HISTORIC EVENTS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 110, 3 February 1938, Page 12

HISTORIC EVENTS

New Zealand Centenary Celebrations WELLINGTON LIST Dates It Is Proposed To Mark There was not a large attendance at the meeting called by the mayor of Wellington, Mr. T. 0. A, Hislop, for yesterday afternoon to discuss the matter of historical events and the dates of celebrations in connection with the forthcoming centenary celebrations. Those who were present, however, were fairly representative of organisations very much interested in the subject. They included Monsignor Connelly, Dr. G. Scholefield (Parliamentary librarian), Mr. W. Toomath (Wellington Early Settlers’ Association), Mr. A. J. McCurdy (mayor of Upper Hutt), Mr. J. W. Andrew (mayor of Lower Hutt), Mr C. Mclntyre (New Zealanders’ Association), Messrs. W. Fielding, W. Duncan, T. Lindsay Buick, and G. Tandy. Mr. Hislop, in opening the meeting, read several apologies, among them a letter from Mr. A. Sando, which he read because he considered it embodied a very good idea. The writer had suggested the placing of potices on. all places of historic interest in the province of Wellington. It was not intended to deal with the proposal at the meeting,‘but they would keep it in mind and probably carry out the wishes of the writer. Mr. Hislop also mentioned the death of Mr. Louis Ward, who had intended to attend the meeting. He said that Mr. had the interests of Wellington very much at heart, and had done a great deal of research work in regard to old photographs and documents which was of considerable value. He thought the time and the occasion warranted them passing a motion of the deepest, regret at Mr. Ward’s passing, and sympathy with his relatives. This was carried by all present standing a few inoments in silence. Preparation of Lists. Mr. Hislop said that the Government had set up an historical committee to go into the matter of events and dates in connection with the centennial; besides which there were provincial historical committees appointed to go into local events of outstanding interest. Of the Wellington provincial committee, Mr. T. Lindsay Buick was the chairman, and he was also a member of the general committee. Two lists had been submitted, one from the Under-Secre-tary of the Department of Internal Affairs, Mr. J. W. Heenan, and the other from the provincial committee. The chairman then read Mr. Heenan’s letter, which referred to the collection of data bearing on Important events, and the series of celebrations which was to mark them. His committee had submitted a list, but there was no objection to the insertion of other events which might have been overlooked. It was suggested that tentative lists might be prepared by the provincial committees for submission to the national committee, in order that the whole of the celebrations could be properly co-ordinated in one programme. It was explained by Mr. Hislop that the Government did not propose to subsidise or patronise any event outside the year 1940 other than the big Exhibition in Wellington. As was to be expected most of the dates chosen by the National Committee were in the local list, so he thought it would be best to review the list of events and dates prepared by the Provincial Historical Committee. “I have called this meeting,” said Mr. Hislop, “simply to get the views of rhe citizens of Wellington as to the various dates and events suggested, so as to submit those views to the meeting of the provincial committee . to be held on February 21. Mr. Buick is present and perhaps could enlarge on any point necessary. We are here to consider dates and events, not forms of memorials, questions which will be considered at an appropriate time.” List of Events. The list of events and dates was as follows: — Wednesday, September 20, 1939.—Arrival of Tory. Harbour Board and shipping interests to celebrate on the harbour. Thursday, September 21, 1939. —Colonel Wakefield lands. Wednesday, September 27, 1939.—Deed of purchase Port Nicholson district signed. . . Saturday, September 30, 1939. —Hoisting N.Z. Company’s flag at Petone Pa; suggested festival for Hutt and Petone. November, 1939. —Opening of International Exhibition. ■ ’ Wednesday, January 3, 1940.—Arrival of Cuba with survey party. Saturday, January 6, 1940. —Engineers and others to celebrate beginning of surveys. Monday, January 22, 1940.—Arrival of Aurora. Early settlers to celebrate and Centennial Memorial to be unveiled at Petone. Sunday, January 21 or 28, 1940. —First Methodist Church service after arrival of Aurora; Wednesday, January 31, 1940.—Arrival of Oriental. Tuesday, February 6, 1940.—Signing of Treaty of Waitangi (National). Thursday, February 8, 1940.—Arrival of Duke of Roxburgh. Tuesday, February 20, 1940. —Arrival of Bengal Merchant. Sunday, February 25, or Monday, February 26, 1940.—First Presbyterian service by Rev. J. McFarlane at Petone. Thursday, March 7, 1940. —Arrival of Adelaide —women’s week. Thursday, March 7, 1940.—Arrival of Glenbervie. Monday, March 18, 1940.—First issue of "N.Z. Gazette.” Press to celebrate. Sunday, March 24, 1940.—Opening of Union Bank. Business to celebrate. Sunday, April 21, 1940. —Arrival of Bolton. Anglicans to celebrate; arrival of Revs. Churton and Butler. Tuesday, May 14, 1940.—Opening of first school by Miss Tilke. Tuesday, June 4, 1940.—Arrival of Lieut. Sliortland, introducing constitutional rule. Government, legal, ' military, police celebrations. Wednesday, July 3,1940. —Opening Betts, Hopper and Molesworth business, manufacturers and others to celebrate. Thursday, July 11, or August 10, 1940.— Establishment Union Benefit Society. September, 1940. —Musical festival sug"ested. Tuesday, October 22, 1940.—Opening of Barrett’s Hotel. Saturday, November 16, 1940.—Celebrate separation as a colony (National). Saturday, November 30, 1940.—Planting scotch thistle. Wednesday, December 25, 1940.—High Mass celebrated by Bishop Pompallier. Additional events, not included in the Wellington list (as they do not concern Wellington directly), were set out at the foot of the provincial committee's list as follows:— Tuesday, May 14, 1940.—Signing of Treaty of Waitangi, etc., Wairarapa. Tuesday, May 14, 1940.—Signing of Treaty of Waitangi, etc., Palmerston North, Otaki, etc. Friday, May 24, 1940.—-Signing of Treaty of Waitangi, etc., Wanganui. Mr. Buick said the idea which had been adopted" by the provincial com-

