Overview
Fri Decr 26
After breakfast took following photos : (8) The front of house, Gray’s Road, with Maud, Mrs Herd + Ralph on verandah; (9) Maud in a lovely white muslin dress under the mulberry tree, self sitting behind her; (10) Maud in same exquisite style in front gate archway – a perfect dream. Maud + I
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caught the 9.30 am train to Napier to see the Mardi Gras procession + carnival + to explore the town, Mr Herd, Alice, Will + Gertie also went. Hugh went up to join a Boy Scouts camp, also at Napier. The crowd travelling was tremendous + I had a great battle on the station to get tickets. However I fought my way in in [sic] front of about 40 people who got there first + finally emerged hot + dishevelled but triumphant. Poor little Maud + I had to stand all the way to Napier – it was her first visit + I had the pleasure of pointing out interesting features of the landscape. On arrival we visited Clive Square + then had morning tea at Murdoch’s on Emerson St, Maud prettily officiating at the tea-pot to my great satisfaction + pleasure. She was most sweetly dressed in a lovely white muslin which the gentle curves of her slender + graceful figure to perfection – she carried a brown leather bag by a cord over one shoulder + a parasol. I had on my
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grey suit, tan boots + cap I, I believe, looked passable. We then proceeded to the Marine Parade where Maud saw the beach, Chatham Island pines + other items of interest while we were waiting for the procession. This proved a tremendous success. It was of great length + consisted of decorated motor-cars + cycles + side-cars, huge waggons [sic] with various trades – plumbers, blacksmiths, gasworks butcher’s shops, bakeries etc etc – in full swing upon them. Other wagons contained groups such as Japanese, Stone Age Men, Boy Scouts, Red Indians, Negro Bands, etc etc. There were also representations of ambulance work, historical scenes such as Queen Elizabeth + her court, wharves with jolly sailors singing “yo ho” + turning capstans with bars, and a fully rigged ship. Men dressed as negroes; animals in semi human costume; an extremely comical elephant which kicked up its hind legs + trod on the corns [sic] of the spectators. Also burlesque military men, rough riders + cowboys, girls on
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horseback in Mexican costume + last but least the Queen of the Mardi Gras enthroned in a gorgeous pavilion supported by purple pillars + draped with brilliant streamers. Gaity [sic] + humor [sic] were the order of the day + the whole thing (got up by the “30,000 Club” of Napier) was a grand success. After seeing it pass along the Parade, we went over to Hastings St + got a second view. I took three photos of the pro-cession: (11) Queen Elizabeth + her retinue; (12) the group of Stone Age Men ; (13) the Queen (Mrs Rosewarne) of the Mardi Gras. When the procession had passed, we walked to Nelson Park where the Coronation of the Queen was to take place. A great crowd was assembled + the heat was terrific. The ticket booth had been wrecked by the crush + was held up by about 10 men. Once again I had a desperate struggle to get tickets. Inside the grounds, where there were numerous refreshment booths + side-shows, we took
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up our position on the top of a tank + got a good view of the coronation ceremony, which was an ordinary affair as compared with the procession. I took a photo (14) of the Coronation, and also one (15) of my queen, Maud, on the top of the tank. To avoid the heat we left Nelson Park + walked over to the Botanical Gardens – Maud was very pleased with the gardens + thought them pretty. We found a sheltered seat + sat in the cool shade for some time + enjoyed ourselves. To Maud’s great amusement I christened her “Softy”, referring not, as she would persist I meant, to her head, but to her waist + person in general. Returning to the central lawn I took a photo (16) of Maud on the brick pathway + another (17) of her on the steps leading up to Napier Terrace. I then took her up to Hospital Hill + pointed out the features of the grand panorama of land + sea – Port Ahuriri, the Lagoon, the Spit
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Beacons, Iron Pot; etc etc. She liked it very much + surprised me by her knowledge of the shipping. “That boat down there belongs to the Union Co – see its red funnel - + the one out in the roadstead is a Shaw Savill steamer said she (what a darling – so clever). At the Hospital gates we saw a taxi waiting with seats for just two more passengers. Maud sat in front + I in the tonneau. At the end of Napier Terrace a lady sitting next me [sic] alighted. To my astonishment, Maud calmly got out of the front seat + took the one beside me just vacated. “Great Scott” said I, “did you do that on your own or were you told to”. “Of course, n one told me” said my lady “its not likely I’m going to sit in front when there’s a seat beside you”, I felt tremendously flatterd. The run down to the Post Office was most exhilerating [sic] – the road (Milton Rd) is very torturous + steep, + the chauffeur let the car go + I for one had thrills.
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From the Post Office we walked to the Marine Parade + along to the Breakwater Harbour. The walk along the breakwater was very pleasant, there being a cool breeze + Maud looked lovely. We went right to the end + viewed the scenery from a seat on one of the great concrete blocks. Tiring of that we reclined on the concrete, Maud examining with great interest a crack running down to the water-level while I kissed + held her to my heart's content. I took a photo of Maud reclining on the concrete floor + entered it up in my notebook as No (18) “Diana on the Breakwater – a study in curves”, most lovely sight. Returning to town we visited the Anglican Church to see the Virginia Creeper – on a house near by we saw another beautiful creeper with masses of gorgeous purple flowers. Who should come round the corner of the street but Olive, who is now living in Napier in order to go into business – she
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came with us to afternoon tea which we had at Murdoch’s before going to the rly [railway] station to return home. We caught a train just leaving + got back to Gray’s Road in time for tea. Maud + I spent the evening in the drawing-room very happily, brining to an end a most enjoyable, successful + never-to-be forgotten day.