NEW YEAR CARNIVALS

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 8

NEW YEAR CARNIVALS

TE AROHA EN FETE A PRONOUNCED SUCCESS (Special to Times) TE AROHA, Saturday Te Aroha was en rete on Friday arternoon and evening and the New Year’s Eve carnival was a pronounced success. In the arternoon there was a children’s Taney dress parade in Whitaker Street, and this was followed by a varied sports programme Tor the juveniles in Merries Memorial Park. Children Troin all parts or the district took part in the events and Tun provided, and the large attendance of the public was Tully justified. % In the evening there was a crowd numbering some thousands of people, and never before have so many fancy costumes been seen in the principal streets. A variety troupe in a magniflcently decorated lorry contributed a much-appreciated programme or musical items and the inerry-go-rounds and side-shows in Roundary Street were patronised to the Tull extent until a late hour. The large assemblage entered Tully into the spirit of the carnival, and the gay scene was one to be long remembered. The special feature of the programme was the grand procession of decorated vehicles, handsome prizes being awarded under this heading. Included in the truly magnificent display were representations of “Snow White,’’ “The Stork,” “Washing Day,” “Maori Canoe,” “Good Luck for 1939,” “Ancient Fire Engine,” “20.000 Children,” “Red Cross,” “Home and Industries.”

The prize-list was as follows: Decorated motor lorry, “Snow White,” i; “20,000 Children.” 2: Perambulator. 3; “The Stork” and “Arohanui Lodge,” h.c. Decorated car-. Flowers, l. Good Luck. 2. Eccentric vehicle: “Another Scpndal, l. Maori vehicle: Tui Pah Maori Canoe 1.

The chairman of the committee. Mr W. C. Kennedy, thanked the assemblage for their large attendance and the Mayor, Mr R. Coulter, presented the prizes/ The carnival programme concluded with the grand midnight ball, in the Catholic Hall, which attracted a large attendance or dancers representative of the whole district. while many Auckland visitors joined in the enjoyment until the early hours of Saturday. MORRINSVILLE CELEBRATES BUSY TIME FOR SHOPS GAIETY IN THE STREETS (Special to Times) MORRINSVILLE, Saturday “A second Christmas Eve.” was the way Morrinsville retailers described the amount of business done last evening when the shops were open until 10 p.m. for the NewYear’s Eve trade. The streets were thronged and a spirit of gaiety prevailed in keeping with the occasion. Events provided by the Morrinsville businessmen’s carnival committee entertained the crowd. The Morrinsville Municipal Hand in “hard-up” costumes marched through the town and played selections at the main intersections. A party of Maoris from the Kiwitahi I’a, under the direction of the Rev. Canon K. Karaka. paraded the town in a motorlorry and performed hakas to the delight of the shoppers. At 9 p.m. short addresses were given over the loud-speakers by Mr F. 11. >tr**tton, chairman of the carnival committee, the Mayor (Mr W. Hetherington; and Mr W. S. Goosman. M.P. for Waikato, and Mr J. M. Allen. M.P. for Hauraki. A wheelbarrow Derby, in which a dozen barrows raced for a quarter or a mile down Thames Street, was a popular event, for the onlookers. The winners were A. Brown and J. Cole. A masquerade New Year ball in the Civic Hall concluded the evening’s gaiety. The final carnival event or the' week will be the Morrinsville Athletic and Cycle Club’s sports meeting on the Morrinsville Speedway on Tuesday.