The Daily News TUESDAY, MARCH 9. ANNIVERSARY DAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 37, 9 March 1909, Page 2

The Daily News TUESDAY, MARCH 9. ANNIVERSARY DAY.

An suggested by us last week, an ellovt is bung made to celebrate Anniversary Hay m a, manner belittiiig the birthday of this, one of tile most prosperous provinces in the Dominion. XJie chairman of the Seaside Committee, in iii s official capacity as Mayor, has convened a public meeting for this evening to devise an appropriate programme for tiie observance of the event, which it is hoped to make an annual one. To this enu, However, it is necessary that as many as possible of those who are familiar with the very early days of the settlement and descendants of the first settlers should co-operate, and their presence at to-night's meeting should ensure the speedy realisation of the promoters' aims. As we have on several occasions indicated, we should nice to nee estab-

lished an Early Settlers' Association, if for no other purpose than that complete . records of the founders of the province might be compiled and kept in safe custody in the public archives. The immediate idea for the revival of anniversary day, however, is to afford opportunity for holding a re-union of early settlers, and publicly showing that the present generation is not unmindful of the hardships borne by their fathers and mothers ill carving out, midst trials an.l privations, homes of peace and plenty. In a country where holidays are celebrated so enthusiastically, it is surely meet that the day that peculiarly belongs alone to this province, the anniversary of the arrival of the first ships, should have first place in public esteem. Other than -the celebrations common to Christendom, it is essentially the one day—the starting-point of our provincial history—that affords a common ground for holidaying by the people of Taranaki. On this occasion there is every reason to anticipate a highly successful outing at Moturoa, where the principal celebrations are proposed to be held in conjunction with the Tarannki Provincial Oddfellows' annual picnic. It is to be hoped, therefore, that to-night's meeting will relied in some measure the desire of citizens to have Anniversary Day fittingly observed.