CENTENARY OF WAIMATE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27404, 17 July 1954, Page 2

CENTENARY OF WAIMATE

Celebrations To Start Today FULL PROGRAMME FOR WEEK (From Our Own Reporter) WAIMATE, July 16. The Waimate District Hunt’s steeplechase race meeting today will usher in a week of celebrations to mark the centenary of the arrival in Waimate district of the first settler, Mr Michael Studholme. On Sunday a combined church service will be held at “Te Waimate,” homestead of the Studholme family on the property where Mr Michael Studholme built his first dwelling, a hut of totara slabs. A commemorative stone will be laid at the bridge across the Waimate stream by the Minister of Works (Mr W. S. Goosman) at 1 p.m. on Monday. This will be followed by the presentation of a pageant reenacting the historic meeting between Michael Studholme and Te Huruhuru, chief of the friendly Maori tribe which resided aj the Waimate pa. A bullock dray and a landau drawn by four greys will be among the outstanding features of the centennial procession on Tuesday. The entries for the floats number 57, and as several entries represent more than one vehicle —the Waimate County Council’s “float entry” mentions 15 units — the total number of vehicles is more than 80. The floats will be representative of many country centres, a great number of societies, clubs, and other local organisations of business firms, and there are entries from a few individuals. One entry is a well-known figure, “Queensland Harry,” much of whose term of residence in the Dominion, since he left his native Australia, has been spent in Waimate district. The programme for the week of celebrations includes an early settlers’ gathering and luncheon, followed by a cinema party; children’s sports, a banquet, ball, and concerts. The centennial championship tournament staged by the Waimate Miniature Rifle Association will be held a week later.