CITY PREPARES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 43, 19 January 1938, Page 9

CITY PREPARES

CELEBRATIONS IN SYDNEY. HISTORIC OCCASION RECALLED. ARRIVAL OF GOVERNOR PHILLIP. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received January 19, 8.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 18. Preparations for the sesquiccntenary celebrations and * the Empire Games are proceeding with feverish haste in Sydney. Decorations of the Government and other big buildings will be on a lavish scale, as will be the illuminations. Entirely in keeping with the historic occasion, the city streets will be beflagged and festooned from one end to the other. Most elaborate emblems and illuminated devices already are in tho process of erection at conspicuous points. What will be known as the anniversary pageant will ho held on January 26. A procession of floats symbolic of Australian nationhood will absorb 1500 people of all ages and types, even to tho full-blooded aborigines. FIRST CEREMONY.

The first official ceremony associated with the 1938 celebrations, namely, the arrival of Governor Phillip at Botany Bay, was commemorated today. Almost exactly as it had fluttered triumphantly 150 years ago, the Union Jack of Queen Anne U6ed by Governor • Phillip was flown at Kurnell, on the shore of Botany Bay. A distinguished gathering saw the embossed pennant unfurl in the strong breeze that swept over the spot where, even before Governor Phillip, Captain James Cook himself had' 1 landed. But the beach to-day was transformed by the wand of modernity, revealing guards of honour from tho Australian navy and artillery. Boy ajid Girl Scouts, massed bands, and Royal Australian Air Force ’planes zooming overhead. The Governor (Lord Wake buret) described the ceremony as one of great significance and a fitting prelude to the celebrations beginning next weekHe related incidents of the landing of Governor Phillip and the foundation of the first settlement and read tho historic document which commanded Governor Phillip to set up the settlement.

Other speakers included the Premier (Mr B. S. B. Stevens) and RearAdmiral R. H. O. Lane-Poole. The latter traced the naval career of Captain Phillip and visualised the pride with which Captain Phillip would regard Sydney to-day. He added that the navy was very proud of this great’ country founded by a naval officer.