OKARITO’S DAY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1940, Page 6

OKARITO’S DAY

THE TOWNSHIP EN FETE. I UNVEILING MEMORIAL. Okaritp was in gala attire on Tuesday afternoon for the unveiling of the Centennial memorial obelisk to pay " honour ,to past events of interest to South Westland in the first 100 years of New - Zealand’s existence. Streamers of flags, spanned the Strand, that )• thoroughfare so notable r in the early ip days, and the legend “Welcome,” was i- a greeting to the many visitors who II gathered for the occasion. The day h' •was-all that could be desired, and .settler?, tlieir wives and families, came l- from all quarters, a very considerable d gathering .being present for the. oc-. -- casipn,. and there were many exchanges rt* of early reminiscences as old friends ,e met and told of tlieir experiences in ‘ 3 the-brave days of old. It was a happy i’> ] gathering, befitting the event,, and d visitors were given a very hearty L welcome by . the residents, led by. Mr 1(3 James .Donovan, who was the leader m the organisation of the celebration. , / ;• •• . e - The Hon. R. Semple, Minister ,of Public Works, accompanied by Mr J. Wood, Engineer-in-Chief, Mr A. LangU bein,- Highways Engineer, and Mr E. ;u P. Evans, District Engineer, with Mr (• Ji O’Brien) M.P., arrived at Okars ito about Ip.m. Mr J. A. Murdoch, l ’> County Chairman, and members of the Westland County Council , arrived shortly after. The party was. met by I s Mr J. Donovan, and on behalf of the lb Committee, invited to lunch in the d Public Hall, ,r By 2 o’clock there was a large as- ’’ semblage of the public, many, settlers from a distance arriving by motorcars. The venue was , the Centennial J Memorial on the Domain, adjacent to ’ r the School; It took the form of a reinforced pillar in obelish shape, de- ■ signed by Mr W. F. Ashley, County t: ' Engineer, erected by Megus Sweeney and Clark. Both architect and contractors were congratulated on the 1 ‘ finished article. It is in a commande ing situation, and lias a hillside fory est for a background, against which ' f the white pillar stands out as a notable landmark. ’ Mr Murdoch presided at the unveiling eereinony. • and expressed grati- ' fic-atioh at the honour accorded in inviting him to preside. He outlined the features of the memorial to mark k the purchase of the West Coast by James Maclcay on behalf of the government; the honouring of the earliest explorers to discover New Zealand, and finally to honour the pioneers who had blazed the trail for those who r “came after. The obelisk was a witness \ that the pioneers were remembered" [_ and their memory was epitomised in the tribute. Mi J. O’Brien apologised for the i absence of Hon, W. E. Parry, who f -vvas detained* at who, would have been thrilled at such an i> i nteresting ..gathering. This gathering I thill day showed that something had I breii achieved, in New Zealand that they were, proud of. A tribute was i pafd to the work of the pioneers s whose representatives from the Coast - had helped in Parliament to make the - n;im§ of New Zealand famous. Apologies were received from Messrs B. Ward, W. A. Jamieson, A. Dale, G. G. Chisholm, F. Bird, F. A. Kitchingliam, Mayor- of Greymouth, John Ryall, County. Chairman j Greyinoutn, and Mrs Antheman, of Auckland. The Hon. Mr Semple .was received , with a round of applause following an [ introduction by Mr Donovan, who thanked one and all for tlieir help ancl ■ presence,, and presented the Minister with a . souvenir of the occasion. Mr Semple said he was pleased to be present, and always felt at .home when •the work of the pioneers Was being \ appreciated. Not many of the early settlers knew much about roads and [bridges, as they blazed the trail south. ■ [lt was wonderful what,they had done 1 ‘in the early, days and they earned the commendation given them., They knew not,defeat, and fighting against ah difficulties, had left a wonderful heritage for those who came after. It was a priceless heritage,, only possible by honest toil, the soundest way to buikl .a jnation. The monument noted the task Mr Maekay performed.’He bought for £3OO seven and a half million acres but the Minister noted, the same land was very costly now when a road .was to go through (Laughter). He went on to remark on the explorers, Tasman and Cook, and dosed with another reference to the -splendid work ,of. the pioneers. Mr Norman Friend Who had been born in Okarito, expressed pleasure , at the interest shown in the day’s [ event. He knew the town and district in. its past days, and felt sure /prosperous times would again return. The occasion marked tlieir loyalty to • the town and their love for the old * place. Mr Thos. Mcßride, now of Wataroa, spoke of the early times in Olcftrito, and the fun at the race meet- ‘ ings, when Okarito had the only race- J course south of Hokitika. He praised j Mr Donovan and those associated with } him, for the result of tlic-ir labours 1 in the fine memorial raised. ( At the cull of the Chairman, hearty ‘ cheers were given for Mr Semple, and ' the proceedings closed with the singing of the National Anthem. 55 - f COUNTY DEPUTATION. \ i The Ministerial party spent Tucs- 1 day. night at Wailio Gorge, and the I County representatives met the Hon. R. Semple in the evening at a deputation. Mr O’Brien introduced the deputation, and Mr Murdoch brought forward the following matters: Res-