SPLENDID DISPLAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1940, Page 5

SPLENDID DISPLAY

CAVALCADE OF OLD & NEW

YESTERDAY'S PAGEANTRY AT SOLWAY,

IMPRESSIVE AND NOTABLE GATHERING.

When the Pageant was at its height yesterday it was made clearly apparent that the decision of the committee to hold Ihe display on the Solway Showgrounds was indeed a wise one. In bright sunshine and under a cloudless sky no more fitting place could have been chosen than these beautiful and spacious grounds, with their picturesque surroundings, to do honour to such an occasion.

From early morning visitors had been coming into Masterton from far and near and long before the time for the commencement of the proceedings a vast assemblage had gathered to witness the moving line of historical pageantry. Great crowds lined the streets to watch and cheer the vehicular section of the procession as it moved majestically through the town to’ the accompaniment of bright strains of music by the Masterton Municipal Band, and it is to the credit of marshals in charge of the different sections that the procession arrived at the grounds without, a single hitch. Well before 2 o’clock the grounds presented an animated scene the effect of which was heightened by the brave array of flags and banners all along the front of the grandstand. Every seat in the grandstand was occupied and eager thousands surrounded the showring.

Before the commencement of the main procession, primary and secondary, school children from all parts of the district paraded around the showring, carrying the banners of their respective schools and led by the Central School Band, prior to taking up their allotted positions in front of the grandstand. It was a happy preliminary and favourable comment on me marching and deportment could be heard from all sides.

A great cheer was sent up when promptly at 2 o’clock the Wairarapa College Pipe Band entered the ring, followed by Wairarapa members of the crew of H.M.S. Achilles and the military section, comprising Mounted Rifles, Territorials, Wairarapa College Cadets and a detachment in early military uniforms. The section circled the ring to the strains of stirring music and the fine bearing of men and lads added to the impressiveness, of the occasion. The procession was then drawn up in the ring and a guard of honour formed. The Pipe Band led the men of the Achilles to the gate in front of the grandstand where they were escorted to the stand.

The-main procession headed by the Municipal Band, then entered the ring, followed by a Maori hut and party and an ancient Maori canoe on. a trailer. Then came pioneers of the district and early settlers on foot carrying tools and implements used in the very early days and pioneers of the district and early settlers on horseback accompanied by children on ponies and pack horses, ancient and modern farm implements and machinery and march-of-time in sanitation. The transport section included horse-drawn vehicles, motors, cycles, timber industry, ancient and modern road-making machinery, fire fighting, hospital section, and general section, Plunket Society, Townswomen’s Guild, amateur athletics, interhouse girls, Boy Scouts and Wolf Cubs, Girl Guides and Brownies, Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and Ancient Order of Foresters, Marked ingenuity was shown in many of the exhibitions and the fidelity of the conceptions bore striking testimony to the hours of thought, labour and expense entailed by those whose only thought was to present a faithful and worthy portrayal of this historical period. After circling the ring, the section also formed up facing the grandstand. The early settlers were then motored round the ring to the accompaniment of the cheers of the assemblage and finally passed through the guard of honour to the gate in front of the grandstand where they were introduced to the official party. They were conducted by members of the Legion of Frontiersmen to their reserved seats in the stand, in readiness to enjoy the balance of the programme set down after the conclusion of the addresses.

ORGANISING OFFICIALS Those responsible for the procession arrangements were: Chief marshal, Mr. I-I. M. Boddington; military section, Sergt;.-Major C. E. Rogers; Maoris and pioneers. Messrs. Boddington and L. S. Nicol; farm implements and machinery, Messrs. E. M. Hodder, 11. G. Alexander, and G. Dickie; march-of-time in sanitation, Mr. A. L. Bennett; transport section. Messrs. P. Fagan. G. Barr and 11. J. Brass; timber industry and roadmaking machinery, Messrs. J. C. D. Mackley, F. Price and W. Howard; firefighting, hospital and general sections, Messrs. Norman Lee and D. Hogg; amateur athletics etc., Messrs. D. Costello, L. Gill and R. Shaw. PROGRAMME EVENTS A brief programme of events followed the speeches. A company of Wairarapa College girls, under their sports mistress, Miss R. Edwards, showed admirable grace and precision in an exhibition of flag drill and in a later movement in which they arranged themselves swiftly before the grandstand in the figures “1840-1940.” The girls were warmly applauded and so also were the members of a Maori troupe for their action songs and hakas. The Wairarapa College Pipe Band, marching splendidly and giving a fine rendering of spirited airs, was given a popular ovation. Members of the Amateur Athletic Association were seen in action in a spirited sprint. A particularly fine display of marching and physical drill was given by Interhouse Girls’ Association teams, which were most heartily applauded. The Masterton Municipal Silver Band also contributed acceptably to the programme of the day.