Processions - New Zealand - Southland Region

Date: 1928

By: Southland times (Newspaper)

Reference: Eph-B-FESTIVAL-Southland-1928-01

Description: Programme booklet with cover illustration of a clown playing a guitar, by Alan Raphael. Contains a message form the mayor John Miller, and the Prime Minister J G Coates; a short account of the tradition of May Fair Week and its first celebration in Southland in the previous year, 1927. Contains a three-page history of Southland and a three-page description of Invercargill. There is a photograph of two men dressed as the May Fair Mayor and Mayoressuding a procession, illuminations, children's sports, "A night in Venice", the Grand Pageant of Southland, poultry show, axemen's carnival, grand military tattoo, procession of illuminated and decorated lorries and cars, and grand fancy dress masked balls in various halls. On the sixth day there was a children's pet parade, children's costume parade, and dancing in costume. The final pages bescribe Gore, Nightcaps, Riverton, Otautau and Lumsden. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 52 pages, each 245 x 185 mm.

Date: 1929

By: Southland May Fair Committee; Southland news (Newspaper)

Reference: Eph-A-FESTIVAL-Southland-1929-01

Description: A programme for a festival week in Invercargill. The chairman of the organising committee was Mr Bill Stevenson and there is a caricature of him on page 5, as "King Bill of Mayfair", by B A Mahoney, who has also contributed caricatures of other individuals. The events of the fair included an opening procession of cars, cycles and home-made bands. At the showgrounds entertainment was provided by the Scottish Pipe Band, The Australian Blondin, Invercargill Orphans' Club. The second and third days included children's sports in Dee and Tay Streets (tricycle races, scooter race, skipping, tyre hoop race, roller skate race, mothers' push chair race, decorated parasols, boys' mechanical motor car race). There was also a Bouncing Baby Show, a basketball tournament, Grand Concert by Southland Commercial Travellers, and a gigantic Fancy Dress Ball at Zealandia Hall. The final day included an axemen's carnival, another fancy dress ball, impromptu items and band music. The booklet contains many advertisements for local businesses. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Booklet of 48 pages, each 220 x 140 mm. Provenance: Purchased at Plumbly's auction, 4 December 2008.