OTAGO'S CAVALCADE OF PROGRESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 4

OTAGO'S CAVALCADE OF PROGRESS

BRILLIANT PAGEANT ENACTED

REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT IN PROVINCE Brilliantly imaginative floats, perfect organisation and timing, and the exemplary behaviour of the tens of thousands of people lining the ldhg route from Frederick street to St. Kilda made the Cavalcade of Progress the greatest single spectacle ever staged in Dunedin, if not n the whole Dominion. The main centennial event, into which had gone months of planning, preparation and hard work, enthralled those who were fortunate to witness it moving in its full splendour through the beflagged and decorated streets in the early afternoon yesterday. Though it lasted but a few hours it was a stirring record of what has been achieved in every sphere of life by the province and the city in their first 100 years and it will remain forever a memory in the minds of all who saw it. The enterprise, originality and efficiency of those responsible for the display and the record of achievement revealed in such vivid,form must have filled the public of Otago with rightful pride and at the same time demonstrated to one and all the virility, vigour and progressiveness with which the province and the city are entering their second century. It was both a cavalcade of progress and a portent of what can be achieved in the years that lie ahead. It was fitting on such an occasion that their Excellencies, Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg, should be present to witness this observance of Otago’s centenary. From a dais at the Market Reserve the Governor-General took the salute, while the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, the Mayor, Mr Cameron, Cabinet Ministers, and civic representatives watched with marked interest the story of Otago’s progress.

Grey Skies in the morning that grew more leaden with the hours were watched apprehensively by procession officials and the waiting crowds, and when light rain began to fall before mid-day grave .fears were felt that the cavalcade would suffer. But as the starting time approached, the skies lightened and before the last sections had proceeded far on their long journey the sun was actually breaking through. It was not until some time after the last floats had reached Logan Park at the end of their circuit of the town that further showers fell.

But the cavalcade did not require the aid of autumn sunshine, for the dazzling colours of the floats, of the bands, and of the marching units showed up in their full splendour against the background of Dunedin’s solid and dignified buildings. Punctual almost to the minute, the procession of over 60 floats and scores of marching units left the starting point and proceeded to the main streets. Crowds of people, who for months had been looking forward to the spectacle and for some hours had been standing, sitting on fruit cases, or leaning out of upstair windows, welcomed it with obvious admiration and interest. With typical Otago restraint they did not reveal their enthusiasm by cheers and clapping. Probably the watchers were too engrossed in what they saw and too busy trying to absorb the mass of detail in each float to pay tribute to those participating in the procession.

In the 40 minutes from the time the two mounted police on their prancing greys appeared at the head of the cavalcade until the almost breathtaking floral floats had passed, the crowds’ interest and enthusiasm was not allowed to wane. The Scottish tradition of the province was exemplified by the massed pipe bands heading the cavalcade, and it scarcely needed the excellent announcement float to introduce the historical section of the procession. The arrival of the Maoris was depicted’in a float which immediately set a standard which the succeeding units fully maintained. In a graceful, artistically-carved canoe Maori warriors braved, the elements in their traditional dress and delighted the spectators with their antics and grimaces. The arrival of the early settlers, their early home, and Cobb and Co.’s coach, with its occupants dressed in period costume, led up to a brilliant climax in the form of the royal emblems carried out in the rich gold, purple and crimson of natural flowers.

and her numerous attendants, and the lavish floral decorations were of surpassing loveliness. The Centennial Queen was another magnificent float, and Southland’s contribution was both a gracious gesture and a gay and attractive display. The final float—the large floral exhibit of the city of Dunedin with its immigrant ship dancing in the waters of Otago Harbour —was a fitting climax to an unforgettable experience—the Centennial Cavalcade of Progress. There must be hundreds of people who contributed to the success of the procession, but to Mr Carl V. Smith and his committee must go a great deal of the praise. Aided by the generous sponsorship of firms, organisations and districts, and assisted by countless helpers, the organisers must have been well satisfied with the success that greeted their efforts. The chief marshal, Mr P. Cook, and his assistants, the patient and helpful police and traffic inspectors, the numerous bands, the neat and gaily-uni-formed marching units, the St. John Ambulance workers, the patrolling motor cyclists, and numerous other officials all did outstanding work, and the public itself responded by keeping to the footpaths and allowing the procession to pass unhampered.

As the -city prides itself on its cultural achievements, it was appropriate that the succeeding section- should represent religious, educational, social and sporting interests The churches float, depicting the universal Christ, was both dignified and impressive. Schools of pioneer days and the nresent time, the importance to tne city of# the University of Otago, and the work of the Plunket Society were all shown in imaginative individual floats, and childhood days trifled by the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe and a band of nursery rhyme'charac ters, was recalled in a charming tableau. Summer and winter sports were represented in two attractive floats that must have reminded spectators of Otago’s premiership in Rugby, cricket and swimming. , _ Otago’s contribution m three wars and a reminder of its debt to the armed services were brought home to the crowds in the display of amy equipment and symbolic floats. The younger generation gazed w ith awe at the 25-pounder, the mobile 3.7 antiaircraft gmi, the six-pounder anti-tank “n and the Stuart and Valentine tanks, while the older spectators appreciated to the full the grace: u beauty of the Red Cross float and the spectacular tableau of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, the striking tribute to all three services and the realistic models of the Achilles and the Snitflre. The piece de resistance of this section was the floral float representing Peace. It was a masterpiece of design, colour and dignity* Those who have been growing flowers as their contribution to the Cavalcade of Progress must have gamed their full reward when they saw the floral portion of the procession. It was the smallest but the most entrancing of the sections. In the first float, decked with the verdant Srcen of native bush, was represented the 1848 bride and her attendants, and it formed an ideal foil for the brilliance of the succeeding floats. The Centennial Bride was probably the gem of the whole collection seen in the procession- The blending and design of the flowers, the frocking of the bride,

AT THE OCTAGON