EVE OF NEW YEAR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 January 1926, Page 4

EVE OF NEW YEAR.

CELEBRATED AT EXHIBITION. FIFTY' THOUSAND PRESENT. BY cable-press association— coPYßisnr. DUNEDIN, Jan. 1. The New Year’s Eve festivities at the Exhibition surpassed all 1 expectations. An enormous crowd descended on the Exhibition early in the evening, pouring in an irresistible tide over tho grounds. The turnstiles registered tho amazing attendance of 50,971 for the day, establishing a new Dominion record; in fact, the Exhibition has achieved the honour of establishing a double record, for although the official count ou the opening day did not quite reach 46,000, several thousand people entered through the motor gates uncounted. The huge crowd on the sports ground watched a magnificent fireworks display. in which there were eight set pieces, including a wonderful representation of the Battle of Jutland featuring tlie contest of the Dreadnoughts. At 11.45 the pipers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders ’ Band headed a big procession round the grand court. Suddenly, the orange and red lights of the big dome faded and the lights on the band rotunda followed them a minute later. Then the dazzling entrance gates disappeared and the Chinese lanterns and fancy lamps of the grand court disappearing plunged the scene in darkness as the old year was dying. The bells began to sound, then as the last stroke of twelve sounded all the thousands of lamps in the grand courfc blazed simultaneously. The New Year was born. Then the band led the crowd in “Auld Lang Syne.” Fifty thousand people will never forget Nev? Year’s Eve at the great Exhibition.

NEW YEAR HONOURS. NEW ZEALAND RECIPIENTS. AUCKLAND, Jan. 1. His Excellency the Governor-General has received advice that on the occasion of the New Year His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to confer tlie following honours on tho gentlemen whose names appear bd* low: PRIVY COUNCILLOR. Hon. Joseph Gordon Coates, M.C.* M.P., Prime Minister of New Zealand. Hon. Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, G.C.M.G., K.C., Attorney-General, Minister of External Affairs and Leader of the Legislative Council. G.C.M.G. Hon. Sir James Allen, K.C.8., High’ Commissioner for New Zealand in London. KNIGHT BACHELOR. Mr. Henry Brett, of Auckland, the veteran journalist and owner of the Auckland Star. Mr. Henry Francis Wigram, of Christchurch. C.M.G. Mr-Frederick William Furkert, engin-eer-in-Chief ana Under-Secretary of the Public Works Department. A SHORT LIST. (BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, Jan. 1. The Morning Post emphasises that the brevity of the Honours list sustains the new tradition established since the Coalition Government fell, and adds: “Such recognition of Dominion statesmanship as Privy Councillorships to the Hon. J. G. Coates and Sir Francis Bell will be as popular here as overseas, while satisfaction will be felt again at the knighthoods of representative public men of the Dominions.”

• Joseph Gordon Coates is a New Zealandfer, . having been born at Matakohe in 1878. In pre-war days he-interested himself in local body work, and in volunteering. He was elected member for Kaipara in 1911 and joined the Massey Ministry in 1919. He served in the war from 1917-19. /On the death of Mr. Massey last year he was elected Leader of the Reform Party, and subsequently became Prime Min* ister. He was returned to office at the head of a strong party at the November elections. Hon. Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, G.C.M.G., K.C., Attorney-General, was born in Nelson in 1851, the son of Sir Francis Bell. He was educated as a solicitor and became Crown Solicitor, Wellington, in TS7B. He interested himself in local politics and was elected Mayor of Wellington in 1891. He entered Parliament in 1893. He joined the Upper House in 1912 and became the Attorney-General in 1918. Sir Francis recently intimated his intention of retiring from active political life. Hon. Sir James Allen. K.C.8., High Commissioner for New Zealand, is an Australian, having been born in Australia in 1855. He was educated in England. He arrived in New Zealand in 1856. He entered the House of Representatives- as- member for Dunedin East in 1887, and later was member for Bruce. He joined thie Cabinet as Minister of Defence and Finance in 1912. He resigned from l the Ministry to take the High 'Commissionershi-p in 1920. Henry Brett was born in Sussex in 1843. He arrived in Auckland in September, 1862, and joined the literary staff of the- Southern Cross, and four years later, joined the New Zealand Herald. In 1870. with two others, he started the Auckland Star. Twenty years later lie brought out the first illustrated paper in New Zealand, the New Zealand Graphic. Henry Francis Wigram, whose establishment of tiie 'Canterbury, Aviation Company, which trained 180 pilots for war service, has made him well-known throughout the Dominion, was born in London in 1857. Ho was the first Mayor of Greater Christchurch from 1902 to 1904. He interested himself a great deal in loeal politics. Frederick William Furkert, Engin-eor-in-Chief and Undersecretary to the Public Works Department/ was born in Westland. He entered the Public Works Department, and in 1-894-5 he carried out- road surveys in the South Westland and construction work oh the Greymouth-Hokitika railway. He was also engaged on the Otira section of the Midland railway. He cominenced the construction of the Stratford inland railway, making surveys and being in charge of the construction over the first 15 mlies. He explored, surveyed and constructed! the Tailway to tap rock deposits on Mt. Egmoiit. He was for some time in charge of all public works in Taranaki except roads. He rose rapidly until lie became Engineer-in-Chief and Un-der-Secretary in 1920.