THE PETONE PAGEANT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 191, 8 May 1920, Page 8

THE PETONE PAGEANT

SCENES OF OLD NEW ZEALAND

CAPTAIN COOK AND THE PIONEERS

The Petone pageant, arranged by the Early Settlers and Historical Association of Wellington, was really the most ambitious of the gatherinßs arranged in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to this city. The idea in tho minds of the members of the association was to place before the Prince, who has shown Ins keen interest in (he development of the youngest of his father's dominions, a series of scenes depicting notable events in the history of the Dominion. The programme had to bo short, and the association had decided to present four events—tho landing of the first Maoris, the landing of Captain Cook, the landing of the lirst missionary (the l<c\\ Samuel Marsdcn), and the landing of the pioneer settlers. The three first scenes did not properly belong to Pcbench, but their relation to the. actual landing of tho pioneer settlers justified their inclusion in the pageant. The association had prepared its pageant with great care. It had studied historical accuracy as far as circumstances would nermit. and had received the active assistance of old settlers whoso memories oxtendod back to the early days of settlement. The landing of the first Maoris, an event that occurred at loist eix centuries ago, was represented )>r a canoe-load of sturdy Maoris in Nntivj costume. The big canoe, with its decorations at bow and stern, was manned by fourteen "warriors" with paddles in hand, and it was a centre of interest as it moved about near the beach before the arrival of f'e Prince. Inside the enclosure, opposite the -point where the first settlers actually landed, and where tha pageant landings were to take place, a little Maori village, u group of ranpo hips within a palisade, had been erected. Here were Maori women and maidens in Native costumes, with another party of warriors. ,

The second scene was to represent the landing of Captain Cook in New Zealand in 1769. The groat navigator's first reception by the Natives was not-friendly, but the hostility was soon overcome by. a Native of Tahiti, who could -make himself understood as interpreter for. the white man. Captain Cook was uule to land, accompanied by Sir J, Banks and Dr. Solander. A squad of marines also landed, and after making presents to the Natives, Captain Cook unfurled the Union Jack, and proclaimed New Zealand a British possession. The landing of the first missionary, which took place in 1814, was an event that lent itself to preseutationMn pageant form. Mr. Marsden was accompanied by "a personal friend and three lay members of the Church Missionary Society, and he was welcomed by the famous Hopgi pud other chiefs. Then in 1840 came the landing of the pioneer settlers on Pctqne beach. "The Aurora is seen lying off the beach," stnted the official programme yesterday. "She has just completed her voyage, and her passengers are eager to set foot on the shores of the lan<| of theiryidoption. . Preparations had .'been mndeuor their landing by ihe survey party (who had arrived there a .short time previously) by the erection of a 6miill landing, stage. Wo sec the passengers being brought ashore in the ship's boats— so eager are they to land. As, only two boats can bo accommodated at the lauding stage, the other has to pull on to the beach, the men carrying the women off their boat through, the (rater to the shore. Here a great irelcomeawaitcdthem.' We see the wellreniembered chiefs, Te Puni, .Te Wharepouri, and Wi T«ko a foremost in the welcome to their white brothers. Colonel Wakefield and his nenhew, K. J. Wakefield, are there to offer their congratulations to the pioneer rtettlers of tna Dominion. We also see the Rev; Mr. Bu'ller, one of the missionaries of the Methodist Church, who had just conio overland from north of where Auckland now is. There are a number of the officials and members of the survey party of tho New Zealand Land Company, who had teen endeavouring to prepare for the ■w arrivals, and not leant is the welcome of the Maori. Nothing can bo more fit- ' ttng, nothing more appropriate than the chanting of the great song of <jreohng, 'Toia mai te waka kite urunga urnnqa ('Haul up the canoe to its resting place ).' Tho arrangement of the arena in which the pageant was to be held had been the task of a committee of Petone residents. A high stand, cnpable of seating over «000 persons, formed three sides of a square with, the open side ndioininglho landing-place on the beach. A light pier, about 100 feet long, extended out into the water. The Maori pa was in *ho centre of the arena enclosed by the stand. Near the gate of the pa was n small dais for the Pr.'nce. It was unfortunate for the success of the pageant that the committee had under-estimated tlio amount of accommodation required. The seats on the stand were for sale to the general public, and over '3000 school children, ?. body of returned soldiers, some Cadet companies and a number of | veterans and early settlers had to be accommodated inside tho arena. Very little space was left for the pageant,! and thc/troubit? became worse when the 'seat-holders, finding that tluvr view was obscured by the occupants of the arena, bejran to push forward. Before _ the Prince arrived the arena was practically full of people, and the presentation of the programme as originally arranged eeeiued to have become impossible. The

police did their best to keep a. little open space. , The Prince arrived off the beach abroad the Government steamer Janio Scddon soon after 3.30 n.m. Hearty cheers eamo from a large group of yachts and niotorboats assembled off the beach. the Llrinco was on tho bridge, unit he witched with interest the evolutions or tli.o Maori canoe, which was paddled round tho Janio Seddon. Tho small steamer could not come alongside ilia wharf, and a boat from the Amokurn, which was lying off tho beach, brought the Prince, and h:s Staff ashore, 'He was received by Sir Francis Bell and Sir. J. K Jenkineon, president of the Early •Settlers Association, and. was glren v. tremendous reception, by the public as he walked to his dais. Probably no fewer than 15,(](!0 ptoplt v.'er» present by that time, inchiding a great crowd along tho beach, and the pressuro beenme greater inside the arena, 'life "party around the dais included the Prime Minister and other members of tho Ministry, Mis. and Hiss Mtissey, tho Mayor of Petone (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan), the Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr. E. P. llishworth) and members of the local bodies.

