RECORD CROWD ON BAY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22470, 4 January 1943, Page 6

RECORD CROWD ON BAY

Brilliant Sunshine Prevails

Three Thousand Visitors Arrive Yesterday

■Although' .-the holiday carnival finished on Saturday the popularity of Caroline Bay did not end there, for with the brilliant sunshine yesterdav the biggest crowd of the season spent the day on the Bay. Four excursion trains from Christchurch brought more than 3000 visitors to Timaru while 730 left Timaru for the north on the two trains in the morning. The trains from Christchurch brought 565, 1141, 647 and 650 passengers respectively and the first train which left Timaru in the morning carried 580 passengers and the second 150. Concerts were given from the Sound Shell on the Bay, in the afternoon and evening, by the Timaru Municipal Band and the Timaru Highland Pipe -Band, which were assisted with vocal solos by Mr A. Shrimpton in the afternoon and vocal solos and duet by Mrs C. T. Ballantyne and Mr H. Francis in the evening. Both bands played selections and marches at both concerts. Two members of the junior Municipal Band. Wain Leslie and Tom Taylor played cornet solos in the afternoon. The accompanists were Mrs Richards and Mr Parnell. The pupils of Miss Rena Jacobs assisted by Misses Audrey Mackay and Orma Ford performed at both concerts. They presented Highland reels, the Reel o’ Tulloch, Sean Triubhais. massed fling and Irish reel. Bandsman Bruce Osborne played a euphonium solo in the evening. The pianists at night were Mrs Stowell and Miss Zelda Osborne.

Visitors expressed surprise at the numerical strength and general excellence of the bands. The 25 members of the pipe band at its last contest are now in khaki but there were 24 pipers and drummers on parade yesterday. More than 30 former members of the municipal band are in the Forces, but the band was 27 strong yesterday. Both bands have played seven times in the last seven days. The audience at both concerts was a large and appreciative one. Tire weather was perfect yesterday and with the ideal surroundings on the Bay a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon was assured. There were hundreds of cars on the lawn at the southern end of the Bay and lunches were spread on the grass. It was an excellent day for bathing and there were many persons in the water and on the sands. It was a day that will be long remembered again by the thousands of visitors.