HISTORIC SCENE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 21, 26 January 1938, Page 12

HISTORIC SCENE

FARM COVE LANDING

RE-ENACTED IN DETAIL

SYDNEY'S BIRTHDAY

500,000 PEOPLE IN STREETS

(United I'ress Associattou—B.v Electric TelegrapU—Copjrigln.) (Received January 26, 2.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The spectacular aspect of;tlie 150 th mniversary celebrations commenced this morning with a pageant depicting the landing of Governor Phillip at Farm Cove.

Shortly before 8.30 a.m. the ship Supply was seen approaching the beach. She anchored 100 yards from the sore. Aborigines in the domain staged a corroboree and were put to flight as the first boat from the Supply reached the beach. Then Governor Phillip landed from the second boat and took possession of the laijd in the name of King George 111. He briefly addressed the gathering, telling of the perils of the voyage from the Homeland. Following a roll of drums the flag was hoisted.

The actors participating in this event all wore the costumes of 150 years ago. It was a picturesque ceremony, realistic and full of interest. Every detail was carefully planned and the landing: was accomplished without a hitch.

The highlight of the day, however, was' the monster procession, through the streets, which commenced at 10 a.m. A hundred beautifully-decorated floats participated. They showed every aspect of the young nation's life from the time, of its birth to the present day.

No effort had been spared to ensure the historical accuracy of the pageant. Together with period costumes there were many ancient vehicles which had rested, half forgotten in stables and blacksmiths' ' shops and had been resurrected. ■ They had a prominent part in the display and among them was a coach which crossed the Blue Mountains in 1841. One of the packhorses in the gold-mining unit of the procession was a great-grandson of Carbine and, in the racing unit, was a grey, a descendant of Snowdeii, one of the original blood horses of the colony. Men, women, and children showing costumes worn down the ages were seen and a number of surfers in present-day costumes, the flower of young Australian manhood, presented the modern trend. Women life-savers and mermaids all had their part. NEW ZEALAND'S FLOAT. ' New Zealand was represented by a most attractive float, the centre piece of which was an outline of a snowcovered mountain. In front was a 'Maori whare with three figures in native costume. One side depicted sword fishing and agriculture, and the other side timber and agriculture. At the back was the Dominion's coat of arms and the stern piece of a Maori war canoe, with a Maori in costume behind. Each procession was about three miles long, interspersed with brass bands. It is estimated that there were 500,000 people in the streets. They commenced to gather as early as 2 o'clock in the morning and, by the middle of the morning, it was impossible to move in the streets along which the processions passed. TEN a GUINEAS FOE, A SEAT. . Special stands were provided for official visitors, but the demand for seats in windows overlooking the route was so great that as much as ten guineas was paid for a seat. Visitors by sea, train, aeroplane, and car have been pouring into the city for several days. Fortunately the bad weather of last week departed, and today was beautifully fine. An indication of the value of the floats which took part is the fact that the celebrations committee took out an insurance cover for £56,000 against fire or rain.