NAPIER IN GALA MOOD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 4

NAPIER IN GALA MOOD

♦— < Jubilee Celebrations CARNIVAL IN PROGRESS Dominion Special Service. Napier, December 28. During the past few days Napier has beeu in unusually festive mood, and the town and its environs have been the scene of animated gaiety from early morning till long after sunset. The town is celebrating its sixtieth birthday since its incorporation in 1874 as a borough, and the intense interest manifest by residents of to-day and of the days long since has been given very full expression by the manner in which people have" participated in the wide variety of attractions. King Carnival is playing his part to celebrate fittingly this notable occasion, and the revelry of the past few days has been almost unparalleled-in the history of the seaport. One of the noteworthy features of the carnival so far has been the parade of old identities of the town. It was found that several had lived in Napier since 1864, while the arrival of Mr. Charles Davis dated back to 1852, and that of Messrs. Stewart and Slater to 1859. Mr. Davis was the oldest of those who took part in the parade. Quite a number had resided in the town since 1874—the year it was proclaimed a borough—and about 150 had lived in the locality since 1884. Following on the parade pf these old pioneers the carnival was officially opened by the Mayor, Mr. C. 0. Morse, who addressed a crowd of some 4000 from the “music shell” on the Parade. The opening of the carnival proper was. signalised by the release from the Parade auditorium of 150 homing pigeons. Then the gaiety broke loose, and is continuing unabated. From the public viewpoint, one of the principal features -on the opening day was a parade of bathing beauties, which was watched by upward of 4000 interested spectators. '