THE PROCESSION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 170, 24 August 1914, Page 8

THE PROCESSION.

AN IMMENSE DISPLAY. MILES OF PATRIOTISM. TABLEAUX AND PARADES. The promoters of tlie Patriotic Procession had expressed their determination to make to-day's show the biggest and best ever held in Christchurch. Lt is for the. public to pass its verdict, but opinion should be nearly unanimous thut the object was achieved. It was a great show, bright and interesting from sta.it to finish. The Demonstration Committee should receive the gold medal of public, approbation, and the Mayor's Patriotic Fund should receive a substantial lift. The day at the beginning was not of the brightest kind that favour Canterbury, but it was not so cold as to be actively discomforting. The sun made an appearance after being locked up for nearly three days, with all its early spring vigour, and, during the time the procession was at its height the weather conditions were ideal. The streets of* tlie city were thronged shortly after noon, ?nd the young ladies who were selling badges and programmes must have added handsomely to the receipts of the funds, though the medallions quickly rail out. An official predicted that quite 0000 more could have, been disposed of had they been available. Trains and trams brought small armies of suburbanites and country folk to the city, all bent on seeing what, for the time being, was "the greatest show on earth" to them.

A marring circumstance in the proceedings was the fact that trams from all parts insistently demanded the right of way, and, 111 all cases, they were running with practically only the motorman and the conductor. This condi- ( tion of affairs upset the proceedings to a marked degree. PROGRESS THROUGH THE CITY.

Dense crowds of people thronged the route mapped out for the procession for nearly an hour before it actually started. Parents brought along their children and held them up to "see the red, white and blue," people of small stature resolutely elbowed their way to the front, where they could get a good view, cripples came in their wheelchairs rather than be denied a sight of the procession, wealthy folk drove up in their motor cars, and gazed upon its windings in comfort. Many an upstair window showed a crowd of eager faces intent on missing nothing of it. Patriotic airs accompanied the procession as it swung off down Gloucester Street, and the crowd thickened as the music pealed out, so that it became almost impossible to penetrate the closelypacked lines. Policemen patrolled Cathedral Square, which passed through it about two-thirty, en route to Cranmer Square, where it disbanded. The keenest interest was taken in the event 011 all sides, and the red, white and blue of the bunting was duplicated by almost everyone who played the part of spectator, men, women, and children alike. The little bit of ribbon with the English colours was übiquitous, both as regards the procession and those who watched its triumphal x>rogress through the citv. THE START. The procession started from the Choral Hall, and this was the scene of much activity, laughter, and industry, for quite a long time before a move was

searchlight (a bicycle lamp) and wireless complete. The Druids' Friendly Society's tableaux of Britannia and her attendants, representing soldiers of the Empire, was one of the most picturesque lorry loads of the group, and was preceded by Druids on horseback and Druids oil foot, all robed in white and disguised in hair. Rangiora also sent its contingent of Druids in a motor car. The Druids were followed by representatives of the Canterbury Swimming Centre, and by the Live-Saving Society's two decorated reels. The Sydenham Salvation Army Silver Baud followed after the Lvttelton's cruiser, and behind the Sumner Lifeboat came .Derry's Band, ami then the St. John Ambulance display, with bicycles, stretcher, and patient.

Along Gloucester Street, between Barbadoes Street and the East Belt, were several groups which attracted their full measure of interest and appreciation. First came the Foresters' Friendly Society's group, the members wearing their green regalia, and bearing aloft the large banner of their order, with the motto, "Go thou and do likewise,'' conspicuously displayed. The Orangemen were gathered near, likewise wearing their decorations. The Bijrnham Band and a neat little sqtiad of Boy Scouts massed up closed to the Salvation Army Second Band, and following the latter came the children's fancy costume and public schools display, many of the fancy costumes showing much originality of idea, and some of them being decidedly novel. Several children in fancy costumes followed the procession on bicycles, the latter being gaily decorated as well as the riders, the red, white and blue being, of course, introduced into every scheme. Tapper's engine and a Small cart laden with sweets were in close proximity, and the Sumner Band was next door. A detachment of Girl Scouts assembled in the East Christchurch School Ground "and joined the procession from that point. The children in fancy costumes also assembled in the same place, and were arranged in the procession by the marshals having charge of that section. The Canterbury College students wero represented; chiefly by groups of officers of the Allied forces. One man was labelled "Nelson 2nd," while another bore an inscription to the effect that he was responsible for the destruction of 1-5 Lhlans. Several vehicles were laden with merry-faced hockeyites representing the Canterbury Men's and Sydenham an I Canterbury Ladies' Hockey Asociations. A capacious four-wheeler was devoted to representatives of the Addington Band, whose "Kentish Fair" made a very pretty display. The diminutive "May Queen" was seated aloft in a bower of emerald foliage, surrounded by her juvenile "subjects," one of whom sat complacently munching sweets, unmindful of the hundreds of pairs of eyes that watched her progress. The banners of the Oddfellows and Protestant Alliance Friendly Societies undulated with every passing breeze, which alternately brought into view and hid the golden inscription?* wrought thereon. The m'usie of the C.Y.C. and Highland Pipe Bands added their quota to the music of the day. Other societies represented were the Rugby and Scottish Associations.

