Cenotaph fundraising spectacle

It may be said at once that the military pageant presented at Carisbrook on Saturday afternoon and evening was probably the most picturesque and educative spectacle ever seen in DunedinThe weather was beautifully fine, there was little wind, the ground was crowded to the fences (and there were many hundreds on the surrounding hills), everything went off with excellent precision and the shrill cheering of the thousands of boys and girls acted like a tonic on their elders and made them feel again the enthusiasm of their young days. The pageant was, in fact, a magnificent success in organisation, in its attention to the details of the historic characters presented, and in its general effectiveness. Everyone connected with the effort to raise funds for the War Memorial must have felt well satisfied with the results. The pageant was opened sharp on time by the Mayor (Mr H.L. Tapley), and Bugler Sergeant-major Napier sounded the reveille. The school children, who had been standing in their red, white, and blue hoods and smocks at various points on the ground, then marched with the greatest despatch and correctness to the music of the Salvation Army Band to the centre, and took 

up their positions on the chalk marked area to form the Living Flag of Empire. The National Anthem was played, and the crowd showed their appreciation of the fine effect achieved by prolonged cheering. The children went through a number of turning movements to the command of Physical Instructor Cree, and then everyone joined in singing ‘‘God Defend New Zealand.” Despite the pooh-poohings of some people, human nature cannot be stifled — there is still such a thing as pride of race — and everyone who loves his country glowed at the fine sentiment conveyed in the Living Flag. A dramatic touch was given when 500 pigeons were released from the centre of the Living Flag. Most of the children then marched out, and the remainder — all in red — formed St George’s Cross. The greatest cheering of the day came from the school children following in the next item. This was what was described as a daylight fireworks display. A bomb was fired in the air and exploded, and out of it came a large, gaudy, fearsome-looking animal. It filled with air and floated high across the ground to shrieks of delight and the cheering of the boys and girls.The grand historical pageant entitled ‘‘The Army and Navy Through the Ages’’  came next. The procession entered from the pavilion, and marched round the ground  As the heroes and heroines of the past played their little parts on the grass stage at Carisbrook one could not help one’s thoughts from flying back over the ages. While the procession was moving slowly round the ground to the music of several bands present, pupils of the YMCA under Mr J.V. Hanna gave a gymnastic display. The procession and this display concluded, 96 pupils of the Girls’ High School, under Mr J.P. Northey, marched on to the ground and gave some attractive dumbbell work. The Mayor said it afforded him very great pleasure to be present that afternoon to take part in the official opening of the military pageant. The pageant was, he said, a unique event in the history of the city of Dunedin as it was in the history of the province of Otago. They would be given, an opportunity of seeing what war was like in these modern days. Apart from the spectacular nature of the display those responsible for its production had not forgotten that there was an educative value attaching to it, and they did not require to be told — not even the children — that this great Empire of ours had been built up by the achievements of the navy and army. — ODT, 14.4.1924