GALA DAY FOR LEVIN

Chronicle (Levin), 20 March 1947, Page 4

GALA DAY FOR LEVIN

SATURDAY'S MARCHING , DISPLAY With the streets of Levin ggily bedecked with fiags and bunting, and the bright uniforms of the 30 participant teams and aecompanymg bands, the Wellington provincial marching championships, to be held on the Levin Park Dom^in on Saturday, should prove the mpst colourful event witnessed in Levin for many years. That the Horowhenua Marching Association has been entrusted wjth the conducting of the championships is in itself a compliment to thpse who have sponsored ■ this popular recreation in the district, and who have built it up since its inception in November to the high standard it has achieved during th 3 past few months. It is safe to say that this will be the largest fuviction yet to be held in Levin with so many contestants belonging to one organisatjiph taking part, and teams, caaches and pffieials of the various associatipns will bring the visitors for the day to nearly 400. Among the visitors will be the president, secretary and members of the executive pf the New Zealand Marching and Recreational Association. Parties from as far south as Christchurch and Wellington will be in attendance. The panel of judges is a most representative one, being drawn from as far north as Hawke's • Bay, while the offieials for the day are from the Horowhenua Association, the chief recorder being the association's residpnt delegate, Mr. J. R. Davies, Petone.' The programme will commencewith a grand march of all teams, headed by the Horowhenua Pipe Band, the parade making a cqmplete eireuit of the oval to come in at the centre and march across the . oval, finally taking up a position in front of the stand. Following the rendering of the National Anthem oy the Levin Municipal Band, the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin, will officially welcome the visitors and declare the championships open. Another pleasing interlude will be "the rendering of the eoniest selection, "Night Errant," by the Levin Municipal Band under the conductorship of Mr. G. R. Lester. ■' All events will be kept strictly to schedule, and teams must be at the starting point all the time. At the conclusion of the contest drill displays will be given by various teams, and the grand finale wili be a serpentine march involving over 300 girls. Owing to there being no night show, the winners will be announced on the ground and the presentation of trophies will follow. Qnce again the Horowhenua Marching Association can lay claim to another record, as there are no less than 82 medals to be competed for, as well as four eups. The full display of trophies and photos of teams taking part may be seen in the B.B.C. window. The assopiation's thanks are extended tp Mr. W. J. Barrat for the time he has e'xpended on its behalf. At night there will be a dgppe in the Regent Hall and if the blackout is extended emergency lighting will be used. This function has been arranged in view of the eancellation of the night display, and all marching girls will be adipitted free of- eharge. With the co-operation and s' port of the general public, this wi)I ' be Levin's biggest day and it will give the town a decided boost. It is the association's aim to send the visitors home with pleasant reeollections of their stay, and one way citizens' can help is by being at the Levin Park Domain on Saturday afternoon next.