ACHIEVEMENT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 137, 18 March 1940, Page 5

ACHIEVEMENT

DISTRICT SPEAKERS' TRIBUTES PROCEEDINGS AT HEADS "1 have to extend a warm find hearty weleomc to Maori and Pattella lie re to-day, and particularly to the Hon. Mr W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, and to Mr L. R. Wilkinson, Chairman of the Bay of Plenty Centennial Committee," said His Worship the Mayor, Mr 15. S. Barry, at the opening of the Centennial Park. He went on to apologise for the unavoidable absence of Messrs A. F. Moneur and A. G. Hullqnist, M.P.'s and expressed the Borough's deep appreeia lion of the County Council's and Harbour Board's co-operation in the construction of the Park. He personally regarded the Park, not so much from a utility viewpoint, as from a memorial aspect to a hundred years of progress and amicable relations between the two races which inhabited New Zealand. To-day, members of the Maori race were to be seen in school s. Universities, professions and businesses, alongside the Pakehn and at the call of duty they were once more marching shoulder to shoulder in the cause of Km pi re. Mr Barry concluded by thanking all who had assisted towards I lie wonder! ul success of the uay's programme. Interesting- Figures. Interesting figures of the rise in revenue since the comprehensive draining of the Rangitaiki Piains were given by Mr J. E. Burnet;, "acting-Chairman of the Wbakatane County Council, who stated tnat in 1;.;!)! the total amour.t collected in rales was £12?5<», which was oarely sulfide;!t to-day to pay one month's sal ary lo the staff. Last year, by way of comparison, he staled that I lie rales a maun led o:M). The actual inilialion of' Llie WhaMUane County dated baei'. to f.'wij, v.-hen by ael of Parliament, It was grunted its specie.! charter, ; hi» only one of its kind in New Zealand. in 1900, Onoliki seceded from the Wiiakalanc area and formed a new count;*' -of Us own. It war; utiring those early years that the first pioneers of County administration in this di.-'.i ricl became members o: the Ceui.ci!. He refer-ed to the forty years s; rviee of Councillor Burl, who was still a member, taking an aierl interest in his riding,, a: so to the re > pre led former Chairi man, the late Mr alter ileid. lo these men. an:.! others liKe them, the County owed its mad policy, wliicii brought into existence one of the richest dairy lands in Hie nonunion. Mr J. W. Sumner. Chairman of the Whaiuuane Harbour Iw>ard, added I:is congratulations, pointing out that Lite area upon which the Park was situated was formerly covered by great masses of logs and driitwood. P. was the Board's intention to still further improve it so that !P: I s mo it would become si bcnucy spot, of which the town could be proud. He lhanked the Hon, Mr Parry for the Government's subsidy making the work possible. Maori Representative. The assistance of an interpreter was required for Chief !\eepa Tawhio, who represented the Maori people and extended a warm welcome :o the official Ministerial party, district representatives and the public generally. Just one hundred years ago the Maoris had signed a Treaty 'which ainilied the two races. The descendants of ihe Maoris living at that time to-day had learned to appreeia to the freedom and privilege of iivlng under the !hdii.d.i Hag, They were particularly proud of the great Centennial easwn which was taboo.; place [law day'and were grateful for the establishment of a recreation pari-; at a point* which for ihom, held the greatest historica; significance. Complimentary references on the attractive programme presented were made by the Mayor of Tauranga,, Mr E. I?. "Wilkinson, who contended that they were a fitting trie,ute io the fortitude of the pioneers, wiio haul laid so well and truly the foundations upon which can* present happiness and prosperity wo"e bassio He congratulated the Hon. Mr Parry on his interest and i rusted !hat his work would lie an inspiration to all who were portraying the great Centennial event. The a,etna! naming of the Park was carried out by Chief Takarua

Tamerau who said that tne Maoris ap;>i\ c'aled the invitation to hnti an appropriale name. r i liey had given Mr.' matter the fullest consideraU.m and ho was sure that the Pakehas would ho pleased with their ''iuiice as it cariied a dwn historic meaning. lie referred to the past hundred years and said that although' there had burn slight diflerences between the two races the understanding to-day was so complete that Hie perfect unity would reign during the next century. Tne very celebrations had served to cement and bonds of friendship. lie named the park the Wairaka Centennial Memorial Park.