LORD MAYOR’S SHOW.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20292, 28 December 1927, Page 12

LORD MAYOR’S SHOW.

PAGEANT OF THE SEA. CAPTAIN COOK AND HIS SHIP. NEW ZEALAND SPECTATORS. (From Oue Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 11. Many New Zealanders now on a visit to England took the opportunity of seeing the Lord Mayor's show from-the windows of tho High Commissioner’s Office. So often tho November fogs detract from tho spectacular effect of this great London pageant, but this year all was well. The air was clear and a feeble sun made tho conditions for tho procession better than they have been for some years. Shipping dominated the pageant, for Sir diaries Batho, the new Lord Mayor, is an alderman of Aldgato Ward, wherein arc most of the shipping interests. Streets and ships are not compatible, but the snip had to bo improvised in some workable fashion and sea life suggested. It was Trinity House, the guardian of tho sea and all its interests, that appropriately led the sea pageant. Perils beyond count would confront the sailor’s life wore its beneficent activities withdrawn. Illustrations of these last were afforded by tableaux showing models of tho old and present lighthouses on the Eddystonc Rock and the Gunfleet Light nc-ar Harwich, the lamps flashing realistically every three. and live seconds. This was managed ’by clock work connected with an electric battery. Floating beacons of many types wore also displayed. A second car boro a capital model of a Port of London pilot steamer; and then, a little awkwardly seated in three ordinary motor cars, came the pilots themselves, whose skilful task it is to work ships in and out of. London. CAPTAIN' COOK’S ENDEAVOUR. The Commonwealth of Australia and the Orient Line were responsible for a model of Captain Cook’s Endeavour, in which he sailed the South Pacific and discovered a now continent, and a representation of Captain Cook. The car on which tho ship was built was drawn by four fine horses, and led by Australian stock-riders. Men followed bearing dags of tho Commonwealth of Australia and of tho Orient Line. Marconi gave to the Lord Mayor’s show a very effective presentation of how wireless telegraphy operates to save life at sea. Perched aloft in his cabin, telephones to his cars, alert to every sound that came through tho air, the wireless operator was continuously active in taking the messages down, locating tho position of tho distressed craft by the direction-finder, and sending out the promise of relief.” Dick Whittington sat on a milestone, dressed just as the pantomimes have convinced us lie was actually dressed, with a most domesticated cat at his foot. So lively a boy, so easy and smiling, and so unembarrassed by public attention, could not have helped rising in life; and no intelligent child can have been surprised to sco him at the other end of the car, as a prosperous old man in mayoral robes distributing broad to tho poor. Then there wore cars descriptive of tho farriers’ industry, British-mado baskets,- and signmarking. AIR SERVICES. To land and sea wo now add the air. London does not enjoy tho immunity from attack that aforetime her long ditancc from the coast gave her. A contingent of No.' 600 City of London Bombing Squadron Auxiliary Air Force brought out a day bombing aeroplane, a gaunt reminder of tho sort of warfare from the air that lies in tho future. The antidote nvas found in two long guns pointing skywards, that were manned by crews of tho City of London Anti-Aircraft Artiller v Brigade London stands prepared for defence, and that attack which is held to be the best defence. The Royal Air Force went by with perfect step and swinging arms, and the precision tnat marks drill-work hko that of the Guards. There were many military bands and marching troops—indeed, it might have been named a military show none among them with so long a record a s the Honourable Artillery Company, the survivors to-day of tho City’s tram bands. . Those who have seen tho Lord Mavor s Show on many occasions may consider that this week’s event was not so spectacular as usual. A great deal, more might have been made of the shipping tableaux. Visitors to this country, however, who have only one opportunity in their lifetime of seeing tho procession may console themselves with tho fact that always there is the wonderful coach of gold . and glass, the perfect imago of, Cinderella s equipage. NEW ZEALAND VISITORS. Those who saw the procession from Sir James Parr’s room at tho High Commissioner’s Office were Lady Pan, Misi btevcn Dr and Mrs E. J- O’Neill, and Mis amt Miss Miles At the windows of the libiaiy aiid on other floors were Miss Thomson. Mrs Malfroy, Miss Slattery, Dr and M Coldicutt, Mrs M. Petrie, Mi» M'si invart j\lrs Andieus, i\iis Tavlor the ME es Wilson, Mrs Ball Mrs do VUes, the Misses Ralston Mrs Opu. Mrs Finn Miss Chalmer Mi and Mu A,.tows, Miss Young.