A VAST CROWD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 5

A VAST CROWD

ESTIMATED AT 100,000 WHOLE ROUTE LINED LACK OF DEMONSTRATION It was “ Procession Day ” in Dunedin yesterday for more reasons than the centennial cavalcade. Every road leading into the city carried a procession of cars during the day, while roads from one point of the procession route to another, and back to Logan Park were jammed throughout the afternoon as spectators hurried to take advantage of additional opportunities to inspect the floats. , Just how many people lined the route is something which would be almost impossible to calculate. It is a safe guess that 90 per cent, of the metropolitan population was out, while estimates of the numbers of visitors in the city ranged as high as 50,000. It would certainly be safe to say that 100,000 people saw the spectacular pageant as it rolled through the streets. But a more subdued 100,000 people would be hard to find anywhere in the world. Dunedin residents are traditionally slow to make any great show of their emotions, but a parade of the magnificence of yesterday’s might have been expected to prompt at least a little noise. Clapping, however, was little more than a token demonstration, while cheering was conspicuously absent. It was not an apathetic crowd, but it was certainly not a crowd in carnival spirit. Crowded Trams People were starting to drift along to vantage points by 10 a.m. and within two hours many trams were moving towards the city with their “Car Full” signs displayed. The heavy loads forced a belated “go-slow’’ policy on the trams, and conductors had little chance of collecting more than a fraction of the fares. Most passengers were happy to enter into this form of centennial spirit by not attempting to pay. Although it was found later that the length of the route and the restricion of the crowds to the pavement. per-

mitted everybody to see the floats with ease, cautious spectators were to be seen carrying boxes, folding seats, and even a few ladders. Newspapers bought to while away the time proved useful as makeshift umbrellas during the showers, but their abandonment after the procession left the streets littered with rubbish. Vantage Points Many people elected to inspect the floats at their assembly point, while others made straight for Logan .Park or St. Kilda. the two dispersal points. The vehicles and costumes of the early days v/ere familiar sights to many of the older residents, and they prompted a flood of reminiscence, but to the youngsters the coaches, drags and vintage cars were subjects for interested amusement. One zebra-painted old, Cadillac found that the pace of the parade was a little slow for comfortable cruising, and an occasional zig-zag was necessary to keep it in place. In King Edward street the tiny Humber pulled out of the parade with engine trouble, but most of the old cars showed that there were miles in them yet. Some, of the girls from the marching teams were eager passengers at the St. Kilda dispersal point, while one lass bravely, tried her hand at riding a “ penny-farthing ” bicycle. Youngsters selling centennial souvenirs were out in force, but they appeared to be encountering a fair amount of sales resistance. One lad showed .considerable. business ability by making his sales line an exhortation to buy now for it would be another 100 years before another opportunity. was offering. Traffic Control Traffic' control on all the streets covered by the procession and on the main' in the city and suburban area' Operated smoothly, and the tremendous' number of vehicles on the road'' were kept moving with the minimum of delay. The occasional scream of anguished rubber suggested that not all motorists found such congested driving within their capabilities. but no accidents were noticed. The St. John Ambulance men who were stationed along the way reported that they had remarkably few calls, the cool weather and the fact that the crowd was not closely packed no doubt being factors which kept the number of minor casualties down. A mammoth refreshment record was set by the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who-had distributed almost 1000 cups of tea' to the- elderly folk in the enclosure on the Oval within five minutes of the completion of the procession. Gratitude for this excellent effort was freely expressed by the recipients- • For other spectators, a thermos and-a packet of sandwiches was common equipment, but milk bars and confectionery shops which were opened after .the. procession were well patronised,