WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 193, 23 January 1915, Page 5

WELLINGTON ANNIVERSARY.

HEAVY RAIN IN WELLINGTON. MOST OF THE FESTIVITIES ABANDONED. Hy Telegraph—Per Press Association,. Wellington, Last Night., It was most unfortunate that, after the good weather of recenti weeks, the Fates should have singled out to-day for a blustering northerly wind and squally rain showers, for to-day was the seventyfifth anniversary of the founding of'the city, and preparations had been made for the proper celebration of the important event. The morning broke "with heavy rain falling, and it was at once apparent that there would liavo to be a postponement of the festivities which had been arranged. One of the features of tho celebration was to have been the procession, but when the time arrived for that event it waß obvious that the weather was too unpropitious. A small number of people were in the Post Office Square at i 0.30 a.m., and after ft brief address by the Mayor, and cheers for the pioneers and surviving early settlers, the gathering dispersed. The West Coasters' Association was not afraid, however, of the bad weather, and in the afternoon they paraded on four lorries, with their, exhibition of mining methods of the olden days. Their display, although marred by the heavy rain of tha early afternoon, was watched with interest by a large number of people. The members, some of whom were fantastically dressed to represent early-day figures, such as the West Coast bushrangers, carried the miners' paraphernalia of old, and in the front lorries showed the "cradle" method, the quicksilver method, and the quartzcruslung method of obtaining gold. The ■heavy downpour which commenced at 2.30 p.m., however, considerably interfered with their efforts. The' celebrations concluded with a concert at the Town Hall in the evening.

WANGANIH CELEBRATIONS. Wanganui. Last Night, t Anniversary Day passed off quietly, if| brilliant weather, which was fol'awed i$ the evening by a heavy downr The chief attraction wag the < 'oniari sports, which were successful. Yiganui defeated a team of bowlers fiv . Feilding.