QUEEN CARNIVAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 267, 9 October 1933, Page 9

QUEEN CARNIVAL

GAIETY IN THE CITY. The carnival spirit was apparent in the city on Saturday afternoon, when adults and children in hundreds thronged Church Street to witness the race between the cumbersome road rollers and an aeroplane. Long before the appointed hour the thoroughfare was lined with people, who were entertain-, ed by contributions from the band which was in attendance, while a group of nigger minstrels also turned the opportunity to profit, inviting contributions towards the funds. Four road rollers of various sizes and horse power faced the starter, who sent them off in good order. As they thundered thenway along the thoroughfare they were cheered on by the laughing onlookers and the winner had crossed the finishing line by the Police Station when the aeroplane was still some distance away, the handicap accorded the latter proving to be all too great. The honour of victor went to a two-ton footpath roller driven by Mr Williams, while second place went to the 15-tonner which had Mr Phelps at the wheel. A 12-ton steam roller (driver, Mr Simms) and a 7-ton petrol roller (Hr Peters) also competed. At the conclusion of the contest Mr Williams was presented to the Public Service Queen (Miss Kathleen Richards), who decorated him with a crown of laurel leaves. With the crowd surging back into the Square the activities of the workers clad in wig and gown burst into prominence at a Mock Court, and, aided by live-wire “policemen” who were not too particular as to the grounds upon which they made the arrest, many fines were extracted from those hailed before the Bench. Individual collectors were also afield and, although the arrival of the rain dampened the carnival spirit, matters ran very brightly and happily for a .period.