MEMORABLE DAYS IN MELBOURNE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19946, 2 November 1934, Page 9

MEMORABLE DAYS IN MELBOURNE

NAVAL HISTORY OF CENTURY

DUKE’S RELAXATION IN COUNTRY

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright

(Received November 1, 10.40 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, November 1

By cleverly planned illusions thousands of people visiting the Centenary naval searchlight pageant at the Showground this week were made to live through dramatic naval episodes marking the course of the Empire’s history. Captain Cook’s rediscovery of Australia and death at the Sandwich Islands, Sir Francis Drake’s men of the Golden Hind, repelling Spanish boarders, British and French frigates in furious action, Australia’s troop convoy putting to sea, and the vanquishing of the Emden at Cocos Islands were all presented in the hard white searchlight glare with startling realism and in the costumes of the times. There were a thousand naval performers in the pageant which was a triumph of precision and organisation. WARSHIPS ENTERTAIN NEW ZEALAND’S CONTRIBUTION TO CELEBRATIONS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright MELBOURNE, November 1. Four hundred were entertained by Admiral Burges-Watson at a dance aboard the Diomede and Dunedin on Wednesday. The ships were brilliantly lit, and moored together by connecting gangways, and presented a bright scene. This was an important New Zealand contribution to the celebrations. DUKE’S VISIT TO COUNTRY SPELL OF HOT WEATHER United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright MELBOURNE, November 1. Thoroughly refreshed after his spell at Ercildoune, the Duke of Gloucester is now touring Northern Victoria, where he is experiencing the hottest weather since his arrival in Australia. The shade temperature at an open air reception at Mildura was 100 degrees.

The district is the California of Australia. The Duke was greatly interested in orange growing, and the dried fruit activities in the fertile Murray Valley. At Ouyen the Duke received a welcome from the soldier settlers. It was explained to the Duke that the settlers, despite their physical disabilities, and unkind seasons, were proving Empire builders in peace no less than in war.