The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1938. OUR FIRST CENTURY.

Evening Star, Issue 23092, 19 October 1938, Page 10

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1938. OUR FIRST CENTURY.

Ix discussing the arrangements for centennial celebrations in 1940 the Prime Minister says the Government wants the occasion to be worthy of the first hundred years of the country’s development. That is a sentiment that will bo generally endorsed. Tho transitional stages of New Zealand are remarkable. It was no-man’s land prior to 1840. Then for many years a colony struggled to nationhood. Tho pioneers laid the foundations well and truly, and to-day wo are blessed with a highly prosperous dominion. It is pleasing to see that the promoters of tho centennial aim at definite accomplishments of an enduring kind and not merely at brief and spectacular displays. The 1940 celebrations resolve themselves into three main features—tho New Zealand Centennial Exhibition at Wellington, the provincial celebrations, and the erection or creation of suitable memorials in the various centres. Tho public bodies in Otago are responding well to the appeal made to them by the Otago Court Committee, and already more than £5,000 has been raised out of the £9,000 required. If this latter sum is forthcoming—and there seems no reason to doubt that it will be provided —Otago’s display at the Centennial Exhibition should ho highly creditable to the province. The Hon. W. E. Parry, as Minister of Internal Affairs, is the active head of the celebrations movement, and he is pushing on tho arrangements with commendable zeal. The celebration will fall into several distinct classes. First will come the celebration of events of national importance at the places where they occurred. Local celebrations will he of two kinds —those in particular localities recalling the events of 1840, and those in particular localities not having connection with any event that happened there, but generally in honour of the centennial. For instance, the arrival .of a navigator, the establishment of a whaling settlement, the disembarkation of the first shipload <?f immigrants or the discovery of gold may be cited as incidents which would lend themselves to effective pageantry. The scope of the plans involves much historical research. This is being carried on systematically and effectively. Two years ago the Auckland Historical Committee began tho preparation of a list of tho more important dates in New Zealand history, and this work has since been continued by the National Historical Committee and its associated provincial committees. In this way much valuable knowledge ■ relating to the Maoris and their history and tradition and to the developments. after the arrival of the pakeha will ho put into concrete form and placed on permanent record. A glance at the names of those comprising tho National Centennial Council and of the various committees show's that no effort is being spared to have tho hundred years ceremonies as complete and as accurate as expert advice and help can make them. Mr Parry is keen on tree planting and the preservation of various bush-clad beauty spots that are as yet immune from the destructive work of saw, axe, and fire, and attention is being directed to these things as part of the centen- , nial effort. In addition extensive plans have been prepared for tree planting in which the provincial organisations have been aslked to join, and in some localities schemes are in hand for the provision of public parks. There is also under consideration a national plan for the growth and study of native plants, and in this, connection particular attention will be paid to school grounds so that the children may receive instruction in our unique flora. The big exhibition in Wellington, which will draw visitors from all parts of the Dominion and overseas, will focus attention on the centennial. It will be from the comprehensive subsidiary activities that lasting benefits will accrue.