WELCOME TO 1941

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 254, 6 January 1941, Page 5

WELCOME TO 1941

SUCCESSFUL NEW YEAR CARNIVAL GREAT CROWD IN WHAKATANE DECORATED VEHICLE PROCESSION WHAKATAISE'S first New Year's Carnival has come and gone, and .all who attended can only endorse the general opinion that it was an unqualified success. Crowds thronged the Strand €i*om an early hour in the evening and the fun was at its height with the appearance •of the procession about 10 p.m. It was very evident that the crowd was out to make the most of the occasion for there was a genuine -carnival spirit abroad and a happy urge to joi«( in the fun & dispense • with worry and formalities The procession was in itself a credit to all concerned, the shortness of notice being more than offset by the keenness and enthusiasm of those who entered. There were some excellent displays. The afternoon's proceedings included the children's procession and display at the eastern end of ih%j :Strand. The Carnival concluded with the Midnight Ball in tlie> Winter Rail.

FUN IN THE STREETS CARNIVAL SPIRIT ABROAD MANY VISITORS IN TOWN The 4000 people who assembled in "Whakatane last Tuesday evening ■will be kee«lj r anticipating the New 'Year's Carnival which will Avitliout :a doubt be held in twelve monthsl time. The event has now been successfully established and it would '•be safe to say that it will attract •more and more people as it progresses year by year. The wisdom of the committee in iurging the Borough Council to clo,se •the Strand to all through traffic was • amply demonstrated by the comparative freedom of movement which •was afforded the merry-makers who filled the street from early in the •evening. The diversion routes carried the traffic with easei and though the sidestrcets were crowded with vehicles accommodation within easy distance of the Strand was not overtaxed. Concert and Pipe Band The fun commenced with the opening of an impromptu concert on a platform by the monument. Items Ave re warmly appreciated and an informal choir on the balcony of the Whakatane Hotel provided variations. The antics of Joey the clown were particularly popular, while the local, artists who also appeared were warmly applauded. The Pipe Band did much to impart the real festive' spirit and everywhere the kilties went a crowd of merrymakers followed. Forming in ••a single line the bandsmen, pipes bravely playing and drums beating, invaded most of the shops 'skirlin' -em up' as one Scot proudly put it, -.and making the most of the occasion Maoris Entertain There were some excellent Maori troupe* from Paroa, and Ruatoki who -also* gave some fine performances, •of hakas and poi dances. Prior lo> the procession it. would be safe to say that there were only a few who 'had not donned carnival hats, or tokens to add to the general air of ■enjoyment. Individual groups went 'about making their own fun, but on the whale the crowds in the street ■were there to be definitely enter-t tained and out to make the most of it. There were some unorthodox scenes later in the evening when a party of tried to climb a power the aid of a plough chair, still when another ■group insisted on serenading a wax dummy in a well-known drapery establishment. The general behaviour was however, exemplary for such an occasion and although the . police were lenient in most cases there was little cause for real complaint. Long Distant Celebrants Long alter midnight there still remained those incorrigibles who insisted on carrying on the fun deep into the wee sma' hours and residents in Louvain Street claim that the palm in this respect went Ko same visiting Maoris who were still to be heard singing in that locality at 4.30 p.m. Needless to say the singing was not very lusty. Whakatane can, however, feel justly proud of its first official welcome to the New Yea.* and it is to be hoped that the innovation ia now here to stay and that many such carnivals will be held here in future.

THE PROCESSION MANY NOVEL FLOATS SOME FINE DISPLAYS Led by the Pipe Band, the! decorated vehicle procession left Comerce Street at 10 p.m:. and proceeded to the crowded Strand where Inspector Delves and his group of workers were making an excellent job of keeping the traffic diverted from the main street. Considering the fact that the Carnival was only thought of a month beforehand the parade of vehicles can be described as most satisfactory. The winr.ing truck, a complete cottage in cream, red and l green wa§ worthy of any procession any-* where. The Exhibiis The arrival of 'H.M.S. Achilles' was sigjial for a shout of approval from the crowd, while the crazy Car entry from Messrs Armstrong & Go's, garage causcd gales of laughter. Brittania appeared oil another patriotic float, while Caislcy's Victorian scene made a fitting addition. The CalcdonianSociety presented another good cf for J, in a, decorated-lorry largely composed of greenery. Mary Queen of Scots followed on a grey* mare, and lent the' proceedings a novel touch by informing the public (by placard) 'Wha daur meddle wi' the tartan.' A car and trailer by an Auckland resident made an excellent show while the Maori vehicles were uniformly good.

