ONE CENTURY OLD

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1928, Page 7

ONE CENTURY OLD

Perth’s Foundation.

The State of Western Australia, which embraces nearly one-third of the Commonwealth, will celebrate its hundredth birthday in 1020. A preliminary programme of celebrations lias already been drawn up, covering 10 months of the year. Jn order to attract visitors from other parts of the Commonwealth tiie Western Australian Government is offering reduced fares to tourists.

Western Australia’s first settlers arrived off Fremantle on June 1. 182!). Formal proclamation off possession was made on June 18, ]S29, and the foundation stone of Perth was laid 01/ August 12th of the same year. The centenary celebrations will be held throughout l!)2!J; it big programme of historic and other events has been arranged.

Although not in Auckland officially in connection with the centenary cele-brations-lie is in nullity on it health tour of Xew Zealand—Mr J. T. licet, of Perth, had some interesting things to sav about the "Golden West” in general and the coming celebrations in particular. This is Mr Poet’s fourth visit to Auckland. In Perth, M,r Poet is a member of the Town Planning League, the Toe 11., an ex-director ol the Young Men’s Christian Association ;tti(l one ol the executive ol the Hoy Scout, Association. lie is also connected with the Western Australian Historical Society. Naturalists’ Society. Forestry League, and the Overseas’ League.

Speaking ol Western Australia. Mi i’eet said although that State* was by far the largest in the Commonwealth. Hk? population was small, totalling on|v 100,000 at the end of June. '1 bo successful gold discoveries in the eatly ’'ld’s were responsible for a very rapid increase in the population, which rose from Iio.OJT in 1898, the year that gold was discovered at Kalgoorlie, to 224,748 in 190.8, the year gold production reached its zenith. The year 1927-2 S was a record all round for. the West: wool, wheat, sheep, and land under cultivation, all had substantial increases. Ihe year was a record one for trade, the amount 98(5,297,719. showing an increase ol more than 98.000,000 over the previous year.