FIRST CEREMONY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1938, Page 7

FIRST CEREMONY.

N.S.W. CELEBRATIONS. Sesquicentenary of Landing of Governor Phillip. BOTANY BAT FUNCTION. SYDNEY, January 18. Preparations for the New South Wales 150 th ataniversary celebrations and the Empire Games are proceeding with feverish haste in Sydney. The decorations on the Government and other big buildings will be on a lavish scale, as will the illuminations. They will be entirely in keeping with the historic occasion. Th® city streets will be beflagged and festooned from one end to the other. Elaborate emblems and illuminated devices are already in process of erection at ■ conspicuous points.

What will be known as the anniversary pageant will be held on January 2d. A procession of floats symbolic of Australian nationhood will be manned hy 1500 people of all ages and types, even to full-blooded aborigines.' The first official ceremony associated with the celebrations, the arrival of Governor Phillip at Botany Bay, was commemorated to-day. Almost exactly a» it had fluttered triumphantly 150 years ago, the Union Jack of Queen Anne used by Governor Phillip was flown at Kirrnell, on the shore of Botany Bay. A distinguished gathering saw the flag unfurl in a strong breeze that swept over the spot where, even before Governor Phillip, Captain Cook himself had landed. But the beach to-day was transformed by the wand of modernity, revealing guards of honour from the Australian Navy, artillery, boy scouts and girl guides, and massed bands. Air force aeroplanes flew overhead. The Governor >of New South Wales, Lord Wakehurst, described the ceremony as one of great significance and a fitting prelude to the celebrations, which will begin next week. He related incidents of the landing of Governor Phillip and the foundation of the first settlement, and read the historic document which commanded Governor Phillip to establish a settlement. Other speakers included the Premier, Mr. B. S. Stevens, and Rear-Admiral Line Poole. The latter traced the naval enreer of Captain Phillip and visualised the pride with which he would regard Sydney to-day. He added that the Navy was very protid of this great country founded by a naval officer.

GERMANY DECLINES. Will Not Accept Invitation To Celebrations. N -S.W. ANTI-NAZI GESTURES. (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, January 18. The British United Press correspondent at Berlin says the German Government decided not to accept the New pouth Wales invitation to participate "i the sesf|iiicentenary'celebrations. file decision was due to New South "nles measure against Nazis, such as '"e.iKsal to permit German doctors to practice, which Germany has repeatedly "»il fruitlessly tried to g«t repealed, lhe (loveriiment feels it is impossible send a delegation while sucli measures are still enforced.