JUBILEE CSLEBRATION AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 208, 25 June 1887, Page 2

JUBILEE CSLEBRATION AT TE AROHA.

Tuesday last, the nuspicious JiAileedny, was ushered in with such u sternly downpour of rain, a;? would suffice to dump i !'..■• n:d«w of nny but out aivl out loyalists -with respect to engaging in any open stir ocK'UratinnH in commemoration" of the fiftieth anniversary of the glorious rei«n of Queen Victoria. To the secretary and committee of theJubilee Celebration Committee,- an 1 others who ha 1 taken an active part u\ preparing an elaborate programme for the occasion, as well as to local residents and visitors to Te Atoha For the day, , the disappointment as regains the weather was gre.vt. Some suggestions were thrown out as to the advisability of a postponement under the circumstances, but the committee decided that tlie programme should be gone through with as. announced, and we are of opinion that decision was. a wise one. Flags and bunting were displayed in honor of the occasion by several of the hotels and storekeepers, also at the Post .Office. Punctually at one o'clock those who were to take parl in the proceedings assembled at the Public School-house, where the school child rea were already awaiting them, and shortly atfcer the hoar r • named the procession started in the follow- : ing order i— The Te Aroba Brasa Band> led by Mr, R. Parr in a handsome cavalry unifoira ; the school children, accom,-. panied by tlhcir teachera ; Freemasons^ (in the following order— Tyler, Members, Inner Gua d, Dewwv?, Bible Bearer^ Master, Past Masters, in all numbering about twenty-five i-n full regalia) j after whom came menobers of the Domain Board. Town Board, Clergy, Justices of the Peace, Police, Po»tal and Railway officials, ami pnblic generally. The procession marched from the school-liouso to the junction of Bridge, and Whitaker--streets, thence along Whitakefr-street and into the Domain Grounds by the lower gato, past number three bath J house, and round by number one bafcU house, halting opposite the tennis couiU The next event was the planting of Jubilee Avenue, consisting of a row o£

• i-'M's on either side of the path loading i';oni the flat to number one drinking fi'tint.iin ; a happy idea that originated Mith Mr. Wilson, and should these trees ta\r good root and prosper, a more phasing, us3fnl, lasting, and inexpensive memorial of Jubiloe day at To Arolia could not, we think, havo been planned. Tho trees having been all arranged before han-l alongside the holes dug for their leceptifni, and numbered, it did not take many minutes to distribute the duplicate numbered tickets amongst those to whom had been allotted the duty of planting for themselves, for absentees, or both. This part of the programme was no doubt got through with more expedition than it otherwise would, owing to the heavy rainfall which prevailed, and speech making was indulged in by but very few, and was of the briefest description. The following is a complete list of those in whose names trees were planted, ml also the name of the trees in each instance ;—; — I. The Governor (Sir William Fiancis Dnimmond Jervois, G.C.M.G., C.8., No. 3, English Oak.) Ministry :— 2 Hon. Sir Robeit Stout, Premier, (No. 28, Elm). 3. Sir Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, (No. 40, English Oak). 4. Hon. W. J. M. Larnnch, Minister of Mines, iNo. 47, Australian Ked Gun). 5. Hon. John Bnllfince. Minister of Lands, (No. 41, Silver Fir). 6. Hen. J. A. Tole, Minister of Justice, (2so. 7, Sycamore). 7. Finn P. A. Buckley, Colonial Seerctaiy, , No. 33, Aibut«is). 8. Hon. K. Kiehaid-ion, Mini-tor for Public ! Works, (No. 37, Evergreen O.ik). 9. Hon. W. H. Reynolds, (without portfolio, No. 34, Arbutus). 10. Sir Fred. Whitaker, M.L.C., (No. 20, English Oak). 11. Hon. Capt. T. Fr.iser, M.L.C., (No. 17, Mulberry). 12. Sir Geo.'Grey, M.H.It., (No. 19, English Oak). 13. Sir M.mrico O'Rorke, M 11. R., (No. G, Cryptomeria elegans). 14. J. B. Whyte, M.H.R., (No. 43, Walnut). 15. Colonel Eraser, M.H.K., (No. 48, Anstinlian IJed Gum). IG. Geo. Beetlmm, M.U.R., (No. 44, Walnut). 17. A. J. Cidman, M.11.X.. (No. 30, Total a). 18. Waulen Stratford, (No. 5, Cryptouieri.i elegans). 19. Warden Ker.riok — In Memorlaii, (No. 39, English o<ik). 20. Pi.iko County Council, (No. 42, Sil\< i Fir). 21. Oliinemuri County Council, (No. i.V>, Indian Ced u ). 22. Milieu*, (No. 1, To him). 23. Hone WMahiko — In Meinoriain, ( "v . 46, Piiriri). 24. Farmers, (No. 41), Wellingtoni.i G< o Mtitea). 25. Lsidibh of Te Aiohn, (No. 13, White Spruce). 2fi Tntuki Peehi, for Natives, (No. 45, Englibh Oak). -7. Mokena Uou— In Mumorinm (N T o. 2. Totam). Members Te Aioha Domain Board :—: — 2«. T. Gavin, (No 24, Ahl.) L ; 9. G. Lip-ey, (No. 15, Oribnt.il Plane). 80. G. Wilson, (No. 11, llor.se Chestnut) 31. C. Ahier, (No. 14, White Spruce). Members Te Aroha Town Board :—: — 32. E. Quinn, (No. 23, Ahli). 33. J. A. Dobson, J.P., (No. 31, Walnut). ;il. D. J. F-azer, (No. 16. Oriental plane). 3:>. J. Coiner, (No 18, Mulberry). ?.*. M. Hotchin, (No. 22, Cupressus fuue bus). Resident Clergymen :—: — 37. Rev. Jus. Marshall, (No. 9, Cupressus Lawsoniana). 38. Rer. S. Lawry, (No. 32, Walnut). 39. Rev. T. Kehoe, (No. 21, Cupressus funebrie). 40. JR. F. Roche, J.P., (No. 8, Sycamore). 41. W. F. Hunt, J.P., (No. 10, Cupresaus Lawsoniana). 42. J. llott, J.P., (No. 12, Horse Chestuut) 43. School Children, (No. 27, Elm). 44. Freemasons, (No. 4, English Oak). 40. D. Murpli3', (Member Piako County Council for Te Aroha Riding, No. 26, Indian Cedar). 46. J. C. Firth, (No. 50, WollingtonSa Gigantea). 47. J. McCosh Clark, (tfo. 35, Acer). 48. H. E. Whitakcr, (No. 38, Evergreen Oak). 49. C. S. Stafford, (No. 36, Acer). US). Dr. J. L. Campbell, (No. 29, Totara). Queen Victoria's Tree, (English Oak, planted by Mrs. Gco. Lipsey). The figures after each name denotes the position the tree occupies in Jubiloo Avenue. The " Ladies of Te Aroha " tree was planted by Mrs. G. Wilson, who was allotted this honour by public ballot ; whilst the Misses Emerson and McClatcbey, the two sonior scholars, were deputed to plant the " School Children's " tree. According to the programme prepared for the occasion, at the conclusion of the tree planting all were to have assembled on the flat, where a May Pole had been erected on the tennis court, and some speeches were to have been delivered. The nnpropitious weather, however, upset all this, and in the company instead adjourned to the Public Hall, which was goon completely filled, and in the centre of which a second pole had been erected, and the May Pole dance was gone through several times by about forty little girls, Miss McCUtchy presiding at the pi ano. This portion of the proceedings was watched with keen interest ; the children were all moat gaily attired in costumes specially prepared for the occasion, them any lines of long ribbons of every couceiFabie shade attached to the top of the pole, and the skill and ncouracy with which the children engaged

