FIRST FOUR SHIPS

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18218, 31 October 1924, Page 8

FIRST FOUR SHIPS

ANNIVERSARY DAY

PAGEANT.

PROBABLE ABANDONMENT

Tliero i- » strong probability that r.art of the programme proposed by tho Canterbury Pilgrims' Association m connexion with the celebration this rear of tho 74th anniversary of the arrival oi the -first lour ships " will bo -truly modified, if not comnletoly abandoned.

The iwrtion of tho programme referred to is tho pageant ot the nr»t four to have a representation of each ship mounted on a motor-lorry with beMes of children dressed as nearly as pos.s.h.e in the roomies- of IS-30. ui represent the Canterbury pilgrims arriving in l.vttelton harbour. Dunns the past threo or four weeks meetings ot pilgrims and their descendants have been hold to discuss arrangements for organising, training, and costunir.ig the children who were to represent the pil<'Hms. Representatives ot each ol the ships had tho proposals regarding the miirr-ant outlined to them, and the idea was taken un with a coiiMderable amount of enthusiasm. As tar as the representatives of the shins were eoncorned, there was every likelihood of tho pageant being carried out successi'ullv. " , , Tho factor that has led to a reconsideration of the programme and its probable- modification is the important one of expense. It. is understood that Mr A. Dudlev Dobson has gone c-aro-fullv into the question ol tho rest ot providing the proposed representation of each of the four ships, and that, tho figure arrived at is so limeh beyond the financial resources of tho Association as to render imoossible the carrying out of the original proposal in its entirety. This is generally regretted as the pageant promised to Iw most effective. • . Tt has been suggested in some quaiters that tho idea should not bo entirely abandoned, and that an endeavour 'should be made to organise the pageant for tho 7oth anniversary or the founding of the province, to be celebrated next voar. It is believed that it would bo' possible to arrange outertainments of different kinds during the earlv part of next year for the purpose of raising the necessary funds.