ACHILLES RATINGS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 March 1940, Page 6

ACHILLES RATINGS

PARTICIPATION IN MASTERTON CELEBRATIONS WELCOME AT THE SHOWGROUNDS REASONS FOR CHANGE OF VENUE. In response to a telegram extending an invitation to the local members of the Achilles crew to take part in the local Centennial celebrations, the Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) received a reply this morning accepting the invitation, signed by T. Gray. The men will be entertained at the luncheon for early settlers, will take part in the procession and will be given a welcome by the Mayor at the Showgrounds. It is stressed that the idea of changing the time of closing of business premises, is to enable the public to make the day a picnic outing at the beautiful showgrounds, where everyone will meet old friends and enjoy the procession much more conveniently than could have been possible had the gathering been held at the Park. The Park was found to be unsuitable by the committee owing to the magnitude of the procession, which precluded the parade being held there, as only part of the procession would have been able to go on to the Oval carriage way. Valuable trees would have had to be lopped back to give passage-way and the floats would not have been able to proceed down the carriage way. From the sight- . seeing point of view the procession will be much better assembled at the showgrounds, where everyone can see it at leisure and examine the different items of interest. The committee wishes to acknowledge a donation of £1 from Mr. W. Rayner, “The Cliffs,” Masterton. Motorists willing to provide transport for early settlers from the Municipal Hall to the Showgrounds on Thursday afternoon are requested to send their names and addresses to the Town Clerk, Mr. G. T. O’Hara Smith.