NAPIER BOROUGH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 12

NAPIER BOROUGH.

JUBILEE OF CONSTITUTION. i (PXISS AS9OCIATIOK TELIGfiAU.) NAPIER, November 26. The jubilee of the constitution of the municipality of Napier was celebrated to-day, the programme opening with a luncheon to the old identities who attended in force, about 350 being present to toast the days of yore and exchange reminiscences. Residents of 50 years and more recalled incidents of the days when Napier was far from being the modern city it now is, and spoke of the remarkable progress in all respects since those early times. >- The children provided the afternoon portion of the programme on McLean Park, where over a thousand pupils of the primary schools gave a spJersi-id massed display of marching and physical drill, finally forming up so as' to spell out the words "Napier's jubilee," the effect being very spectacular. Groups of children also entertained the large number of spectators to a novel and quaint exhibition of folk dancing and Grecian ballets, the whole display quite an innovation in Napier aud considered to have been" excellently organised. The children entered keenly into the spirit of the celebrations and performed their part very creditably. To-night the civic ceremony iu the Municipal Theatre was very largely attonded. The Mayor (Mr J. 13. Andrew) presided and several ' addresses were given, among the speakers being Mr R. D. Douglas McLean, who gave interesting reminiscences, and Mr C. D. Kennedy, whose remarks on early Napier wcro splendidly illustrated by means of lantern slides. The Rev. F. A. Bennett, speaking on behalf of the old Maoris, tolu some interesting legends handed down by the Natives Napier's progress up through the past sixty or seventy years was tho K63 note of most ol tlio speeches, irliicli contained much about the strides that had been made in the development of the modern city.