Commemoration Of Landing

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 18

Commemoration Of Landing

W.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, Oct.B. The trappings of the 20th century will prevail tomorrow at the commemoration of the landing of Captain James Cook and Mr Joseph Banks at Kaiti Beach, Gisborne, on October 9,1769. Where Cook was greeted by undisturbed sands and native bush tomorrow’s official guests will be surrounded by television and movie cameras, thousands of sight-

seers and a series of formal occasions which have been planned for many months. The first official function of the bicentenary celebrations will be held at 9 am. at the Cook monument, Kaiti Beach, near the spot where Cook’s party landed. This will be a naval ceremony commemorating the landing and will be the subject of a live local telecast The Government programme for the afternoon begins at two o’clock with a display by marching girls at Rugby Park followed by the assembly of the guard of honour and the Royal New Zealand Navy band. The Vice-Regal party will

arrive at Gisborne at 3 p.m. After being met by the Prime Minister and Mrs Holyoake it will proceed to Rugby Park, where a traditional Maori' challenge will be given. The Governor-General will inspect the guard and deliver a message from the Queen and then a massed chojr of 1500 and the Waihirere Maori concert party will entertain spectators until the R.N.Z.A.F. puts on a halfhour display of aerobatics. There is to be a Government reception for invited guests at 6 p.m. followed by the naval beating retreat ceremony at Rugby Park at 8 p.m.

After the naval ceremony the public will be treated to an hour's display of some of the most spectacular fireworks ever seen in New Zealand. Thousands of visitors are expected to converge on Gisborne tomorrow. All accommodation in the city has been booked for weeks.

This morning hundreds of cars lined coastal roads as nine warships from five nations steamed in to Poverty Bay to take part in the celebrations.

Greeted by a small armada of yachts and launches the warships steamed into the anchorage.