CENTENNIAL PLANS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 112, 24 February 1950, Page 2

CENTENNIAL PLANS

ASHBURTON’S PART „ VISIT BY CHRISTCHURCH OFFICIALS Messrs, T. H. Langford, organiser for the Canterbury Centennial Celebrations, W. S. Mac Gibbon, chairman of the centennial finance committee, and H. S. Feast; a member qf the Canterbury Centennial committee, met members of Ashburton Borough Council and the Timvald Town Board last evening to discuss Ashburton’s part in the centennial celebrations of the province. It was the feeling of the residents of the Ashburton County that Ashburton was not fully acquainted with the organisation of the celebrations, saic the Mayo® of Ashburton (Mr E. C. Bathurst). An outline of the work already done towards the celebrations was given by Mr Mac Gibbon. “There is no doubt that in the early days when the centennial celebrations were first discussed country districts were left in the dark,” he said. “We would welcome representatives of local bodies such as yours to future meetings of the centennial committee.” The cost of holding the celebrations was very high, and an architect’s estimate of. the cost of building a new Christchurch museum as a centennial memorial was £191,000, he said. He congratulated the Ashburton borough and county councils and the Tiivwald Town Board on their contributions towards the centennial funds. Mr Mac Gibbon suggested that centennial sub-committees be set up in the Ashburton County. “If it is possible to set up a finance committee in Ashburton to tap the financial resources of the county, which I know are here, we would feel very grateful,” he said. He felt sure that many persons in the county would be willing to contribute to the centennial. “We regret that any of you have conceived the idea that we were endeavouring to hold a Christchurch centennial and not a Canterbury centennial. I ask that if there was any rancour between us, it should be forgotten.”

Athletic Possibilities Discussion on the proposal for an international road race around the Ra-kaia-Methven-Ashburton triangle, Mr Langford said that while it could not be expected that first-class track riders would take part in such a race there was every probability that, if the local cycle clubs would get behind the proposal an excellent field of Australian and New Zealand riders would be available. In regard to the desire of Ashburton that athletes from overseas who are expected to compete in Centennial games in Christchurch take part in an athletic fixture in Ashburton, the opinion ot Christchurch officials was that the plan was not feasible. Mr Langford said he hoped to see a general exodus of Ashburton people to Christchurch for the main celebrations. He hoped that Ashburton would be well represented in the processions. It was possible that the Christchurch Centennial choir would give a recital in Ashburton. 6 Attractions Planned The deputation brought with it publicity material setting out the Centennial programme. A “highlights” folder will shortly be widely available in Ashburton. Even a glance at this shows a well-night bewildering list of fixtures, commencing in August with a New Zealand Industries Fair and extending to a choral concert season in March, 1951. Of particular interest are a country choirs’ musical festival in September of this year, an enactment of the landing from the first four ships in December, Centennial Games over the Christmas-New Year holiday period and a. fireworks display in February; but these are just a few. Representatives of the local bodies present all favoured the maximum effort being made by Ashburton to get -in behind the Centennial effort. A meeting of representatives of the Ashburton Borough Council, the County Council and the Tinwald Town Board will be held in Ashburton on March 20, to form local committees to consider the part Ashburton is to play in the Centennial celebrations. This was decided at a meeting between local body representatives and members of the Canterbury Centennial Celebrations committee last evening. A'public meeting will be held in Ashburton at a later date.