in the dance, keeping good time wtlh the music, and resulting in the May Pole being" slowly and surely concealed by the plaitod ribbons, and these then again unwound, formed a truly pretty sight which evoked frequent and well deserved hearty applause. Tliis part of the proceedings was under the sole management of Mr. P. Faes, who, considering the short period that he had for teaching his pupils the dance, succeeded in his training most admirably, and #ell deserved the hearty vote of thanks proposed, seconded, and carried by acclamation, for the time he had devoted to and trouble ho -had taken in making this part of the programme the thorough success it wns. During tho proceedings in the hall tho band played saveral selections. At the conclusion of the May Pole dance, Mr. Wilson called up m the Rev. S. Lawry to read the Jubilee Ode. written by him for the occasion, and which from out of ahout a dozen received, had been awarded the prize offered of £1 Is. This very able production from Mr. Lawry's peu was read by him in good stylo, and the author mosi vociferously applauded; the sentiments given expression to in tho Oue being unmistakably in accord with the feelings of those assembled. During a short interval an abundance of light refreshments, kindly provided by 1 the conimittee, were served out to the children, and duly appreciated and done justice to. Mr. G. Wilson read out a complete list of those in whose names the trees had been planted, and by whom planted, and gave an invitation to any of tho latter who felt so disposed to say a few words bearing on the evert, an invitation which several of those present accepted ; ami, coul 1 our Queen have been present on tho occa9i m, she could not but have been highly gr.-.liliel at the* many heartfelt utterances of loyalty and affection for her given expression t0 - Before the afternoon's proceedings terminated, the school children, led by Mrs. Marsdon and accompanied by the band, sang God Save the Queen, the whole assembly rising en masse, and joining in most heartily ; at the conclusion of which many cheers were given for the Queen and Royal Family, etc. A very hearty \ote of thanks to Mr. Goo. WiUon, tlte secretary of the Jubilee committee, for tin; time and trouble he had devoted in making arrangements tor the celebration of .Jubilee day at Te Aroha, and with such satisfactory results, \v,»s carried with acclamation, after which tho company dispersed.