THE CARNIVAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 83, 2 January 1920, Page 5

THE CARNIVAL

OPENS AT LYALL BAY AN OUTSTANDING SUCCESS HUGE CROWD REVEL ON THE SANDS. All ronds led to Lyall Bay yesterday, tho popular seaside resort being the scene of a Victory Gala and Venetian Confetti Carnival. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 peoplo were present at tho carnival, which opened in the morning and continued until late in tho ovening; It was a joyous occasion for nil conccrned in tho gathering, which on account of its magnitude and the ambitious and novel naturo of its programme, is unique in tho history of Wellington. The fete is being! held under the auspices of the Lyall Bay Municipal Electors' Association and the local life-saving and surf olubs, who have as their objective the raising of funds to provido tlie life-saving clubs at the bay with accommodation in the shaitf of a clubhouse and tho like. They' havo a desire also to mako the Victory Gala a permanent and annual institution at Lyall Bay during the Christmas and New Year season. The arrangements for the carnival wore well in hand for tho opening yesterday morning, but at the eleventh hour tho promoters' hopes were dashed to tho ground by fears of bad weather. The morning broke dull and fog?y, but tho rain held off, and although tho sun was absent the weather held fino all day and in the evening. On arrival at the beacfa the many thousands of visitors were - manifestly surprised at tho magnitude of the' preparations. Overnight the. whole foreshore and. parade had 'been transformed. There an attractive array of marquees, pavilions, sheds, and all manner ,of structures and impedimenta associated witih big outdoor gatherings. Sideshows abounded, and in addition there were numerous booths and stalls vying with each other to supply tho needs and fanciful whims of tho hapny,' pleasurebent ■ throng. The wholo city, it would almost seem, had transferred itself to the scene of the carnival. The opening of the festivities was heralded by a well-staged procession. At its head were two mounted policefollowed by the Now Zealand Natives Association Band, under Bandmaster Herd, which played throughout •the day. _ A feature of the procession Tvas a big lorr.v-load of the youth ond beauty of Lyall Bay, the children—as ■was tho case throughout tho-wholo day —completely abandoning themselves to the joyous spirit of tho cnrnival. There also rode in the procession two Western "cowboys," and delightfully quaint. I, < lS a donkey-drawn cart with an array of children in fancy dress as passengers. Tho canines of the suburb were represented by a small dog harnessed to a miniature decorated cart. the official opening. i i^ 18 P' n y e d this grotesque ossemseaside, "where* at noon the ofhcial opening ceremony was performad by Mr. B. A. Wright, M.P. After apologising; for the unavoidable absence ot the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P.), ivho was detained by urgent private business, Mr. Wright eulogised the efforts ot the executivo-particularly the indefatigable secretary, Mr. B, Lcslie-Joncs-ln arranging 60 successfully such a unique feto as far as Wellington was concerned. The members of tho committee and their little band of helpers ■had their time unselfishly to tho cause. Wellington in come respects vas in a unique position, added Mr. Wright, ieople here were inclined to be critical and did not tnko readily to new ideas. JNapier had its regular carnival every Tear, Christchurch had its carnival week, and Palmo-ston North and Masterton their show days. Wellington ought not to lag behind the other centres in having some annual festival of this nature. The present gala comffittee had with great onterpriso stepped into the breach, and lie felt assured that the Wellington people would willingly Jieep it up. What was wanted was lust ft start to show what could be accomplished. Just as the people had by their joint endeavours raised tho funds to create Central Park so might they on the present occasion help an equally deserving object in providing permanent quarters for the lifesaving chibs at Lyall Bay. Jt stood to then- credit, and snoko volumes for thoir pluck that the promoters had been prepared to faco the risk of Md weather and its consequences. It waa. therefore, with every confidence that ?n to hclp tho association pur PO se . an d patronise as Kifell 88 i 6T 0 d alTor(1 tlle various Mr feu® 1 entertainments provided. I 0?? udotl nmi(l 11 shower of oouetti. and threo resounding cheers for tho ommsers of the carnival. the treasure hunt. Dr?d f « nf b^ ilde - in ! I . ID!,iSO of attractions, Dnde of place m the popular fancy was awarded to the treasure hunt y Com mencm, at 1 p.m„ this was carried on till o o clock in a roped off area. The jwach wno almost covered with a mass of humamtv of both eexes and all ages all Thoust^ d 'f ,nE ""'P ,l tian spades, ihousanda ot spectators revelled in the and facetiously spurred tho "digf, ers ,„ ou to greater efforts. . Tho bie rush _ set in when half-a-dozen small boys visited the pay-office in a bunth l°n R W f lHl ? pn ? of , s dime* sions. for true to their word the pro"i / S j °L e carn 'val had generously' Ranted tho field with tokens* good for valuable rewards, including coin of tho realm, watches, costumes, suits, furniture and less valuablo articles ad lib ■10-dav and to-morrow the treasurecround will be again open for fossicking, the man of tho committee being to replenish it over-night with fresh' prizes. Throughout- tho day, what with band music, sports ovents, "jazzing," and other musicnl competitions, there was not B J '''ynoment, and everywhere there was confetti flying. ENDLESS ATTRACTIONS. _ Side shows thcro wero in endless variety, including picrrot shows, continuous moving pictures, "Punch arid Judy," Burts trained dogs, "hoop-la," Oriental clairvoyancy, "killing the Kaiser," and other popular pastimes. Tho children vero keenly interested in tho sand castle ana modelling competitions, which were held in the afternoon, and there wero donkey Tides galore. •, The big submarine explosion was also a feature of tho day. In the evening tho beach was again thronged with thousands of pleasure-seek-ers, and thcro was much to amuso and entertaiij. Tho wholo foreshoro was brilliantly illuminated. To-day a liosfc of attractions will again bo provided, including a diversified series of sports, to be run under tho rules of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. . There will bo another treasurehunt and another subniarino explosion. BEACH SPORTS. Appended are tho results of tho bench sports held during the afternoon:— Boys' Bnce, under 16.-W. Fullford. Girls, _ under H.-M. Sellor. Juvenilo Procession.—E. J3icl, 1; Seth Harris, 2. Charlie Chaplin Contest.—T. anil 11. S'ifflet, equal. Boys' Bnce, under M.-—E. Hughes. Married Ladies' Bqce.—Jlrs. Allen. Egg and Spoon Bace.—Mr. Ballingcr. Betunied Soldiers' Bate.—Mr. Mumniery. Girls, under 1G. —Miss H.' East. Single ladies' Bace.-Mips M. East. Boys' Half-mile Walk.-J. Hindenock. Banana-eating Bnce—W. Slovens. Tiny Tots' Bace.—Gladys Gosling. Married Men's Pace.—A. M'Lean. Wheelbarrow liaco (boys).—E ( - Simmonds. Three-logged Bace (bovs).—A. Grant and W. Basseit. Boys, under 15.— W. Barrett. Boys, under ]•!.—H. Le Grove. Girls, under 15.—Winnie Cooley. Tiny Tots' Bace.—Don Bees. Sack Bace (hoys).—E. Simmonds. Boys, under U, 50 yards.—'K. Hughes. Girls' Egg and Spoon Bace.—Bosie Godvre. Girls' Three-legged Bace.—Bosie Godyro and Olivo Green. Skipping Contest—Bosie Godyre, Mnlina Lambert (special). The committee desires to, specially thank slr. B. J. Field for undertaking the arduous dutica of eporta controller, .