AMBITIOUS PLAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 157, 6 July 1939, Page 4

AMBITIOUS PLAN.

WHAT THE TABLEAUX TELL

FROM MORIORIS TO PRESENT DAY.

The series of eight tableaux and a finale, in which the evolution of New Zenlittiil from earliest times is portrayed, will b ; > one of the main attractions of the Centennial celebrations in Auckland. Thi' first Tableau symbolizes the birth nf New Zealand. It is in two scenes, the liret of which shows tlip arrival of the Morion who. as far as history tells, were the first dwellers in this land. The second scene is that of the arrival of the Maoris, who also found a home here. In this scene will b e shown a 4-anoo placed on the stage to symbolise its recent arrival.

The two scenes in the next tableau depict Maori life in the early days. 1 here will be cooking, weaving and carving ill the first, while the second will show an assault on a pa. The old days are passing in the third tableau, and Captain Cook comes to these shores. Thie scene will be in accordance with history, and uniforms will possibly be provided by the British Government. After Captain Cook, the day<s of colonisation are brought nearer by the arrival of the missionaries, who celebrate the first Christian service at the Bay of Islands on Christmas Day, 1814. With the arrival of Captain Hobson, British sovereignty is proclaimed, and the Maoris and the British representatives sign the Treaty of Waitangi. The final scene of this tableau depicts the birth of Auckland.

War, Peaoe and War.

War, peace and war are the next stage in the development of the country. There is war between the Maoris and the whites. Then peace is declared, and the work of nation building is recommenced. The next war is. that where New Zealanders go to South Africa to fight the Boers.

Called iit affectionate memory the '•Father of Auckland," Sir Jolm"Lo~an Campbell looms large in the fifth tableau. Towards the end of a Ion" life, at the age of 92. he reads the simple deed-of sift by which he gave Cornwall Park to the city. Thereafter, until the outbreak of the Great War, life passed peacefully in the land, and one tableau will represent those fruitful yeare With the coming of 1914, youn" men a?ain lay down the tools of peace and take up the implements of war. Once again they go to the aid of the Motherland. Valour and sacrifice will find a place in this, the seventh tableau. The years following 1919 were years of progress, and in the five scenes of the eighth tableau the advance of the city! in civic life, sport, education, industrv and science i« shown.

Finally is shown >Ce\v Zealand ae it is to-day. The scene depicts both pride and thankfulness. Children represent the coming nation. They hold the olive branch in the hope of continued peace Then all performers leave the sta°-e to the soft music of "O God Our Help in Age* Past," while the commentator recites two lines from that well-loved hymn. '"Timo, like an ever-rolling stream, hears all its sons awav."