As the line proceeded Micky the. Mouse, and several other personages in grotesque heads took a hand r lending gaiety and laughter to the proceedings. A eliinese vegetable vendor with a push-bike was also to the fore. The Prize-winners The procession encircled the platform for the benefit' of the judging committee (Messrs CI. Brabant, N. Bremher and Mrs Sloan) and the prizes were then pronounced by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr S. S. Shapley, and presented by Mrs Shapley. Details were 1 : Best Decorated Truck: Mrs M. Fenny (Cottage) Ist, £10; Hall and Howat (H.M.vS. Achilles) 2nd £5. Most Eccentric Vehicle: Messrs Armstrong Motors Ltd. £5. Most Original Vehicle: Mr H.. Ken nerley, (Auckland) £;1. Best Maori Vehicle: Ruatoki Troupe. Special Individual Prize: Mrs Craig, Poroporo. Deputy-Mayor's Remarks "I would like to congratulate all who have been responsible for the staging of this Carnival," said Mr Shapley in addressing the crowd. "It has' been a very fine effort and reflected the greatest credit on those members who are on the committee. I hope there will be many more such occasions in future." Mr Shapley referred to the cloud of war which was hanging over the world at present and in wishing all present a bright and prosperous New Year said he hoped that the anxieties and worry of the past year would be overeomc in 19-11 . Entertainment Continues Fur long alter the procession had been piped away by the Caledonian Band, the Maori entertainers fromj the country kept up a continuoufj programme of items from the plat- 1 form and it was not till 2 a.m. that they finally dispersed and the Strand commenced to* eiepty.

CHILDREN'S PARADE A BRIGHT PROCESSION MANY ORIGINAL COSTUMES 'The children's procession and programme in the afternoon attracted quite a gratifying number of antrail Is. Mustering at Messrs Ramson and llae's cornoii in Comiherce Street the children numbering approximately a hundred made a neat and attractive display. Headed by the tiny tots the child ren stepped out in the wake of two pipers from the Caledonian Society'? band and made for tin* square where the .judging was carried out by a committee composed of Mesdamcs F Berry, Sloan unu Thomas. The awards were as under: Best Fancy Dress (Girl), Nellie Rivett (Period). Ist, Phyllis RiveU (Period) 2nd. Best Fancy Dress (Boy), M. Morris;, (Chinese) Ist, J. Barry (Mexican) 2nd. Judges' Special: John and Peter Howard (Boys of the Bull-dog breed) Most Original: (Girl) Joyce Shaw (Eve) Ist Jt. Goldsmith (H.M.S. Achilles) 2nd. Most Original: (Boy) Owen Armer (Vegetable.) Ist, P. C'omisky (Air Force) 2nd. Best Scottish Lassie-: Ann Crocker Best Welsh Girl: Shirley Wilson. Best Irish Cole en: M. Gillantys, Ist, Shirley Coinisky 2nd. Best Maori Bov; Bunny Tuni. Best Maori Girl: Ruth Mauri Ist, Lenis Riini. 2nd. DEORATED SECTION Girl's Pram (small): Shirley Smyth Ist, Jennifer Seebeck 2nd. Best Peter the Whaler member: Charlie Armer Ist, Colin Moore 2nd. Most Original Boy: N. Browning (Swagger) Ist, Huke Carter (Farmer Giles) 2nd.

THE MIDNIGHT BALL OVER 500 PEOPLE ATTEND WELCOME TO NEW YEAR The Winter Show Hall was well filled at the Carnival's conclusion with those who desired to dance in the New Year. Bright music was supplied by the Gaiety Bojs' Orchestra and with Mr Taffy Atkinson as M.C. there were no dull moments. Promptly on the stroke of twelve the Pipe Band took'the floor and after playing up and down for a few minutes the advent of 1941 was announced to the applause of the assemblage. The dance was continued till 3 a. in. when even with the greying dawn there were still those stalwarts who clamoured for further items.

SHOPS INVADED SURPRISE FOR ATTENDANTS Not the least of the events on New Year's Eve was the pipers' invasion of the shops ol the Strand. It certainly cause*! quite a stir in the disciplined business world and though the procedure was unprecedented It was greeted with broad smiles and cries of delight from all sections.