Following the representatives of the International Order of Good Templars, whose banner waved in the breeze, came a line display, "The Entente," by Jones Bros. A light-wheeled platform drawn by two powerful "King Dick" motor cycles carried human representatives of the British bull dog, the Russian bear, and the French 'chanticleer. Draped with colours in plenty, and surmounted by a model aeroplane, 1 ' The Entente" attracted much attention, and its crew of pseudo-Jack Tars and Tommy Atkinses collected the nimble coin briykly. A detached-portion of the exhibit that aroused much amusement was a burlesque war-corre'spondent,

Jones' display were dressed in military uniforms and otherwise, most of them wearing masks, varying in their degrees of ugliness. They also did much good work with collection boxes.

Manning and Co. carried a plentiful cargo of barrels on a lorry on which rode hefty sailors. Flags flew from every vantage point. A distinguishing feature of the display was two splendid paintings of "The Absent-Minded Beggar," placed on each side of the vehicle. Messrs A. J. White, Ltd., were exceedingly well represented. An effectively decorated motor lorry carried Britannia enthroned on high, and round her was ranged a stalwart bodyguard, representing soldiers of various lands. Following on was a second lorry carrying more representatives of the same firm, enacting an ambulance hospital scene, in which a long-suffering male was baudaged at frequent intervals by a nurse in regulation costume. Messrs Armstrong and Co. followed on with a small waggon on which was displayed a figure representing Britannia, plentifully surrounded by bunting. Brown's Highbury Laundry was there with one of its delivery carts displaying the Union Jack, and with the body of the van covered completely with bunting. Messrs Ross and Glendinning turned out with one of their ordinary express carts drawu by a well-groomed horse displaying the red, white and blue. Three huge links of a chain in red, white and blue represented the Triple Entente.

The International Harvester Company was represented by a large lorry drawn by two sturdy half-draughts bedecked with red, white and blue. The lorry itself was freely decorated with greenery and wheat, oats, lucerne, etc., tastefully entwined, while the Union Jack, the flag of New Zealand, and the Starßand Stripes waved gaily. Messrs Taylor and Oakley made an attractive display in which a sturdy white horse drew a spring cart, flying the Union Jack from a bedecked masthead. From the four- corners of the cart projected dangerous looking guns manned by stalwart warriors, and a ferocious looking bulldog \ decorated with colours.

The New Zealand Express Company turned out with one of their motor lorries just as in everyday use, excepting that it was plentifully covered with bunting, and flew the Union Ja»k fronr every possible point. Assembled on the East Belt the display made by the various trades was a perfect blaze of colour, and alone would have made a creditable turnout. Bakers, butchers, grocers, coal merchants, and mineral water manufacturers without very definite views upon colour schemes produced a motley effect not altogether unpleasing. A diminutive and decrepit donkey attached to an equally decrepit butchers-cart represented a Christchurch butcher's cart after the war. There were others that strove after a touch of comedy with more or less effect.

Pride of place was given to Dixon Brothers' motor pantechnicon on which a model cannon was mounted, surrounded by boy scouts., and the interior was arranged an a scout camp. The Premier's request to the farmers of the Dominion to grow grain was represented by a strikingly arranged load of cereals got up by the local branch of the Department of Agriculture. ON THE NORTH PLATFORM.

At the north platform Mr Van Buren put in a lot of good work selling a couple of Union Jacks. He made a success of it, with the assistance of Sir Joseph Ward, whose help he invoked. The members of the Fuller-Brennan Company turned out in strong force, and assisted in the musical part of the show most patriotically. - Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward, the Hon. R. Heaton Rhodes, the Mayor and councillors, and many other notables were also on the platform. A brief patriotic address was given