THE CENTENNIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 May 1940, Page 4

THE CENTENNIAL

UNVEILING AT OKARITQ. , Yesterday afternoon, before q .largo attendance at Okarito, the memorial obelisk was., unveiled. (Particulars have appeared in former issues). V The arrangements for the entertainment of the large number of visitors to the opening ceremony . ‘were efficiently carried out under the direction of the secretary of the memorial committee, Mr J. Donovan. Air J. A. Murdoch, chairman of the Westland County Council, who presided- at the unveiling ceremony, expressed the thanks and congratulation of the people of the Westland County for the ulork- residents of Okarito and the surrounding districts had dohe toward the erection of the menioriu-’, which was a fitting tribute to the pio lieers of the south. « • ' ’ «Alr J. U'Brieii, M.P., referring to the tablets, said that the obelisk commemorated events which happened before New Zealand was settled at all. Tasman and Cook had referred in their writing to ttlie inhospitable iiatiire of .Westland, but the efforts of the pioneers had built up a fine province in spite of the difficulties and hardships that had to be contended with. ... Hon. R.'Sehip’.e, who was presented with a gold-mounted fountain pen and pencil by Mr Donovan for the Okarito Centennial Committee, said that ho always felt at Ferine at-, gatherings which honoured those who had blazed the trail in New Zealand. They made it possible for those present, at tho gathering (to enjoy themselves free from the cares and worries- / which overshadowed the activities of peoples in other countries. New Zealand was not easy to .pioneer because it was so far from the nerve centres of the world, but those torcli-camqrsT and trail-brazers, long before the motor ear or aeroplane, made out of the jungle 1 of 100 years ago a nation which was the envy of every other country •in the world. The erection of tho memorial, showed the love and respect of the present generation for 5 those who had passed on after fighting to establish The nation. ' -rir Other speakers were Messrs J; Wood, # chief engineer of the Public Works Department, J. Donovan, T Mcßride (Wataroa), and N. Friend, the latter pair being natives of Okarito. ~ '