OTAGO'S FIRST SETTLERS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20381, 30 October 1931, Page 16

OTAGO'S FIRST SETTLERS.

PAGEANT AT THE KAIK. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. (PRSSB ASSOCtITIOK TSLEGBAK.) DUNEDIN," October 29. Centenary celebrations in connexion with the arrival of tlie Weller Brothers, established a whaling-station at Otakou, in 1831, to'ok place at the Kailt this afternoon, in the presence of a large number of people, many of whom had made the journey from tlie City specially to witness the pageant. The Governor-General and Lady Bledisloe arrived at the rock shortly before two o'clock, and following official introductions little Atanui Ellison, a great-grand-daughter of Mr Edward Weller, presented her Excellency with a Maori mat. Maoris from all over Otago" had assembled and, garbed in native dress, they welcomed the party with hakas, and the school children gave poi dances and hakas which greattyvdelighted the visitors. A huge Maori oven had been con-

structed and on this a number of groper, surrounded by potatoes, were cooking. Just as the Vice-Begal party arrived a whaleboat was seen in the distance, and, as it neared the shore a band of native warriors dashed from the bushes and lined the shore. The whalers stepped ashore gingerly and offered gifts to the Maoris, who, when they say that the visitors were friendly, gave gifts in return. The whalers then, planted the Union Jack on the beach, and took possession of the land in the name of King "William the. Fourth. The Mayor addressed the gathering and asked the Governor-General to place a tablet in position on the rock. Although many parts of Essex were flooded a few weeks ago owing to the torrential rain, water was being sold to the residents of tlie old-world village of Abberton, Essex, at a halfpenny a bucket. A large barrel placed on two wheels and drawn by a horse was being taken round the district like a milk float, the Vendors being a family named Wright, who have sold water in this way for four generations. A curious motor-car arrived recently in Chicago. Pure white it is, with blue trimmings, and it has> a city seal on' the door above which arp embossed the words "Chicago Guest." It is the guest-car to be used by Mr George Gaw, official greeter. The car will be preceded by an escort of two white motorcycles, and Mr Gaw usually dresses in white from head to foot when he goes to give the "glad hand'' to a distinguished stranger within the gates.

FLIGHT ABANDONED. ——« THE HAMILTON BROTHERS. (UNITED PHESS ASSOCIATION—BY JSLECTEIC TELEGRAPH—COPTBIOHT.) VIENNA, October 28. The Hamilton bro.thers, Leslie and Kenneth, have abandoned their flight and are returning to England to a fresh start. The airmen left Lympne shortly after midnight on Monday on an attempted record flight to Australia. They were forced down in Lower Austria (it was reported), through Jack of fuel. The Shell Oil Company reports that it has received cabled advice from ; ts London office that Messrs' Leslie and Kenneth Hamilton are using the same Puss Moth machine as that in which Mr.C. D. Barnard made a record singleday flight from London to Malta and Tangiers last year. Mr Barnard made his flight shortly after flying from 1 London to Cape Town and back, with the Duchess of Bedford, in April of last year, and his performance was consider,ed to be the best single-day effort in aviation up to that time. The Shell Company had arranged for petrol supplies along the route to be taken by the Messrs Hamilton. Their machine has a cruising speed of 115 miles an 1000* mfu. 3 r T ?\ 8 * °r a PP r °*imßtely 1000 mdes. Captain Leslie Hamilton served in the Royal Air Force during .®, and his brother is connected with civil aviation. ea