COOK’S GARDENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19514, 17 February 1926, Page 11

COOK’S GARDENS

MADE' LIGHT AS DAY A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE ELECTRICITY PERMANENTLY INSTALLED Fine weather, brilliant lighting, a large attendance, and first class music and marching. All these played an important part in the official opening of the new order of things at Cook’s Gardens —a system of electric lighting. In his speech the Mayor (Mr Hope Gibbons), briefly referred to the history of Cook’s Gardens. Several years ago the speaker, together with other i citizens of the town, was appointed to carry out a certain deferred programme under the supervision of an engineer. The result of that was the Cook’s Gardens of to-day. The Mayor went on to pay a tribute to the guarantors who had enabled the new lighting scheme to become an accomplished fact. The £3OO which was required had been provided for under a guarantee made by a number of enthusiasts. The Mayor urged the public to support the various functions that would be held on Cook’s Gardens, as every shilling paid for admittance was going to further improve their grounds. Last year he submitted proposals to the citizens which were rejected. However, in the future he would place these proposals once again before the citizens of Wanganui. The Mayor concluded by expressing a hearty vote of thanks to the guarantors an i workers who had assisted to instal the lights. Marching and Music Following on the opening ceremony, the Wanganui Garrison Band, under the conductorship of Bandsmaster J. Watson, and the Wanganui Pipe Band, under Pipe-Major R. Thomson, played their test selections in a manner that left little to be desired. A feature was the marching of both bands, which brought forth spontaneous applause from the assemblage on the slopes. Misses Alice Sims and Mary Thomson contributed a Highland dance, which was much appreciated. The Garrison Band and Pipe Band will hold a carnival on Cook’s Gardens to-night, when special attractions will be submitted, while the Queen Alexandra Band will hold a special function to-morrow evening.