KUMARA JUBILEE.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1926, Page 1

KUMARA JUBILEE.

After months of preparatory work ihe first visible signs of the arrangements made to celebrate the Jubilee of the opening of the Kmnara Coldfields will be visible this week when a start, will 1 42 made with the outside decora lion of the town. The Executive at the outset was faced with a difficult problem, that of getting in touch with all pa.st Kuniarn identities, a great many i,i whom had long since been lost sight of. Thai the eiforts of the Executive have been crowned with success is apparent when the long list of

old Kuniarn identities who have expressed their intention to be present al the celebrations i.s surveyed. The programme will start on Sunday. Feh. 28th. when special services will be held m tlae three Churches, morning and evening. Alany visitors will he already in town, but the great trek will take place on the Alonday. and a record number of people is expected to be id the first of the entertainments which have been arranged. Thus, the Sports .Meeting on the racecourse, which commences at 12.31) pan. 11 mm ices to be one ol tin* best oioi held on the Coast. With Don McLennan. the X. Z. sprint- champion ; Jumbo Wells, the half-mil.' and two-mile eve!;. champion, and many prominent axemen on view, a great day's r-- mg is ant i,-i >i” t • -d. An attractive number ol side-shows, many being of

ii original character, will help llv ICn l in keep lliiir.- merry and bright ::ill| refreshment- bunths, ice-cream an I fruit stalls will cater fur Hie thirsts which will he provoked by tlm hot weat!: -r j imt is (••■’pc led. A lir-i-class com ert will be put on in the Memorial Hall for ibe evening entertainment at which will be beard Mi-s Ktlu-1 Wallace, the talent,-d young violinist, just returned from her sin - cesses al Dunedin. Air J. Median,l and Vi,- 1 Smith, tenor sol,lsis. ?*!is> Marie I’arfiti. elocutionist, and a num-

ber of other prominent artists. The Sports will l-e (ontinued on March 2nd. and a full programme will l-e enjoyed. Tn the evening a Ornitd Ball will Jill the bill. Both old and modern dances will be put on and prifiXs will be given for the best costumes and wallzer.x.

(In Wednesday. Afan-li 3rd., opportunity will be given visitors (o vie * historic spots round the district, and to inspect the gold sluicing at Tlnlioiiu The children will have their day on the racecourse when they will enjoy a picnic and sports. At 1 p.m. the re-union of old pioneers, past a,ml present Kmnara. residents will take place at a ham|iicf, to be presided over bv nis Worship the Afayor of Kmnara. Mr A. B. Spiers, to which have been invited the Tit. TTmi. J. 0. Coates. R.C.. the lion C. J. Anderson. Afinixter for Aliivis, and many oilier public men. Special imitations have been sent out In tbu.se who have applied for scats. Priority has been given first to the old niotners of the town, then those who have resided in the town at anv time but- who are now living a wav. and hist, if room can be found, tin, so who are now residents. A number of past Kmnara ccsidenls now I'vinim in (lie f!,oy and Hokitika districts, although intending to he at tin* celebrations, have not applied for bn mi net- tickets. These are advised to do so without further delay should they desire to bo present as admission will lie st-ricl.lv limited to holders of cards of invilaf ion.

100 people will be sitting down to the banquet of which more than 00 are actual pioneers of the Rush round about 1870. and many will have travelled a few hundred miles jo re-visit tlie liom,-' of their vouth.

A line display of moving pi- fures will conclude the official programme in tlie evening, bill there I; no doubt that unofficial programmes will be pul on that will see (he night mil and whM< will recall perhaps those lines of Corn.-tins O’Regan :

"What days of cheerful (oiling, wliaf wild uproarious nights. What happy days, what glorious nights were then ; Filch mirth and merrv-making. such drinking and such fights— Old mate, such times ihov never come again.”