LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81862, 11 October 1906, Page 3

LABOUR DAY CELEBRATIONS

XKU PLYMOUTH EN I'ETE. Labour Day has never, un.il yesterday, been the signal for outward signs of rejoicing in X'W Plymouth. '1 his year, how ever, we have a band of energetic men using cvny available means of raising money for tiv improvi ment of the Rccnaiion Grounds, at the same time giving full value for money contributed by the public. They organised a Labour Day Demonstration, and, as usual with the functions arranged by this committee, success was the keynote of the whole day's enjoyment. Labour Day dawned overcast and threatening, but ear'y in lite morning Old Sol dispersed the heavy c'ouds that seemed to nurse Mount Egmont, and a glorrius day followed. Owng to the refusal of' the railway authorities to grant excursion faics. only a couple of hundred people came in by ihe morning train, and one of the visitors reported that scores turned back at the railway stations along the 'ine when they found that otdinaiy fares were demanded. So that it was principa.ly a local assemblage that lined the s.reets all the way from ilv railway station by devious routes to E'iot street as the trades procession passed along. It is estimated that four or five thousand peop'c were spectators.

The procession, as an initial ef-

fort, was away beyond anticipations. The exhibits, while paying full attntion to artistic effect, did n:>t neglect the utilitarian or the humorous side. "Tho Garden of New Zealand" produces a glorious profusion of ferns and flowers, and these, interwoven with coloured streamers and trade emblems, made some very fine effect*.

Perhaps the preltie>t turn-out was hat of .Mr R. W. Dixon, of the Ai lulchery. One of his big delivery

Colts w..s decorated in a style thai would have done credit to a labour demonstration anywhere—but this remai k also applies to the buik of the displays. 1 lie spokes of the wheels were covered with bluebel s and arum liiks, the tides of the vehicle with azaicas, lilies, and other bloom*, wh:!s. the top was similarly adorned ano surmounted by a canopy of tiow- ;:» and streamets. A calf's head in fient, ribbon-decorated reins and stlvii-ipangled harness, a coloured picture of His Majesty the King, and a gaiiy-attired driver completed the display. The different exhibits paraded somewhat in the order of their mention in the following description, .he Military Band, in Mr J. West's brake, heading the vehicle*, whilst tne band in turn was preceded by .'.lasters Leo Richards and K. Clarke

