JUBILEE OF WAMATE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 793, 14 October 1929, Page 14

JUBILEE OF WAMATE

CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK SPECIAL SERVICES YESTERDAY Press Association WAIMATE, Sunday. The jubilee celebrations of the Waimate (South Canterbury) Borough, the first council having taken office on October 13, 1579, were commenced today with religious thanksgiving services. The festivities will be continued until Saturday next. The principal service of the morning was at St. Paul’s Methodist Church —the first denomination to erect a church in the borough—where eight memorial windows were unveiled to pioneers and early church workers. Opportunity was taken also to unveil a window in memory of Methodist fallen soldiers. The service was attended by the Mayor and councillors. The Silver Band, territorials, cadets and returned soldiers marched in procession to the church. The pioneers’ windows were unveiled by Mrs. C 4. Manchester, a Methodist pioneer. The soldiers’ window was unveiled by Brigadier M. Gardner, D. 5.0., and that of the church workers by Mr. J. Bitchener, M.P. A largely attended public thanksgiving service was held in the afternoon in Seddon Square, to which a procession representing many local organisations marched through the streets. Addresses were given by the Mayor and member for the distreit. Special services were held in all the churches this evening, and there was a municipal band concert. Monday’s programme includes an old people's conversazione, and at night a torchlight procession and huge bonfire.