The Daily News MONDAY, MARCH 1. TARANAKI'S ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 30, 1 March 1909, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, MARCH 1. TARANAKI'S ANNIVERSARY.

Wo aro Jilcaaed tu notice that im effort is being made to resuscitate the observance of the anniversary day of Taranaki,

which falls on the 31st of this month. It is a mutter for regret thai the people of Taranaki should have allowed tlie I birthday of the province, around the early settlement of which is associated some of the most stirring events of New Zealand history, to be practically forgotten. Sixty-eight years ago to-day, the first ships bearing the original settlers of the company to New Plymouth were within a month's sail of

their destination, where they were to commence liie anew in the midst of strange surroundings, not, as events proved, unattended with grave dangers. Whilst almost every other province in

New Zealand honors with fitting celebration the anniversary of the arrival of their first settlers, whose hardships, severe enough and cheerfully borne, were I still not those of bloodshed, practically nothing has been dune to perpetuate the i historic date of the founding of this pro-

vince 08 years ago. The proposal of the Tarauaki Oddfellows Lodge to this year hold a united picnic at Moturoa on March 31st seems to us to ail'ord the opportunity of awakening interest in Anniversary Day, and arranging for its

celebration in a fitting manner. In a country where recog.iised holidays are the rule and not the exception, wo certainly consider that Anniversary Hay should be one of the first set aside statutorily to be observed. Patriotic pride in one's country is a feeling that should be encouraged, especially so when its history is not devoid of epoch marking incident. It is unfortunate in a way j that the 31st this year falls on a Wednesday, as the usual half-holiday in most

of the Taranaki towns is observed on Thursday. No difficulty should be experienced, however, in arriving at unanimity and arranging for the holding of the holiday oil the Wednesday. We

would suggest that the tradespeople of New Plymouth take the lead in this direction, and decide to observe the weekly holiday on Anniversary Day. This action would at once clear the way for the inland towns falling into line, an arrangement we have little doubt that would be quickly made. It scorns

to us, therefore, thai there is no real difficulty in the way of the holiday being arranged even at this stage, and later on a conference of the Taranaki Trades-1 men's Associations might consider the/ question of permanently including Anniversary Day in the list of holidays, per-1 haps to the exclusion of some other day I at present observed. The date fortunate-

ly falls at a time of the year when the main industry of the province is on the , wane, and consequently the great majority of ttic people would be enabled to participate ia the celebrations. On this occasion, as the Oddfellows of the province .propose to hold their annual outing on Anniversary Day, a splendid opportunity is afforded of conducting a monster provincial picnic ia honor of Taranaki's birthday. New Plymouth already possesses a committee—the Seaside Improvement—organised for the special purpose of popularising the seaside, and it has been suggested that this committee should take charge of the arrangements, irrespective, of course, of the special arrangements the Oddfellows might make. There arc still with us a number of the very early settlers and their descendants, who are legion. A most interesting programme might easily, with the co-operation of these old settlers, and the people of the province, be worked up provided sufficient interest is evinced in the proposal. The most popular form of public entertainments in the Old Country at present is the historical pageant, typifying some notable event in the history of the country or of the locality. What could be more lit-1 ting here on Anniversary Day tliau an i historical pageant depicting the lauding of the lirst settlers, their reception by the Maoris, and the subsequent outstanding events in the history of the settlement down to recent times? We are convinced some such form of celebration for Anniversary Day can easily be arranged, provided the business people demonstrate their willingness to cooperate with the local committee to the piwhicia] towns by observing a holiday. We understand the matter is to be discussed by the Tradesmen's Association to-morrow, and on their decision will depend to a considerable extent the action of the Seaside Committee in organising the function. There ne«»d be no dashing of interests as between the Oddfellows and the local committee : on the other hand, the combining of the two, to provide amusement; for the people, and at the aaino time, fittingly commemorate the landing of our first settlers, should thoroughly ensure the success of the day. ON THE FOURTH PAGE. tVu*k<-'t. Commercial. Xavv League. IMaori Councils. Seiontilic Hoax. From West to Fast. Marriage and Divurcc. A Fugitive President. tV>niVssious of Murder. Hunting Sea Elephants, The New Dreadnoughts. Archbishop's Kaciuir Stable.