GAIETY IN CITY STREETS

Southland Times, Issue 24273, 2 November 1940, Page 6

GAIETY IN CITY STREETS

Success Of Traders’ Gala Day £2OOO RAISED FOR LONDON FUND Entering unrestrainedly into the gaiety of the occasion, thousands of Invercargill and country people extracted full enjoyment from lucky packet and gala day which was held in the city yesterday. From early afternoon until late at night crowds thronged the principal streets and co-operated to the full with the organizers of the gala day in their efforts to swell the Southland fund for the relief of distress caused by air raids on London. As a result tfie fund should benefit to the extent of about £2OOO The day was gloriously fine, and the bright pageantry provided by elaborate processions, entertainments, displays and the mock court was enjoyed to the full. The gay procession, which was one of the highlights of the afternoon, gave a foretaste of the pleasures of the day. Crowds streamed out on to the main streets to inspect it at close quarters and road traffic was suspended as it passed along. At night the scene was a brilliant one. In the multi-coloured glow of the city street and business lights the procession passed through closely packed lanes of enthusiastic onlookers. Longer and more varied than the afternoon procession, it drew praise from young and old for the ingenuity and thoroughness of those responsible for the floats. STROLLING PLAYERS Concert parties and strolling players kept the streets alive with the sound of revelry, and in the meantime, up to about 4 o’clock, lucky packets sold rapidly. Early in the evening the 30,000 envelopes which had been prepared by the Invercargill Traders’ Patriotic Assistance Committee had been disposed of.

Much attention was attracted during the day by the mock court set up in Dee street near the corner of Esk street. The court which was only one of the entertainments organized, returned dividends in the shape of pleasure for the crowd and money for the cause. The day before one of the committee spent many hours telephoning residents to ask if they would mind being haled before the court, and how much they would be willing to pay in fines. A staging was erected, judge, counsel, clerk of the court and policemen were fitted out in full regalia and a loud speaker system installed. The judge displayed a ready wit and contributions in the form of fines, some as large as £2/2/-, came readily. The proceeds of the court were more than £lOO. Led by the Battalion Boys’ Band, the afternoon procession made its way along Tay street from Elies road, turning at the monument into Dee street, along which it travelled before returning by the same route. The first flcat was a striking tableau of Britannia arranged by H. and J. Smith, Ltd. “Policemen” for the mock court followed in a dilapidated vehicle, after which came floats of many business firms, all impressively staged. The Gun Dog Club’s float showed a German Dornier bomber being brought down repeatedly by a “twelve barrelled pom-pom anti-aircraft gun.” MOCK COURT With the procession over the attention of the crowd was drawn to the varied programme of entertainments. Pupils from the Southland School of Classic and Highland Dancing under the direction of the principal (Mr Alex. Sutherland) gave exhibitions from concert platforms in Dee street, while the Returned Soldiers’ concert party and groups from the Commercial Travellers’ Association helped to keep the I crowds entertained. St. John Ambulance Brigade members also gave a display of first-aid in the Crescent. The procession in the evening was an even more brilliant spectacle than that in the afternoon. Moving off down Tay street from Elies road it provided the feature of the evening. Tickets for the raffle in which the prize is the children’s playhouse built by the employees of the Calder Mackay ' Co., Ltd., sold freely throughout the day. Tire raffle has been extended to November 16. Mr J. D. Campbell, chairman of the Traders’ Committee, was pleased with the success of the lucky packet and gala day. “The result is a tribute not only to the generosity of citizens, but to the members of the committee who worked unremittingly in making the preparations,” said Mr Campbell last night. Members had worked night after night for many weeks to make the day a success and great credit was due to them. WINNING NUMBERS The winning tickets in the hidden number competition were as follows: — £37/10/- motor mower, A 3918; £35 diamond ring, D 2520; £l5 bicycle, C 2661; fur cape (£l5/15/-), 82327; £lO/10/- bicycle, A 2511; Shetland pony (£lO/10/-), 82835; vacuum cleaner (£7/10/-), D 2897; brass coal and wood box (£5), C 2926; brass fire screen (£3 5/-), D 2372; electric heater (£2/10/-), : A 3034; order for meat (£2/10/-), 84367; electric iron (£l/10/-), C 4157; 1 ham (£l/10/-), C 1803; permanent wave (£l/5/-), 82036; permanent wave : (£l/5/-), A 1393; permanent wave ■ (£l/5/-), D 3768; quarter tons of coal ! (15/-), D 856, D 4446, C 2013, 82424, < D 2845, C 2870, 84205, C 3155, 81925, < A5lO, C 1607, A 3353, 83239, 84266, 1 C2BOl, 8664, 81467, A 2390; lampshades > (10/6), A 1977, A 889; quarters of lamb (8/6), C 3930, A 2872, A 592, C 1063; salt i lick box (12/6), D 4992. 1 The competition for the piebald pony, i valued at £l2/12/-, was won by ticket s A 528. I Holders of winning tickets should s make application next week to the sec- j retary, Mr K. Dickson, of Thomson and ( Beattie, Ltd., for orders authorizing them to lift prizes. f