WAIKANAE CARNIVAL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19868, 20 February 1939, Page 14

WAIKANAE CARNIVAL

DRAGON PARADE SUCCESS CHINESE CO-OPER ATION FITNESS CAMPAIGN OPENS Many hundreds of people lined Gladstone road and Grey street on Saturday evening to see the procession in connection with the Waikanae Beach carnival sponsored by the Gisborne Thirty-Thousand Club and the opening of the physical fitness campaign in Gisborne. The success of the parade was due largely to the members of the Gisborne Chinese Club and their ingenuity in constructing a 66ft. dragon. Leading the procession from the Post Office to the beach was the W.E.C.M.K. Band, and then followed eight teams of inter-house girls, and the dragon. Though the procession was not a big one, its novelty was greatly appreciated by the spectators, and the children especially received a great thrill as the dragon weaved its way along the street like a huge snake.

Speaking of the procession later, many paid warm tributes to the Chinese and remarked that they had led 'the way for the other residents of Gisborne in the way of a procession novelty. If other organisations could work up some such novelty Gisborne would be able to. boast of a splendid variety for spectacles in the future. Over 5000 Attend Beach At the beach carnival it was estimated that there were over 5000 people, as many—and probably more —as had been on the beach at one time before. The programme opened with the singing of the New Zealand National Anthem 'by the teams of girls drawn up before the dais, and then the phsyical fitness campaign was opened by the Mayor, Mr. D. W Coleman, M.P. Mr. Coleman said the campaign was a preliminary to the establishment of a plan for permanent work under Parliament’s legislation for the development of physical welfare among the people of the Dominion. District committees had been set up to review the facilities and needs of the respective districts in the way of physical welfare and recreation. Government Assistance “I realise’ that it is an entirely new undertaking,” he said. “Until now we have left this work to a few enthusiastic people, who, very often, have had a lot of hard work with very little thanks and a whole lot of criticism. For the first time in the history of New Zealand the Government is now showing an interest .and attempting to encourage and assist, in this very fine worn.” The Mayor expressed his thanks to the committee which nad been working with him in the campaign, and also to the organisations assisting. He thanked the Thirty-Thousand Club l'or organising a function that so suitably served as an opening for the campaign. At the conclusion of His Worship’s address the inter-house girls were seen in maze marching on the tennis courts, instructed by Mr. R. O. Blackwell, the Y.M.C.A. physical instructor. The teams representing Messrs. Gamages and Messrs. Fitzmauriee and Butler then gave a demonstration of physical exercises on the dais prior to the presentation of the cup won at the recent inter-house carnival. Presentation of Prizes Mr. Coleman made the following presentations to the leaders of the teams: — Challenge Shield donated by Mr. 11. Holmes l'or the 1938-39 inter-house sports.—Messrs. Gamages’ team. Auto Parts’ Cup for best turned out team.—Messrs. McC.ruers’ team. Good Cup for marching.—Messrs Gamages’ team. A. H. De Costa Cup for most point? in .Athletics.—Messrs. Adair Brothers and Messrs. Gamages’ teams, tie, 11 points. Kaiapoi Cup for best captain.— Messrs. Gamages. Mr. F. Mockridgc's Cup for most points in physical drill. —Messrs. Fit'/.maurice and Butler’s and Messrs Gamages’ teams, tic, 45 points. Hawke’s Bay Cup, won at recent carnival.—Messrs. Fitzmauriee and Butler’s teamThe cup presentations were followed by a mock court and several members in the gathering were fined by the “judge,” Mr. J. S. Wauchop, for imaginary and amusing “offences.” The “police” on the beach brought many offenders before the court"to be dealt with by the “judge,” those pleading not guilty being prosecuted by Mr. R. Morse. A fine display of fireworks concluded the entertainment. Rockets by the score were* sent skywards to emit showers of coloured lights and fountains, flares, and expensive set pieces were a source of attraction to the carnival crowd. Numerous sideshows and other entertainments on the beach assisted to make the evening a pleasant one, and a dance in the kiosk was well patronised.

SURF DEMONSTRATION DISPLAY AT WAIKANAE RACE WON MY CALDWELL A surf life-saving demonstration on the Waikanae Beach yesterday afternoon was marred to a certain extent by a strong sea breeze, and the programme was terminated sooner than expected on account of the unpleasantness of flying sand to spectators and participants alike. The display was one of the items on the programme for the physical fitness campaign. The W.E.C.M.R. Band was in attendance and played several numbers to the large crowd assembled at ttie beach.

The first event on the programme was a march past by two teams of the Gisborne Amateur Surf and Swimming Club and one from the Wamui Surf Life-Saving Club, Mr. T. S. Wauchop being beach marshal. The teams then gave a display of a sixman rescue and. resuscitation event. The contribution to the programme of the Gisborne sub-branch of the Roval Life-Saving Society was an explanation by Mr. Wauchop of the use of the carbon dioxide gun, one of the latest aids for resuscitating an ap-parently-drowned person. The surf race for the A. H. TDc Costa Cud drew an entry of starters, and the results were as tollows: —D. Caldwell, 50sec., 1: B. Thompson, 40sec., 2; C. Smith, 45sec., and A. Banfield, lOOsec., equal, 3; K. Taylor, 50sec., 5. Time, smm. 20 l-ssee.