aitired a* the gieat Napoleon anhe Duke of Uelinglon, now on tli most friendly terms. Messrs) Hooker and Co. made good working exhibit of their print cry, several "p.d.'s" and a machin iH printing and distributing matte along the route. Next came Mr C iluchanan's bakery turn-outs, on gay in its display uf arum lilies, yel low broom, and L'nion Jacks, effee lively used, and the oilier in work-a day garb. Air P. l.caland s caji .vas about the prcitic-i among tin bakers, the d=coraior confining hi: uork 10 yellow floral arches crossei iver the top and another from shaf .o shaft. Mr A. Lraland's two c.iris i\cre noi decoratej. Mr J. lldlring ■i s exhibit attracted much aitcnlion. A house of scrim upon a big lony ivir '.he h< me of picturc-framcrs and pa pei-hangers. ad busily -plying tucii .rades. Next cam.- Mr A. Gift s welladen cart showing specimen bh ck? >f the favourite coals, coke and fireivood, and then the biggest and mo-M xfensive, perhaps the most expensive Jisp'ay of the clay—that »f the New i'lymouth Sash and Door Company. Three horse-, the leader carrying a ;lown posiiiion, drew the arge- lorry, jn which stood quite a model factoiy, n which planing machines, a circuit saw driven by a miniature engine, ind several other manufacturing wans wtre fu T ly employed in tuning out all kind:- of joinery. The ramework was decoiated with ferns ind nikau palms, and a fine eollecion of native fohage, probably from ne of the company s way-back mills. ,|essr» Mailin and Son's wood and ..at business was represented by the nost attractive of a big an ay of carts icm the "firing" businesses. Huge hunks of coal (named), bags of ofce, and pieced of firewood were hiovrn into re-'ef by bunches of pink zaleas and other blooms, whilst the iic- s ; rn carried a recommendation -, the general public Mr M. John■n paraded quite a miniature grocrv establishment, in which wa-- dnilavcd a full sample stork of eyeryla>' needs, embel'tebcd w-ith Moral nd other decorative work. Mr A. Clirf iut in a word for his business as a milder and contractorwithh-s working xhibit of sanitarv plumbing, joinery ,„ r bricklaving, and Messrs l'ikett ,nd Co.'s original design, depicting he New Plvmouth Post Othce now n course of erection, showed on the evcrse s id« a number of juvenile car,enters and bricklayers hard at work. I'he Egmont Boot and Shoe Com,anv held a comprehensive show, a u ll' <-taff of the empoyecs making in d finishing boots, whilst the outide of the temporary workshop dis,avcd samples of the various kind,f'leather used in modern boot m?lufacture. Mr C. Ham-on, of Llham. showed his Rochester spray ,umps for potato spraying, and gave ..me of the public a practical te-- "I h.ir showering propensity. Next ame Mr R- W- O'xon's display, pre•ious'v mentioned, and Messrs Gamin and Co.'s decorated cart, d'ckJ with flowers and showing imbleniitic cffecl in a couple of o\. n s heads ias nexi. Arum iilic-s, tern-, and \eeping willows were the principal nateriais used in the decorations, .lessrs Henry Brown and Co. s show ras a good one. A workshop, till ,1 business," enc'os-d in ornamenta rates and verandah tailings, shown! he various brandies of tlie himoinerv and butter-box business, i-hi'si' a lint- effect was produced b; he tasteful and well-balanced rlo.aj i-.splay. Mr J- Hoskin showed ample- of his coals and firewood, the [river looking as though he weie n,matc:y acquamted with the mateials shown. Mr -<■ -- ond " v ' ag ' on bore the uncompleted fiannwork ; a hou-e. with caipen.ers at work. mil was a very effective lrnt as o' .1,- ISund's iine uf business. M< '' />■ suiler"» two decorated m'lk dandies oil-twing. The barber's n-colom ■ raced another framework, and hei' n Mr \V. Schlierike's traveling 'a onn a couple of tonsonal artistrwlv belaboured the face „f a wil-; „.. rcim, wiij< the lather brusii an. .aor. whi-h," W M..: way, was -imp„,l upon the ■>.- o! 11l- wheel Yard- cooperage had a weMitg ex iib-t, hooping and finishing /ask: mil kegs. Mr George Liung.-'oi ;tilis«-d his di-play of woud and coa o fj-eelv advertise today s horse fa'r ein>, ibgs, and the auction flap ii.ikin" his '■><> lo"]- fiuitc spruce There "was a nv>u'ii--v. aimiig displax ).■ Mr Walter S-.-'-ti. »V. decked . arge fram-work with mo'-k sausages '■t.V*. ring-, and bladdeis of lard, p-,-onies, and Ml- like, whilst lie- bic rig King on t'.e tabV in the t'liln left no doubt tha- tltt- was a poll butcher's di-play. Mr K. An.;, . ieht delivery cart, cmb'azne.j wit -o'oured placards showing the man; incs procurable at his P.roughan .trcet stoic was somewhat of ; •hange from ih" -env-tloral eftor. Sex', came the Mokau coal exhibit '-embinmg the humor- u- with the so lil rcpresenfat : on. "If you like l liot us- Mokau." wa- the legend re rorrmending the use of the local at idc. and the heat engendered -e.iue. •o the tors cf evn His Satain Maie-'v lierched en top of the ski ■I coat which fanned the centie o ;'„. exhibit, which was feared on on • f >lessrs Ward and Sou'.: tarts. 11l Firm s-nt another immediately tollow ir.g. to ind-aaie to ihe public tha ,|i the o-her brands of coa! and flic ~-f , o,| were stocked. The Wcstp'H L.-jl C'ompanx evidently thought ma •h-' r-.n.i "We-tp'tii" l.f'iled no d' '-...ativ re.oo.tA.r.dii.ion. for H.ei 1,-p'av w,v of a -Vl c.ia r, eo r : a small flag in tU: lop ol I ,ir ,f firewood being the only adorn i»,i,i. The p.incipal feature of Mr :\. Ve.d-'s di-play was one ~f his luineipa! [ices, hi- coff-.r-grindcr, .Inch turns out fresh i off"!' daily. Bacon and ham-, garden seeds, and miscellaneous j-rocerv. made a good down.;. Mi K. May en'ernl two it his delivery carts. The first was decorated iu considerab'e taste, tieiitincij/al jngrndienis i-i a pretty flor-

a 1 display being arum lilies and parnil's bill, about the body and wheels. The second call was also decorated in spring tlowcrs. Messrs G. l'r.in (•!, and Sole ISros.' delivery tarts were not decorated Mr Dixon, butcher, had a supplementary aiu action in tlie form of an equestrienne, the pnnv bearing an advertising loin clnii'i. Mr C. O. Ilawke's tno of fancv-attiied children, showing « f, ' H ol Ui'e main lines of toy-, s.ainmoiy, and fancv grods slocked ai his cinpoiiuin, was a wry attractive advertisement, Ilu- die-scs being novel and like/,- to at.raci attention. A very solid, l:ut a very prcUy show was made by the Koru Saw milling Company. W'it'.i the native bush from which to diaw decorative material, It was not surprising that t.-.e timber loirv should "be arched with magnificent fronts of the punga, daintily brightened with coluured blooms. Little Miss Moniefiore, on her tiny pom', richly caparisoned ;|nd 'gapped, occupied a place in the procession, which moved from the railway station a'ong St. Aubyn street and Dawson street to Devon street, which was traversed as far as Crocker's corner; thence teturning by Devon street and Liardet street to the Recreation Grounds. Messrs A. Humphries and I'erham were the marshals, and they managed in excellent style the arranging of the whole affair. There is lut'c doubt that Labour Day demonstration will be held annually m the fuiuie.