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The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1921

The Procession

The Procession.

The Procession in connection with the Capping Carnival was held on Friday, May 13th.

As might have been expected from the day and the date, the elements were against us; but in spite of it all, the procession proved to be an unqualified success.

No doubt the actual participators themselves enjoyed the fun more than the spectators, and the Carlton Hall, before the appointed time of starting, presented an indescribable scene of animation, niggers, fairies, parsons, vampires all intermingling, and each one attempting to surpass his neighbour in beauty or in hideousness.

The procession moved off at about 3.15.and proceeded through the main streets of the city. The light immediately became dull—dark, black, ominous clouds rolled along, and a short while after starting the rain came down mercilessly. But the heroes, heeded it not. It was a case of "on with the procession," and, as the lady onlookers will testify, "joy was unconfined."

The procession was headed by the mayoral party, accompanied by two representatives of the City Council. Some say that the Skipper looked more like a "nightmare" than the "Wright mayor." Then followed a striking display of various original tableaux,—so striking that, in the face of the gale, they struck completely and refused to hold together.

One of the difficulties of regulating the procession lay in the fact that the motor-car at the head went too quickly for the horses in the rear. Consequently, the procession had to halt at intervals. For example, it halted at the "Albert," the "Windsor;" and it halted at the "Grand" (a truly grand halt); and although it was no doubt accidental, it also halted at the "Occidental."

The boys were by this time completely warmed up (?) to their work, and it would have taken something more than the rain to have damped their "spirits."

In the Post Office Square the Mayor eloquently addressed the crowd that had gathered, and exhorted them to roll up to the Xtravaganza on the next night. They did, too!

page 26

The stunts carried out on the return journey were many and varied. Maoris shrieked and hakaed; fairies flitted gracefully in the sunshine (?); ministers sealed the bonds of matrimony with an utter disregard of their responsibility; and the Bolshies destroyed everything that came in their way.

By the time Courtenay Place was reached, everybody agreed that they had had enough, and the general feeling was: "I must be goin' 'ome now."

The gathering accordingly broke up in disorder.