THE DAY'S PROGRAMME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 136, 15 March 1940, Page 5

THE DAY'S PROGRAMME

EVENTS THAT WILL BE REMEMBERED OPENING OF CENTENNIAL PARK One hundred years is really not a very long lime but when it is realised what immense pro- . press is made in that period it seems probable that the Whakatane of one hundred years hence will be a metropolis, with Taneatua, Poroporo and Paroa as suburbs. That idea at the present time appears fantistic but what of the town of 1940 compared, even, with the Whakatane of a quarter-century ago. When the second Centenary is celebrated the residents of the city, suburbs and surrounding districts will be delving into records for copies of tlie clothes worn now and the speeches to be made to-morrow. There will probably be a re-enact-ment of the Waitangi Treaty signing and of the opening of the Centennial Park and the BEACON will be searching through old liles to print accounts of to-morrow's ceremonies. That, of course, is conjecture and it is the more realistic present that concerns us, for to-morrow, marking Whakatane's Centennial, will be the culmination of week's of effort and a century of rapid progress. Maoris rightly ligure prominently in to-morrow's activities. Whakatane was the landing-place of the Matatua canoe, a landing-place joyfully sighted after weeks at the mercy of the sea. Whakatane was the place where the chiefs of the Matatua confederation of tribes signed the historic Treaty of Waitangi. Whakatane county is rich in Maori history, of developments and warfare, and to-day has one of the largest county populations of Maoris in New Zealand.

The full programme may be summarised as under. 9. a.m. Muster of approximately 3000 to -1000 Maoris at Domain. Ancient ceremonial and greeting b.v assembled tribal groups. 1 {). 1i) procession from Domain 'to Pohaturoa Rock, 10.45 Re-enactment of signing of Treaty of Waitangi at Rock by direct descendants of original chiefs who signed. Reading of Governor's proclamation. 11.30 Procession moves off to Whare-o-Toroa Pa where re-enact-ment of planting of first kumara from Matatua Canoe re-enacted by special Maori group. noon Giiin d lTui at Wairakn meeting house to which free invitation is extended to the general public. Programme of entertainment and children's items during l'east. 1.30 p.m. Grand combined procession assembles at Square and marches to Heads. 2 p.m. Programme at Heads. Addresses by Minister of Internal Affairs, His Worship the Mayor and local body representatives. Park declared open by Minister,, 3.30 p.m. Demonstration of Cooking by Maoris in Native hangis. Continuous programme of items. 5 p.m. Farewell speeches by Chiefs. S p.m. Grand Centennial Dance. Winter Show Hall.