COOK’S LANDING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20085, 3 November 1939, Page 6

COOK’S LANDING

RE-ENACTMENT PLANS GISBORNE CARRYING ON DEPARTMENT GRATIFIED VISIT OF DIRECTOR The re-enactment of the landing of Captain Cool; in Gisborne as a feature of .the districts centennial celebrations early in October next year, was discussed yesterday afternoon by Mr. W. S. Wauchop at a meeting of the celebrations committee of the Gisborne Centennial Council. Mr. Wauchop is the national director of pageantry of the centennial branch, Department of Internal affairs.

“Tiie department was gratified to know that Gisborne is going on with the celebrations. We feel that when all is considered the celebrations arc of a patriotic nature first and foremost,” said Mr. Wauchop.

“Many thought it was necessary for every effort to be made for war purposes, but the celebrations are to be carried out without interfering with the war efforts. It should stir up the feeling of patriotism among the rest of the people," he said.

Speaking of his experiences of the conditions during the Great War, Mr. Wauchop said that once the people recovered from the shock of the declaration of hostilities, festivals were conducted to raise funds for patriotic purposes. Some of the centres unfortunately had decided to curtail their celebrations and others had made grave alterations. Special Grant to be Made

When outlining his proposals for the re-enactment of the landing of Captain Cook Mr. Wauchop said that he was labouring under the difficulty of not having seen the proposed site for about 25 years. However, it was to be a national ceremony and would be subject to a Government grant over and above the ordinary £1 in £3 subsidy. To carry out the representation of the, landing effectively, he said, it would be necessary to have a ship, if a suitable one could be obtained, to convey the two boatloads of sailors taking part in the ceremony. Formerly, it had been the intention to get one of the naval sloops to carry out that service, but witty the outbreak of war the cooperation of the navy was out of the question. He had had an opportunity to read the preliminary script that had been prepared in Gisborne relating to the landing, and considered it a very good foundation. He understood it was intended to introduce a certain amount of dialogue that could be amplified through microphones concealed on the beach. It would be necessary to have a gooci commentator to describe the various features of the event.

In connection with the training of the performers in the function, he would be able to be in Gisborne a fortnight before the event _to attend to final rehearsals, but' it would be necessary to nave a local producer to direct the training of the men in a studio before they practised on the beach.

It would be necessary for the committee to find all the characters m Gisborne, and that would probably be better because it would promote keener local interest. At first Mr. Wauchop had thought it possible that the boat crews could have been provided by the crews on whatever naval boat attended (he fixture.

His branch had recently appointed Miss Molly Cook as wardrobe mistress and would be able to Help with the costuming of the characters. They would have a number of 1840 naval costumes.

Stvcet Pageant Suggestions

In reference to a street pageant, the costumes of various periods would be available free, but freight charges would have to be met. For a procession in a place such as Gisborne a certain number of floats taking part should depict outstanding national incidents in the Empire and New Zealand.

“In answer to an inquiry lie said it might be possible to arrange to get the loan of floats from Auckland and Wellington.

Included among his suggestions for a procession, Mr. Wauchop said tableaux on. lorries would depict the coming of the Maoris, Captain Cook’s landing, pioneer floats, the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the history of costumes through the century. Sports bodies could produce somegood effects with the history of the costumes connected with their activities. Old vehicles, such as bulloqk wagons, and early cars could be formed into an interesting transport section. The industries of the province should also be well represented. Mr. Wauchop stressed the importance of having suitable functions for the children of the district, because it was they who would have a deeper interest in. the ceremony, probably than many adults. He outlined proposals for a spectacular floral display that could be arranged by a series of simple evolutions by children in fancy- dress. A children's floral fete could be held at a fancy dress carnival, an acted pageant, and folk dancing.

The thanks of the meeting were accorded Mr. Wauchop, Mr. A. J. Nicol saying that firms had been approached concerning the provision of floats for the procession and that it had been difficult, previously, for the committee to give the business people any guidance or ideas. Mr. Wauchop’s outline of the construction of the floats and their designs would be of assistance.

Those present were Mr. Nicol, who was chairman in the absence of Mr. F. Toferton, Messrs. James Chrisp, ft. P. Baigent, I. J. Quigley, E. L. Adams, R. Morse, and the lion, secretary, Mr. Wilfrid C. Kohn.