Tho Prince first shook hands with' tho returned soldiers and tbo veterans. There was scarcely any open spaco around him, and unfortunately many of tho school children were unable to get any glimpse of him at nil owing to tho presence of large numbers of adults wit-iin the arena. As soon as tho Prince took his place on the dais, the pageant was begun. Tho Maoris landed from their canoe and made their wiy through the crowd to' the pa. CaptaijyCook' had to land on. tho pier, owing to the complete occupation of tho beach by the Aowd. Ho and'his party, in the garments of h'fi period, made an inteiesting spectacle as they advanced slowj.v, met the Maoris, presented their gifts'and hoisted the British flag. But they were lost to the view of very many people before they left the pier owing to th? density of the crowd.

The missionary party came next, anil then the lauding of the pioneer settlers began, This' was. the most interesting feature of the pageant. Tluca boatloads of . j-'wers landed on tho pier and made e'r way to the shore, where they pusu'd in front of tho Prince. . The performers were cither pioneers or the descendants of pioneer's. Thjy wore the clothes of eighty years ago and made realistic groups in top hats and broadcloth, smocks and crinolines. Their landing enabled the. watchers to visualise, for a moment the courage of the hardy pioneers, men, women and children, who cam© to tt neiv and savage land and proceeded to build a nation. This scene closed tho pageant. An address of welcome signed by men and women, who actually landed in Wollinslon iu 181041 was then presented to t'no Prno>, Three beautiful Petone rugs, embroidered with the Royal arms, wero i\Uo handed to His Highness by Miss Rnrta Day and Mrs. W. J. Day, granddaughter and daughter of Mr. W. H. P. Barljc'r, managing director of tho Petono Wnoller. Company. One rug was for the Prince himself and the other two were for the King and the Queen. Tlie Prince passed through the Maori pa, where the Natives received him with a dance of welcome and invested him with two elaborately worked Maori mats.' He rubbed noses with a pretty Maori maiden, and. then boarded ' his motor-car. An enthusiastic crowd cheered him and surged around his car as ho drove to Petoric station, where his train was waiting to convey him to Trenthani. The. Petono streets' were decorated m his honour.

The chief parts in the pageant were taken by- Major' Vine (Ciintaiu Cook). the Rev. "W. Fancourt (Kcv. Samuel Marsdcn), and Mr. P. P. Wilson (Colonel Wakefield). The tliro& boat parties of pioneers were in charge of Mr. J. Orchiston, Dr. Adams, and Mr. E. J..Pitcher.

THE RENOWN

•VISITORS TO THE WARSHIP. It was announced that the warship would bo again thrown open to visitors at 0 a.m. yesterday, and long before that' hour there was a crowd waiting at the entrance gates. The people streamed on to the vessel, and yet there were thousands who failed to get on board. It was originally intended to throw, the vessel open to'visitors for three hours in the morning, but at 10.45 a.m. the gates were ordered to be closed, by which time, bowover, nearly 4000 peoplo had be<m admitted to the vessel. However, the warship is to be thrown open to the public on Sunday afternoon from 1.30 o'clock, so that those who were disappointed ye?ter. day have another opportunity of looking over the baWe-erui.ser. After the school children had done justice to their luncheon they were formed lip under the supervision of Mr. IV. M. Foster, the marshal-in-chicf, and given an opportunity of seeing over H.M.S. lienown. Because of the enormous number of children visiting the warship, a timetable was fixed, and every effort, mode to keep to this, so that every youngster had an opportunity of nt least Icing on board H.lhS. Renown.

WARSHIP OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ■ ON SUNDAY.

The Renown will be. on'iii to the nubliu from 1.30 p.m. to 3,30 p.m. on Sunday.

TWO FREE DAYS

PRINCE DEPARTS EARLY ON MONDAY. Since his arrival in Wellington on Wednesday niaht His Royal Highness has had an exceedingly busy time, and he has enjoyed but little respite between one puii-i lie function and another. To-day he will be enabled to spend some leisure, for no ceremonials of liny nature have been arranged. To-morrow will also bo a free dny.

His Royal JliglineVj will leave Wellington for. Pictnii on Monday to commence his South Island lour. He'will sail by H.M.S. Renown, which'will leave Wellington at daybreak.