MARDI GRAS DEFERRED.

Otaki Mail, 22 February 1922, Page 3

MARDI GRAS DEFERRED.

LITTLE SUPPORT PROM COUNTRY DISTRICTS. A meeting of those interested in tho holding l of a Mnrdi Gras was held in the Council Chambers on Monday evening. The Mayor (Mr J. P. Brandon) presided, and there was an excellent attendance of some 20 ladies and gentlemen present. The Mayor, after expressing pleasure at the large attendance, called on the secretary, Mr Rac Crichton, to detail the steps that had been taken in the adjacent country districts to assist the proposal. Mr Crichton stated he had communicated with Mr H. Atkins, of Manakau, who'hurl replied that that district had recently erected a soldiers’ memorial. t and after that effort it was not eonsidthat anything further could be anMertaken at present in the way of putting mi a Manakau queen in the proposed Mnrdi Gras, although residents would be quite willing to give some

support to any queens who might b< nominated in Otaki. Mr Crichton ad (led that no replies had been receiver to letters sent to Packakariki, Pnrapn xaHinu and AVaikanae. lie had visitor Te Horo but had received ao encourage meat. A letter was read from Mr 0. 11 ."Williams stating that owing to pressure of business lie was compelled to resign as a member-of the Committee. The Mayor said so far as the Mnrdi Gras was concerned, unless they could got the district centres to fall into line and assist it. was as well to let the mutter remain in abeyance for the present. The secretary stated that it seemed to be the idea in the country centres that the Mnrdi Gras was more for the benefit ol’ Otaki than the other portions of the district. The Mayor stated that as the Manli Gras was proposed with the idea of assisting the Rest Resort, it was as much for the benefit of the outside districts as Otaki. if not. more so. It hail been originally - [ ropose-1 to have n queen in each country centre, and thus create friendly rivalry ami competition for the general benefit of the Mnrdi Gras. Mr Byron Brown said it could hardly bo expected that the little countrytowns outside Te Horo and Manakau i could join in an Otaki Mardi Gras be- j cause they had their own little inter- I tests to attend to. That was only na- [

Jural. Any effort to extend interest In the proposal to tho places named Would be doomed to failure. Otaki should hold a gathering of its own, and nominate rpieens from sections of the community. ‘Mr R. Carkeek. as representing the Maoris, agreed that tho Mardi Gras was not getting any support from outside districts, but not much had been done in Otaki itself. The Maoris had nominated their queen, and were ready to support any efforts being made in the direction of running a Mardi Gras. The Mayor said it would be noticed that jtrvoral who had been prominent an the early stages .of the movement were now conspicuous by their absence. He thought that taking everything into consideration it. would be wise to de-fer-the Mardi Gras proposal at present. Ho moved accordingly, and the motion was carried.