THE CHILDREN'S PROCESSION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12698, 21 July 1919, Page 5

THE CHILDREN'S PROCESSION.

AH IHSPIRIS AND IOW DISPLAY.

THOUSANDS OF JUVENILES PARADE WITH FLAGS/

iiie dull sk y did not prevent the citizens from continuing the Peace Celebrations to-day with all the ardour and all the boundless- enthusiasm of Saturday. At a comparatively early hour thousands flocked into the centre of the city, and they remained there all day. In the forenoon all attention was centred on the assembly and procession of school children. hey came in scores and hundreds until tens of hundreds had gartered on the grass at Crannier Square. The marching in. the forming up, the singing, and, Anally, the march of tlm procession, with hags, banners, hands and colours, were an inspiring sight which will remain long in the memories of those who saw it.

MASSED FLAG DESIGNS. SONGS IN CRAMMER SQUARE Crannier Square was the rallying ground for all school children ‘this morning. The occasion was tho massing of the scholars in flags of the Allies, and combined singing of patriotic songs and a, big procession through the town. tho centra l object in the Square was a platform on which St Michael's Band was stationed. The children came not) asingle spies but in battalions/'* _r roin all points "of the compass they rallied, carrying the Hags of their denomination, and til- marshals—all of them teachers trained in tho handling of juvenile humanity, were on the look out for their particular legion. A big chalk square in the centre of the grass idols was flanked with notice, boards indicating the position of each sciiool or Ally, and here the children ■were mustered in a dense mass, each child « ith his or her flag. The children had been told to come in their ordinary clothes for fear of had weather, and the ‘ground colour,” although dark, served as background for the bright colours of tne flags and banners. The assembling was behind time, a, fact cine not to any default on the part of th© children or teachers, but oecauso the tramway authorities could not bring tho outlying school children mto town on time. Nevertheless, there were rather more children than were expected, as additions to the total nore made after the programme went ™ iwoss.. Ranged around the hand platform m a hollow square, the children looked solid and healthy, and what was more, they were by no means taking their pleasures sadly. The. British section was headed hv a pretty little "Welsh lady, with Scotch and Irish sisters on either hand, and a tali little French girl, hut England was conspicuous by. her absence, unless she wag incorporated in Wales. The united States section, verv appropriately, was headed by a, white-robed figure of liberty, bearing a. svrabolicil torch, and the children had lengthened flag sticks which gave greater prominence to their display. Japan was beaded by two little geishas, Belgium iy several suitably frocked maidens, trance by a typical red-capped figure, ana Italy by a tall girl of martial hearnig and a shorter girl in the national costume wdio had the brown complexion or the Latin race. Serbia was repre•SGn// oy a well-costumed little lady, and Technical College had a. little black dog harnessed in a light snlkv in the colours of the .Allies. Richmond had a wahine very well costumed, under a white banner with the words “ Richniond Rejoices” worked out in laurel leaves- The Addington display was varied by little banners with the ‘names or famous engagements in which the Aew Zealanders had figured, and Serbia had tho appropriate motto, “ Honour before all. The Convent Catholic schools carried a red banner with a figure of the Good Shepherd and the motto Thy Kingdom Come.” The whole of the children were arranged in ten groups os follows; Group 1 (Union Jack).—East Christchurch, Bromley and Heathoote Schools, and Marist Schools. Marshal. Mr It’ G. AA’ake. Group 2 (New Zealand Ensign).— Richmond, Shirley, Cashmere and Linwood Schools. Marshal. Mr H- F PenImgton. Group 3 (French Flag).—St Albans lapamu and Elmwood Schools. Mar-' shal, Mr J. Sutherland. Group 4 (Japanese Flag).—-New Bnghton, Feudal ton, Belfast, Marshland, Onruhia, Burwood, Yaldhurst Aranm, Bligh’s Road- Marshal Mr A"' J. Gamble. ’ Group o (Belgian Flag).—Sydenham and Waltham Schools. Marshal, Mr AY D. Bean. Group 6 (Italian Flag).—Somerfield, Beckenham. Itedclifts, Sumner and AA oolston Schools- Marshal, Mr E Purchase. - T ® rou P . ” (U.S.A, Flag).—Normal, V\ harenu:, xviccarton, Hornby ctnd Opawa Schools. Marshal. Mr ‘C. T. Aschman. Group 8 (Serbian Flag).—Addington, bpreydon, Harewood Road and West

