YESTERDAY'S CARNIVAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 10

YESTERDAY'S CARNIVAL

DISPLAY ON RESERVE AN ATTRACTIVE PROCESSION Not. lor many years has Gisborne had any great organised attraction in the town on Boxing Day. Yesterday, however, waa an exception, and thousands of people turned out< to witness tho procession and display in the Childers road reservo promoted by the Mardi Gras organisation. The carnival spirit was abroad, and was heightened by the appearance of gaily dressed young folk participating in the procession and later at the reserve. By the time the procession commenced from the eastern end of the Kaiti bridge, large numbers of people had lined the route upon Gladstone road and via. Cobden street and Childers road to tile reserve. Tho Wairoa Municipal Band led the way, followed by a lire-engine and trailer, while another fire-engine also participated. Near the front of the procession was one of the most novel and ambitious displays attempted at such an attraction in Gisborne. This was an exceedingly good representation of a railway train, the engine belching forth smoke in an appropriate manner,, and although the engine represented rather an antiquated design it reflected well on the ingenuity of tliose who made it. The brick-red railway carriage and van wero also good representations, but according to the inscription. "Gisborne- Wairoa-Napier," they were a little ahead of their time.

Several of the gaily decorated lorries attracted great attention, and those comprising the parties enlivened the proceedings with song and action. One of the displays of a quieter nature depicted a hospital scene, and was; the cause for much commendation, while the trade displays participating were also of an attractive nature. A number of pedestrians also took part, and many of the costumes were striking. The procession was played to the reserve by the Gisborne County and Wairoa Municipal Bands, which participated in a quick-step contest during tho afternoon. At the reserve the large numbers of people found entertainment at the various booths, side-shows and novelty tents, while tho baby show, for which there were 72 entriesj, attracted most of tho womenfolk around it. Minstrels amused the crowd in their excursions round the ground, while the train was, responsible for an amusing interlude when the engine, carriage and van got well separated in a trip from one side of the ground to the other, and in pulling up tho van collided with the carriage. The main attraction was the quickstep band contest, won by? Gisborne. The judge of the music, Bandmaster Adam Stein, of the Salvation Army 1 Band, who was called on at practically the last minute to officiate, addressed the hands after the contest,

saying that the Wairoa band, a young combination/, made a very brave attempt, but appeared nervous. The Gisborne band was easily the winner, hut played too long. The judges of the military movements were Captain Bongard, Lieutenant Morris and Sergeant-Major Stitchbury, and they placed Gisborne first. After the contest the bands played in massed formation, much to the pleasure of the public. | A programme of children's events was also held. The awards were as follow: THE PROCESSION. Judges, Messrs. John Hopkins and W. Bullivant. Descriptive exhibition : New Zealand Railways 1, Miss Richardson's Hawailans 2. Queen committee exhibit: Tennis 1, ambulance 2. The athletic committee did not compete. Trades: Te Ran. Press 1, Union Oil 2. Motor-cycle: G. C. Sisterton 1. Bicycle: Dorothy Eves 1, Lewen Allen 2, Jack Walworth 5. Children's turn-outs: Kathleen Newcomb's push chair and Thomas McFadyen's cart with lamb (tie). Fancy dresses: Isabel Spellars 1. Jean Greggan 2, Edna Ryan 3. Humorous display: Eric Hamilton's Coons 1. BABY SHOW. • (Judge, Dr. W. A. Bowie.) Boys, six months and under : David Moore 1, William Frederick Scott 2. Girls), 6 months and under: PatsyWright 1, Margaret Knowles 2. Boys, six months to 12 months: Ernest Robert Aitken I, No. 5 (name unavailable) 2. Girls, six months to 12 months: Phyllis Legg 1, Fae Lamont 2. Roys, 12 to 18 months: Willie Moss 1, Bryan Mcßreen 2. Girls, 12 to 18 months: Tess Smale 1, Yvonne Gear 2. There were no entries for the twins' section. BAND CONTEST. Music: Gisborne ("Royal Australian Navy," by A. F.' Lithgow),, 50 points, 1; Wairoa ("Victoria," by A. F. Lithgow), 2. Marching: Gisborne, 163 J points, 1 ; Wairoa, 154 points, 2. Aggregate • Gisborne, 213 J points, 1; Wairoa, 189 points, 2.

OTHER EVENTS. Girls skipping: Rita O'Gormon 1„ Eileen O'Gormon 2. Boys' 440vds. evele race; E. Owen 1, A. Warbiirton 2. Bovs' 880yds. cycle race: O'Donoghue 1, Warburlon 2. * LANTERN - PARADE FIREWORKS DISPLAY The programme for the evening was a lantern parade to the Childers road reserve, where among other attractions was a brilliant fireworks display. Large crowds were attracted to tho route, and the colored Hghtc made a pleasing spectacle. wending through the lines of people in Gladstone road, while the gay costumes added greatly to the colorful effect. Included in the procession wero some lorries which carried minstrels, who also performed later at the reserve. Tho tooths and side shows on the reserve attracted a considerable portion of the crowd, while on an improvised platform the "Mardi Gras Minstrels" dispensed a programme of song and mirth. A band comprising members of tho Gisborne City and Wairoa Municipal bandsmen played a number of pleasing selections. The fireworks (Display wa.s a. brilliant one, and greatly pleased the large crowd in the reserve, tho many rockets being particularly beautiful. Tho organiser, Mr. John Hopkins, is to be congratulated on the completeness of the arrangements, and the indefatigable efforts he put into the organising of the functions. . r \i <i sg=a