WONDERFUL PAGEANT

Southland Times, Issue 21658, 21 March 1932, Page 7

WONDERFUL PAGEANT

EARLY DAYS RECALLED THRILLS FOR THOUSANDS RUSH TO CROSS BRIDGE (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, March 19. Half a million people who had a close-up view of the bridge pageant have something tangible to remember. Thanks to a brilliant sunny day the carnival spirit was everywhere. Thrills on land and water and in the air kept the vast surging crowd keyed up day and night. The depression was forgotten by the huge well-dressed, well-behaved crowd which thronged the vantage points.

Thousands of people perched on rooftops and parapets saw a marvellous spectacle when a procession of floats, bands, soldiers white-clothed school children and Boy Scouts crossed the great bridge from south to north, charming tableaux depicting finger-posts of history, industries and sport. Graceful surf girls and gallant surfmen in costume and full-blooded aboriginals afforded sharp contrasts in character. Old time coaches and ancient high-wheeled bicycles, in fact everything symbolical of the old and the new order of things, seemed to be represented in this colourful, diversified procession. While various arms of the defence groups, war veterans and scores of bands stirred the public to the highest pitch of enthusiasm, overhead naval seaplanes and Air Force and private aeroplanes cut capers, flew in formation and did everything possible seemingly to attract the attention of the'vast sea of people beneath them: but so thick and fast were the novel scenes on the bridge and the harbour that it was physically impossible for people to pay much heed to what was going on above their heads. Festooned Liners Irt Procession. Nothing so impressive has been seen in Sydney—probably in the world-—as to-day’s procession of large liners in the narrow confines of the harbour. Gaily bedecked and festooned vessels of 12,000 tons .and upwards at a given signal passed beneath the bridge at a snail’s pace one behind the other in a long lino to an anchorage far beyond it. Each sounded a siren continuously, making a medley of noise as if proudly acclaiming the great event. When the official speeches were over the people were permitted to cross the bridge. What an amazing sight it was when followed a mighty rush of tens of thousands who seized their first opportunity to view the vast panorama from the dizzy height of the bridge. The whole afternoon the broad highway was a moving mass of humanity.

At midnight on Saturday the bridge was thrown open to train, tram and vehicular traffic for the first time. A special electric train loaded passengers at 10/- a head and made the initial trip. During the afternoon and night the festivities were worthy of the occasion. It is estimated that three-quarters of a million gathered on both sides of the harbour and watched fireworks. A spectacular searchlight display by Australian warships and the* New Zealand cruiser Diomede moored on the opposite sides of the harbour illuminated the bridge, its towering steel outlines standing out in bold relief against the cloudless, moonlit sky, making an entrancing picture in silver and grey. A Spectacular Display. The climax to a wonderful setting was when the whole of the warships and large liners were themselves simultaneously illuminated, bursting into a blaze of light and revealing their majestic outlines in shimmering gold. Air-Commodore Kingsford Smith supplied thrills aloft by flying in an illuminated aeroplane and every now and then discharging rockets, creating meteors with pyrotechnics. _ Searchlights at intervals focussed on his machine. At least four deaths are directly due to

the bridge carnival. A man was killed by a motor lorry during the procession and three people who had heart seizures in the crowded streets died. People, chiefly women and girls, fainted in the dense crowds and blazing sun in exposed positions at an alarming rate. At least 2500 cases were treated by ambulance men in the morning in the city area. Kingsford Smith was dogged by misfortune. While landing with twelve passengers at Mascot, late last night he crashed from a low altitude. The port wheel was smashed and the machine settled on its side, badlv damaged, but the passengers received nothing worse than a bad scare. Kingsford Smith was unharmed. WHAT THE BRIDGE COST. (Rec. 11 p.m.) Sydney, March 20. Twelve workmen lost their lives during the construction of the bridge. The cost of the work was nearly £10,000,000 including approaches and viaducts. HISTORICAL PAGEANT EARLY SCENES ENACTED. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, March 20. In addition to the pyrotechnics! display last night a delightful historical pageant was carried out at Vaucluse Park in the vicinity of Wentworth’s old home. All the former Governors and prominent colonists and statesmen were represented true to type. Early scenes were enacted with splendid realism. A Venetian carnival, in which society folk.? predominated, made gay the modern picture on the waterfront immediately below. Traffic over the Harbour Bridge was in full blast on Sunday. Trams, trains and cars have been passing to and fro, linking the north and south sides of the city, exciting the curiosity of ferry travellers, especially those who still prefer to use the ferries. So far only three lines of ferries have ceased running on account of the bridge. STORY DISCREDITED SECRET MEETING IN LONDON. London, March 18. Mr A. C. Willis’s story was given prominence in the morning and evening papers. The Daily Telegraph’s political correspondent says that members of all parties are incredulous at Mr Willis’s story of a secret meeting. He made careful inquiries in every quarter, but could not find the slightest trace of such a gathering. Had a plot against Mr Lang become known members of Parliament would not have preserved silence; moreover, the idea can be dismissed that any body of outside persons could have held a meeting at St. Stephen’s. There are several Australians in the present Parliament and they regard as a fantastic idea that a gathering was summoned to discuss the opening of the bridge. The following radiogram was received from the Agent-General for New South Wales in London, Mr A. C. Willis, by Mr Gosling, Chief Secretary to Mr Lang: “At the House of Commons on Tuesday evening a section of the members interested in Australian affairs held a secret meeting and discussed the Sydney Bridge opening. It was stated at the meeting that a movement led by Colonel Campbell intended seizing the Premier and throwing him into the river. I most strongly urge you to take every precaution to protect the Premier and save the State from this disgraceful act.” The message was referred to the Police Commissioner. NEW' JERSEY REJOICES MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, March 18. Governor Moore of New Jersey sent the following message of congratulation to Sydney: “May I extend congratulations upon the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We in New Jersey, where two bridges have just been dedicated, rejoice with you upon the completion of another link in the chain of Australian progress.”