OhrisicLurch Schools. Marshal, Mr F. >J- Waller. (Britain)_E.C. Schools, including Cathedral Girls’ School, secondly' and primary, Addington, Woolston, bt Mary s, Colombo Street, Mount Maguala Orphanage and Nazareth Tv ,u ?? Orphanage. Marshals. Messrs ’’. dodgers and .T. Cunningham. ooUoso - Mar|he bands turned out very creditably. Originally only St Michael’s Band had been m the programme, but it was not , on g before the skirl of the pipes neraldod the approach of the Highland Tine Band, Headed hy big Scottish i Gliristdiurcli bugles, tlic Sydenham Scouts’ Band, th 0 New linghtoii and Beekeuliam drums and Mes the Boys’ High School Band, and the Sah-atum Army Brass Band. Sandniched into the procession the bands gave life to the proceedings, and made :i ,l ig success of the procession. PROCEEDINGS IX CRANMER SQUARE. Most uiepiorablo was the musical part °t the programme given bv the chiidi‘f n ill Square. lb the centre the bt Michael s baud was mounted on a. platform iinder the conductorship of ! Mr R. R. Muuro. The school children were placed round the bandstand in a, square formation. The first musical mue was the playing of ‘‘Good Old .New Zealand/’ which was then sung nniTJl rea o { cr J our \ T . he “Bed White <nd Lino iollowed, the children sinrrpati JOtie song verv enthusiastically. waving their flags during the cixorus. J Jie scene presented hy the many-coloured waving flags was a magnificent and soul-stirrine-’ one. and the conclusion of the mini her was followed y loud cheers by the throng of people Ar UC |? v l i CC I t i lo Slf^es °f the square,lr J V- -'Uik'olm. who was director of the singing, soon had his largo choir or juveniles giving lustr and earnest expression in “ Ride Bntannia” and 'ery tlmrougnly did thov announce, as I they energetically hoisted their flags, - p * Britons never shall be slaved” .Goa Defend New Zealand ” was finely ■?/' en .t " !t , n due feeling. A quartette of the Boys High School Band plared ' I he Last Post,” tho large gathering standing at attention, wliile the solemn appealing notes rang out. ” God Save the, Ring - concluded the programme, unci then the children gave hearty cheers for the different flags of the Empire and the Allies. There was a little lateness in starting the programme, but once under way those in charge kept the items moving in quick succession. There was but little encroaching on the reserved , area By the public, mounted police keeping back any whoso keen interest tempted them to go over the ’border line. The proceedings from every point |of view were highly successful. Amoner 1 those present were- the Hon G. W. Rusj sell. Minister of Internal Affairs, and j Mrs Russell. j THE PROCESSION. The period allotted for song over, the marshals soon had the various units for the procession on the march, and in goodly array and order the groups proceeded out to the Norma). School end of the square, where the head of the procession—two Fire Brigade chemical motor engines, and a couple of tableaux —was in waiting to load oil. The first chemical motor had a. very pretty painted design, headed u Freedom/’ with portraits of Admirals Jellicoe and Beatty, and a figure of \ictory with laurel wreaths. The second engine bore a design with the wording, ,: Yo shall turn your swords into ploughshares.” The tableaux represented Britannia and her Dominions, and were excellently carried out_ by the Salvation Army— H.M.S. Albion with a boat’s crew, with oars peaked—and the Ellesmere School Then came the schools, with their national flags and, dresses, a bright and happy throng of the youth of New Zealand, widen gained an enthusiastic reception in the densely lined streets* The route of the procession ended at Latimer Square, where the Mayor (Dr I hacker) and Airs Thacker were seated in a. motor-car, and deceived a warm greeting from the school children on the march. mMawingF.ittg-.miiiiii .... 1 ~ ”