THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12427, 16 February 1901, Page 9

THE CHATHAM ISLANDS.

PROPOSED CENTENARY FESTI- ■ VAL. AN AMBITIOUS IDEA. The following is 4 copy of a circular letter ■addressed by Mr R. ,S. Fioxance,, S.M., of the Chatham Islands, to the residents: “To the People of Chatham,—lt is now -.over two years since I came here as Ad■;immst,rator for the Government, and during ;ili6 whole of that time I have beei treated .I'with the utmost courtesy anu- received much Hndly suppers in the performance of my varied duties. I see around me signs of •progress .and undoubted prosperity on the /whole, and strife and discord are unknown ■l° me. If our little Government is to be. ;considered patriarchial you will- not, I feel isure-think it unbecoming of me or deem dhis great occasion an ■inopportune one to .’address:.®- few words to you collective!?- in iorder that you may know what I think.jOne hundred and nine years ago, come the i29th of this month, these fair lands were ■discovered and annexed to Great Britain, .®re another month has passed away the jgreat wave of time will have launched all .Christendom into another century. We stand on the threshold of the great unseen. I What has the. future in store for us? I What are our needs ? With the ligh tof jthe past to guide us and lead us to better :things we ought to he able to do more than jgness at the answer to these questions, for ;it must be remembered that our future is {largely what we chose to make it. “ God ihelps those who help themselves.” Sustained by the blessing and chastened by the, [Borrows of the past let us climb to higher (duties and greater advancement, foorally, (socially cpimnercially. embracing _eve|y lioccasion to encourage and footer industry Ifand sobriety, and all that lends to build up la .great nation. But what we must have. Ito succeed is zealous and persevering nniamamity. All our good' ‘ fellowship and ■friendship is but'the bask pf the'superIstructuro which united ■effort! alone can ■erect. I trust, ’therefore, that ere another ■year has gone we shall have obtained local ■government-—that power which being properly speaks the Voice of the people as one mind, and have through it pushed on our much needed public works ; ■hat the Natives will have control over their l>vvu lands, subject, of course, to proper restrictions to preclude fraud, oppression and pauperisation; that we shall have done Everything possible to increase our productive power, so as to demand better shipping Eocemmodation, and prove ourselves a valuEble adjunct of the great colony to which ■re belong. But you will say all this means pork, let us have some play. lam with Poii ! there. It was part of my purpose p writing you to ask how you intend to plebrate this most momentous occasion. In ■ddition to your usual sports and pastimes, I propose that you should inaugurate an Hnnual horticultural and industrial show phich will he ah incentive to increased Effort, and by creating a spirit of rivalry Bmongst us will improve the commercial ■alue of yonr products. Will you help Ee. ,In conclusion I wish you all the joys Hf the season, and desire to subscribe myWf, vonr friend truly, R. STONE ■loranoe.” ■ Accompanying thif circular is a programle of an industrial, agricultural and horti■fltural show proposed to Be held in the Hall, on Saturday, March, 9, in Hhich the intending exhibitors are invited ■ -enter for competition’in classes ranging Horn fat bullocks to the heaviest six eggs Hid in which the prospect of any prizes is vaguely depicted.