CENTENNIAL PARS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 135, 13 March 1940, Page 5

CENTENNIAL PARS

COMPLETING ARRANGEMENTS RECORD CROWDS EXPECTED Interest in the forthcoming Centennial is intensifying and throughout the Baji of Plenty the Whakatane festivities, to be held on Saturday next are becoming a household topic. Arrangements in both Pakeha and Maori programmes are practically complete and it now only remains for the Clerk of the Weather to turn on a fine day, and Saturday next Avill be si memorable and an historic occasion. * * » » It will interest visitors to knowthat at tihe nui to be held at Wairaka meeting-house at 12 o'clock noon, arrangements are proceeding for the feeding of two thousand guests. Special accommodation will be made for 500 pakehas in the meeting-house itself and the adjacent hall. m s » * The marshalling of the procession for the Heads will take place in the Square shortly after 1 p.m.. With the Maori contingent it is anticipated that this will comprise no less than three thousand persons. * * i? • The most welcome news received by the Maori Committee at its meeting last Monday was from the Minister of Defence who stated in reply to an urgent wire that members of the Matatua tribe now in camp would definitely be in Whakatane for the Centennial and would participate in the proceedings. * * • • A colourful feature of the proceedings will be the appearance of a bevy of Victorian ladies who will be wearing the dresses depicting the long reign of Victoria the Good. • SS * • The Maori Sub-Committee was faced with the problem of transporting no less than two thousand natives from the outer districts. These will be coming from Ruatoki, Waimana, Kutarere, Te Teko, Murupara, Waiohou, Matahi, Tancatua,' Matata, Paroa and Poroporo. The immense task of arranging for the transport of this number has been completed and should run without a hitch. Over £40 was voted for this purpose. • • * • The re-enactment of the signing; of the Treaty of Waitangi under the shadow of Pohuturoa Rock will be carried out at approximately 11 a.m. The participants will be suitably garbed and the actual signing will be on parchment-like paper, which it is intended to present to> some local body as a memento of the first Centennial. ■a* ■ • A warm invitation is extended to all old residents of the town or district to get in touch with the Town' Clerk, Mr D. V. Sannders' "who is' compiling a list of those, piorieers; who will be the guests of: the organising committee. • * • ' iP , ■ A Avhimsical thought on the part of delegates to the Maori tee was that which dictated that the secretary should write to the ' Government meteorologist in Wellington for a forecast of the approxi- > •mate weather on Saturday next. • • •, e The Borough Council is heartily.; co-operating in all matters to d* \ with next events. Part; of the duties to be carried out by ; Borough workmen will be the ereo- • tion of two platforms; the roping- ' off of considerable areas at the show grounds, in front of the Rock, and: at the Heads. There will also be much preliminary transport work and traffic control. ■ • • • Five large pigs/donated by three district farmers, eight bags of potatoes, nearly two hundred loaves of bread, loads cf vegetables, savouries and cakes will be consumed at the hui. at Wairaka Pa. It will interest pakehas to know that all the cooking will be done in Maori hangis. ■ * • ■ ..■■'■ The Centennial Register is now ready and leaves are being distributed for signing by all who will be taking part.