mittee was to spread the celebrations over the whole of one year, and they had managed to work in the anniversaries of events from January 3 until December 25, 1840. Of course, there were" important events in 1839 which could not be overlooked, as they affected the settlement of Wellington itself. The idea at the back of their minds was to have one celebration a month, and that each one be left to the organisation or community most interested in the anniversary to be marked. It would be for that organisation or community to fix the form of the celebration. The events of 1839 were important, as they concerned the settlement of the 'Wellington district, but as they were not to be Government events, it was proposed that these should be left in the hands of the local bodies. For example, tire arrival of the Tory might be left in the haiids of the Wellington Harbour Board, and the other three events in 1839, the landing of Colonel Wakefield, the signing of the deed ol purchase of Port Nicholson, and the hoisting of the New Zealand Company s flag, might be left to the Lower Hutt and Petone Borough Councils. Arrival of First Ships. As to the dates of arrival of the various “first ships,” it had been suggested that all those events could not very well be widely celebrated, but it was prposed that, the people residing in streets named after the ships might celebrate by bellagging the streets and making merry. For instance, on the day the Orient arrived the residents ot Oriental Bay might make some suitable display and “get out the band”; the same with the Aurora and the Adelaide,- and some of the other ships. Celebrations in connection with the anniversary of banking could be left, to the bankers. The architects and builders could also have their day, and the various religious bodies could hold services on special days to be arranged in connection with this or that anniversary. They did not propose to stick to the exact day for every or any celebration but to arrange the programme so that it would meet the convenience of the greater number of people. Monsignor Connelly indicated that the anniversary of the celebration of High Mass by Bishop Pompalier, set down on the list for December 25, was inconvenient, as it clashed with other, services reserved for that day. The archbishop was of the opinion that another day might be arranged for the celebration. Some time in January or February would suit best. The mayor said that such an arrangement could easily be made. They wanted to make it as convenient as possible for everyone. September’s Events, Dr. Scholefield remarked that several events were set down for celebration in September—the landing of Colonel Wakefield, the signing of the deed of purchase, and the hoisting of the company’s flag. He considered that only one of these was of importance, that was the signing of the deed of purchase. There was really nothing in the landing of Colonel Wakefield, for it was not even an official landing, and the hoisting of the company’s flag had no real significance as it conferred no sovereignty. Mr.' Buick said that there was a good deal in what Dr. Scholefield said, but he did not go all the way with him. He thought the hoisting of the flag had some significance/as it symbolised .the acquisition of the land for British settlers. . All these things could be united. It was proposed to leave this to the local bodies, who would also be expected to decide the manner of doing it.. Mr. W. Duncan said he noticed on the list that November 30 had been reserved for planting the Scotch thistle. “Surely they’re not going to plant mqre,” said Mr. Duncan. “I should rather think they would organise a party to cut them down.” "That is St. Andrew’s Day, when the first thistle was planted,” explained Mr. Buick, “a day for the Scotsmen.” The list was then formally approved and the meeting dispersed after the mayor had thanked Mr. Buick for the good work he had done in drafting the list.