The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1887. THE NORTH OTAGO JUBILEE FETE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1505, 12 March 1887, Page 2

The Ashburaton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1887. THE NORTH OTAGO JUBILEE FETE.

Great preparations are afoot m the White Stone City for a monster jubilee fee m honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the Queen's accession and the twenty-third of the founding of tbe Province of Otago. As regards the first event to be commemorated, the celebration will be, perhaps, slightly anachronistic, because somewhat anticipatory, but as if the two anniversaries, occurring as they do at different dates, were to be celebrated together there must necessarily be a discrepancy as regards one of them, an anachronism m relation to one or the other was obviously unavoidable. And as India has already held her jubilee rejoicings it cannot be said that it is too soon for New Zealand, or any pait of it, to begin, and as harvest will, by the date fixed, the 23rd inst, be about over, the North Otago people have not by any means: selected an unsuitable time; very much the reverse indeed, ior the weather on the 23rd March will m all probability be much more propitious for a f6te champctre, than three months later, on the 20th June, the actual date of the Queen's accession. And if

our Oamaru friends have chosen well as to lime, they have still more wisely chosen as to place, for, thanks to the liberality of'Mr JR.eid,with whom, the idea originated, his beautiful grounds at Elderslie, with their charmii g plantations and artificial lakes, are to be the locale of the festivities, having been generously thrown opea to the public for that purpose. Then the most active efforts are being put forth to provide a programme of amusements which should satisfy the most exacting. There are to be all sorts of games, and spurts, minature yacht races are spoken of among other attractions, and one of the finest, if not the finest band m the colony is to discourse the most delightful music. Special trains are to be run from north and south, and doubtless thousands from all along the line of railway will be attracted to this really beautiful spot. His Excellency the Governor is to be present m person, and not a stone seems to have been left unturned to give ecldt to the whole proceedings. What has Ashburton to do with all this? it may be asked. Well we draw attention to it thus prominently because the suggestion has been made that South Canterbnry should join with North Otago m the demonstration, and we would ask— Why not? There will be, or should be, special trains at cheap fares, and an outing to Elderslie would do South Canterbury people just as much good and afford them as much pleasure as it would to the people of North Otago, while a neighborly participation m the proposed rejoicings would show a friencly disposition which would invite, and no doubt bring about m the future, a pleasan^ reciprocity, ». In order to this it is suggested that m the various towns of South Canterbury a public holiday should be proclaimed on ihe day m question — next Wednesday week, and if that suggestion be carried out m Tirraru, Waimate, Temuka, Winchester. Geraldine and Ashburton, we can all go a holiday-making for once with our neighbors across the Waitaki. As no movement has yet been set afoot for a Jubilee holiday on our own account, it is really worth considering whether we might not fall m with the suggestion thrown out and join forces with our North Otago friends. JJut jf t,his is to be done, we would suggest that the Demonstration Committee should lose no time m approaching the municipal authorities of S.outh Canterbuiy on the subject. Let them make a proposition direct and let them also make it their business to arrange -wjkh the railway department for excursion trains at a rate of fare which people, even m these depressed times, can iifford to pay. If they do both these things we really do not see why they shou'd not succeel