CENTENNIAL, PLANS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 4

CENTENNIAL, PLANS

SATISFACTORY PROGRESS PYROTECHNIC PREPARATIONS In five weeks the Centennial year will be entered and officials of the Centennial Association are now engaged in completing the arrangements for the early functions. Plans for the decoration and lighting of the city are now well in-hand and projects which, so far, have been little more than proposals. are now assuming their final, shapes. The stage is being set for the appropriate celebration of a century of progress. The pyrotechnic display on February 28, which is expected to be one of the most spectacular features of Carnival Week, is still in the embryo stage but, with the arrival next month of the experts in whose hands the arrangements have been left, work is expected to proceed apace. Oyer seven tons of explosives, together with detonating devices, mortars for the firing of star shells and other items needed for the presentation of the complicated and ingenious set pieces which will be features of the display, will arrive in Dunedin in about two weeks’ time. The explosives will be stored in the St. Clair ■ magazine to await the arrival of the operators, who will leave England on December 13 by the Hororata. Before their arrival the site will have been decided upon and they will commence the extensive preparatory work almost immediately. Satisfactory Test The checking of the numerous floats which will take part in tjie Cavalcade of Progress is another minor, but vital part, of the preparation. Yesterday morning one of the large floats accompanied by an announcement float drove up Pitt street about 9 o’clock and made a brief tour round the Town Belt. The corners were negotiated satisfactorily and the traffic authorities, the Cavalcade marshal, Mr P. Cook, and the architect, Mr H. McE)owell Smith, expressed their satisfaction with the trial. -

The special publications being prepared by the Historical Committee of the Otago Centennial Association are going ahead as scheduled and the first two books are expected to be on the market at an eai'ly date. In the meantime pre-publication orders are being accepted. The complete series will give a full and interesting coverage of the early history of the province. / Import Licence Wanted

The preparation of poles for the carrying of decorations is being handled by the Reserves Department of the City Council and steady progress is being made. The pennants and banners are expected to be ready in good time, but there is some delay at the moment in the importing of bunting from Australia owing to the absence —temporarily, it is - hoped—of an import licence. A mid-summer novelty at the Fun Fair at the Caledonian Ground will be ice-skating demonstrations by a Swiss team styled the St. Moritz skaters. These performers carry their own icemaking equipment and will set up jheir .rink under canvas in the approved side-show tradition. The Fun Fair will include a number of novelties not previously seen in Dunedin and some which have not been displayed in the Dominion before.