River Carnival.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20509, 10 January 1935, Page 8

River Carnival.

Niaht of Gaiety

Christchurch Prepares for Duke. NIGHT OF GAIETY is promised for January 19, when Christchurch will hold its river carnival on the Avon at Park Terrace in honour of the Duke of Gloucester. Seventy-five decorated boats will take part, and the Duke will travel up and down the stretch of river between Carlton Mill and Armagh Street bridges in a motorboat. Besides a grand parade of boats of all kinds, there will be rowing races, a fireworks display in conjunction with a Fire Brigade demonstration, and the proceedings will end with a dance on the Rugby Union training ground in the park. Brass Lands will entertain the crowd on the Park Terrace side of the stream and two pipe lunds will provide the music on the Hagley Park side. The Duke will arrive at 9.30 p.m., and will probably be received at the dais which is to be erected at the end of Peterborough Street. If he does not arrive at that point he will be received at the Carlton Mill bridge end and will travel the length of the stream in a motor-boat, landing at the dais at Peterborough Street. The actual point of arrival has not yet been decided, but will be agreed upon after a conference between representatives of the Entrytainment Committee and the Superintendent of Police. In any case, the Duke will travel along the river in a boat. Prior to the arrival of the Duke, eight crews will take part in a series of races over a 220vds course. A fireworks display, *n which detachments froni the Christchurch Fire Brigade will assist, will follow. Arrangements for the carnival were further developed yesterday at a meeting of the committee responsible for the entertainment, Mr T. Milliken presiding. Mr H. Bradley, honorary organiser, suggested that the Duke should be received at the Carlton Mill bridge end on a landing stage constructed of pontoons, ivhich would be provided and manned by the New Zealand Corps of Engineers, and that the boats should be marshalled at the Carlton Mill bridge end of the stream. Duke’s Arrival. The Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan. M.P.) suggested that the point of the Duke’s arrivai should be settled by a subcommittee, and Messrs Milliken and Bradley were appointed to confer with Superintendent D. J. Cummings; of the Police Department. Some doubts were expressed by membeis of the committee as to the advisability of permitting speed-boats to take part in the carnival, on account of the large wash created by them, but it was agreed that they should be invited to participate, the speed to be limited and the river kept free of other craft at that time. It was arranged that the Duke’s dais should be kept clear of the general public by having a bapd on one side and a Fire Brigade detachment on the other. Arrangements were made for two Maori canoes, manned by Natives, to act as guardboats as the Duke lands at the official dais. These will cross the river after his Royal Highness has ascended the steps and the crews will land on the opposite bank, where they will give a series of hakas and war dances. Only one illuminated aeroplane will be able to participate, as if two were to fiv both would need to be fitted with complete navigation lights, which would take some days to instal. Communication between the landing stages and both ends of the reach and the Royal dais will be maintained by telephone, manned by the New Zealand Corps of Signals, the members of which will lay a submerged cable to provide the necessary connection.