HISTORIC PAGEANTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1785, 25 June 1913, Page 8

HISTORIC PAGEANTS.

| MOVE TO BEGIN THEM. 1 IN AID OP BOYS' INSTITUTE. GOVERNOR IN THE CHAIR. A great many more people than were expected attended at tho Town Hall last evening to take part in the inaugural meeting, to arrange matters for th'e pageant, carnival, and bazaar to be held here in October for the benefit of the Wellington Boys' Institute. The meeting was fixed lor the Mayor's room, but owing to tho large attendance it had to be transferred to the Council Chamber. His Excellency the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) presided, and thero "were also present the Hon. A. L. Herdman and the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke). Hi 3 Excellency was met on arrival by rue Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Mayor, the president and committee of the Boys' Institute, and the historians. Those present sang the National Anthem as his Excellency entered the chamber.

In welcoming his Excellency, the Mayor stated they were delighted to seo him there, and to have an opportunity of interesting him in the work which they had in hand. His Excellency's co-opera-tion in tho movement would mean a great deal to the Boys' Institute. The Hon. A. L. Herdman also made a short speech of welconie. He mentioned that a sum of .£5700 had already been raise'd for the new building and endowment fund, and it was desired to raise another .£2500, in order that the work that had been started might be finally accomplished. The ■ fact that his Excellency had been able to preside at this meeting augured well for tho future of the movement. His Excellency's Remarks. His Excellency assured those present that it gave him great pleasure to preside. He had been associated with, kindred institutions in the Old Country, and had all his life been associated with young folk one way or another. If the work of the institute was necessary here it was much more necessary in the great cities of the Old Country,' and it was also doubly difficult. Hi 9 Excellency emphasised ■ the value of instilling into the young an idea to try and do something for their country as well as for themselves, not only in the more serious things of life, but also in recreation and sport. Ht> congratulated the members of the institute on what had already been .done and expressed tho hope that their future efforts would be equally successful. They were all deeply indebted to the good lady (Mrs. S. A. Rhodes) whose generosity had furthered the movement, and ho trusted that the efforts that were now about to be made to raise tho additional funds would have the help of every rightthinking citizen of Wellington.' In conclusion, he thanked those present for tho way in which they had welcomed him, and stated that the Countess of Liverpool, as well as himself, greatly appreciated the warm reception which had been accorded them wherever they had gone in this country.

Historical .Tableaux Suggested. Dr. Hay then presented the historians' report, offering suggestions for groups and tableaux for the pageant; - The report was divided into 48 groups,- covering events from '156 ■ 8.C., dokn" to 1870' A.p. _ Suggested) tableaux include: The Landine of Caesar, Paulinus and'Boadicea, , King Arthur and the ■ Knights of the Round Table, Alfred Defeating tho Danes, The Last Stand of Hereward' the- Wake, Tho Signing of the Magna Charta, Presentation of 'the Prince of Wales to tho Welsh Peoplo at Carnarvon, The Bringing of the Coronation Stono fron Scotland, Bruct< at Bannockburn, Tournament in the Days of Chivalry, or The Pounding of the Order of the Garter, Wat Tyler rind tho ' Peasant ..Revolt, Prince Hal and Judge Gascoigrie, Tho Triumphal Return from Agincourt, Tho Quarrel of the Roses in the Tenl jle Garden, Caxton Printing tho "Game ami Play of Chesse" (1474), Crowning of Richmond on Bosworth Field, Cabot Explains his Discovery of North America'to Henry VII, The Knighting -of Drake,'. Queen Mary at Holyrood, The Union'of the Parliaments of England and Scotland, Bonnie Prince Charles and Hia Adherents, Death of Wolfe, and Victory of Cliva at Arcot.

' Other Business. The Director of the Institute (Mr. Wm. J. Bennett) next addressed the meeting on the work done by. the institute, its aims, and its requirements. Election of officers to control tho pageant resulted as follows:—Patron, his Excellency tho Governor; president, tho Prime Minister (the Hon. W. P. Massey); vice-presidents, his Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke), tho President of tho Chamber of Commerce (Mr. Mabin), the Chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr. R. Fletcher), and Mr. Jno. Duthie; chairman, Mr. G. H. Troup; secretaries, Mr. B. Mabin and Mr. Wm. J. Bennett; treasurers, Miss Miles and Mr. D. Menzies; historians, Dr. P. Hay, Mr. H. E. Nicholls, Mr. Morris Fox, Mrs. Algar Williams, and Mrs. Corliss; chief artist, Mrs. J. Hannah; marshall. Mr.- J. W. M. Harrison; executive officers, the chairman, one secretary, one treasurer, Mrs, Hannah, and Dr. -F. flay.

An election of officers to control tho bazaar then took place, tho following being elected President, Mrs. S. A. Rhodes; vice-presidents, Mrs. H. 13. Bel, Mrs. A. L. Herdman, Mrs. J. P, Luke; chairman, Mr. G. H. Troup; secretaries, Hiss Holm and Mr. Wm. J. Bennett; treasurers, Miss Seddon and Mr. D. Menzies; finance committee, the chairman and. the two treasurers; central committee, '-tlie various officers, that have been elected and a lady representative from each stall; executive of five, the chair, man, one treasuiei, ons secretary. Miss Miles, and the Mayoress (Mrs. J. P. Luke). • ■

After his Excellency's departure circulars wero handed round the room, in order that those present, might placo in writing a promise of the . particular branch of the pageant they would assist. A liberal promise of support was forthcoming.