the Town Hall. Addresses were delivered by 7 the Mayor, Mr. W. Jones, Mr. J. G. - Barclay, M.P., and the chairman of j the Whangarei County Council, Mr. J. - A. S. Mackay.

Rotorua. —A parade of ex-service-men, South African War veterans and military units marched to the Town Square, where there was a particularly large crowd. Addresses were given by the Mayor, Mr. T. Jackson. Mr. A. F. Moncur, M.P., and Mr. Kepa" Ehau, deputy-chairman of the Arawa Trust Board. A feu-de-joie was fired by the Rotorua High School cadets. All the public buildings and the entrances to the Government Gardens have been illuminated by floodlighting or coloured lighting, and bunting is displayed everywhere. Last night there was a fireworks display on the lake front. Dargaville. —A short commemoration service was conducted from a dais outside the' municipal chambers. The Auckland Mounted Rifles, who are in camp at the racecourse, members of the Northern Wairoa Returned Soldiers' Association, and schoolchildren were drawn up in front, with the public at the rear. Addresses were given hv the Mavor. Mr. F. A. Jones, and the lit. Hon. J. G. Coates, M.P. Hamilton. —A large crowd assembled in the High School grounds. Exservicemen paraded under LieutenantColonel R. D. McFarland. while there was a full muster of members of the 2nd Battery, under Major E. F. Clayton-Greene, and the Waikato Regiment, under Captain \\. Daysh. The motor-cycle platoon of the regiment made ij;s first public appearance. The parade was reviewed by Lieu-tenant-Colonel R. V. C'iosey. Captain G. Dittmer. N.Z.S.C., and the Mayor. Mr. J. R. Fow. An address was delivered by the Mayor. Last night the town was brilliantly illuminated.

SOUND AMPLIFICATION

SUCCESS OF SYSTEM

LARGE APPARATUS USED

The most, elaborate loud-speaker system ever arranged in Auckland was used at the eivic Coronation Day ceremony yesterday. Without its aid only a small proportion of the vast crowd, which extended long distances down all the streets radiating from the Town Hnll, would have been able to hear the speeches or to understand the military ceremonial that was taking place. Four loud-speakers of the largest size were placed high up on the Town Hall building, so arranged that the sound might be distributed to the best advantage. A fifth speaker was placed at the intersection of Queen and Wellesley Streets, for the benefit,of the enormous crowd gathered there, and a sixth in Albert Park most efficiently directed the artillery battery, which fired 21 guns in the course of the feu-de-joie. Two microphones were provided on the speakers' dais and one ifor the use of the officer commanding the parade. Colonel Sir Stephen Allen, who gave all his commands through it from the time that the troops took up their positions. A further microphone was utilised for announcements that were necessary from time to time to control the crowds.-

Telegraph Department wires were used for the connection with Albert Park, where an operator was stationed with a separate amplifier and control apparatus. At the Town Hall a staff of four was kept fully occupied in working the large amplifier and the elaborate devices for controlling the immense volume of sound given out b,\ the loud-speakers. But for the fact that, crowds of people are very soundabsorbent in the acoustical sense, the Hvstem would have raised overpowering echoes. There was some unavoidable reverberation from the buildings, but tlie results as a whole were deemed highly satisfactory under the conditions prevailing.