THE JUBILEE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 18 November 1937, Page 18

THE JUBILEE.

OPENING ON SATURDAY.

The monster procession . which opens the week's Jubilee festivities will be followed by tlio official opening by the Mayor, and then the newest of outdoor sports; instead of the usual husky athlete, the interhouso sports will be presented by (some of our smartest girls, representing the eleven firms or institutions entered, each carrying a distinctive and artistic banner, who will be seen in a full afternoon’s of events including military drill, military marching, novel ball, games and athletic items. Tlio competition will bo keen, as the girls arc all well trained by instructors who have been put through their paces by Mr C. Woods, and the friendly rivalry between instructors is no small factor iu the efficiency of the young ladies’ work. This is not only a ladies’ sports gathering —it is much more. It will be both spectacular and exciting, with the added interest of partisanship for a certain firm or competitor and the fact that all the ladies will be competing not only for themselves but for their team. The result of indiv—dual events does not bring a prize, but only adds points to the teams’ aggregate, and it is in the accumulation of' points for the houso teams that the chief interest lies.

On Saturday night the P.N.A.A.A. will stage an athletic mooting on the cricket ground in Fitzherbert Avenue. The City Council has installed a most effective lighting system bv pow'orful searchlights that makes the oval almost as light as day. and in the cool of the evening some of the best athletes in tlio district wi'l compete against their opponents from all over the North Island. The entries have far exceeded the expectations of the executive, and a really first-class night of athletic snorts will be presented .under conditions that compare favourably with, any other centro in New Zealand, and it is hoped that the success of this Jubilee meeting will be the forerunner of more athletic meetings during the summer months. So we liavo the ladies in tlio afternoon, and the men at night,, to open our gala week in healthy recreation, that, at the low charges made for admission, should bo well patronised by the public, not only for the undoubted merit of the programmes submitted, but .to prove to all that they are interested in the city and the efforts of tbo committee in organising such events.

The’Square was a centre of interest to pioneers and the Maoris in the early days. The first few buildings faced this rough clearing in tlio bush,, a space about 7 acres, and the Maoris' camped, cooked, fed, and slept there, especially during the long months of the Native Land Court siti tings. Roaming cattle, pigs and horses disturbed them at night, so they suggested a fence for which they would pay half. Stimulated by this sincerity and generosity the Town Board decided to do it in stylo, henco the wvough.t-ifon chains, since removed to the Esplanade. Pakcha ignorance of their language was then as pronounced as it is to-day, so the Maoris prepared “an agreement” for which they had no word, so cutely used the term “rahui,” ■the equivalent of sanctuary, thus making the enclosure a safe retreat for all Maori offenders, who, once inside . the Rhaui, were immune from arrest, and could defy the policemen who must stay outside, the costly chains, iu the early day 6 of this city the surveyors’ camp was at the site of "the Boys’ High School. The camp cow, “Carandini,” kept on. tether, served the dual purpose of supplying fresh nnlk twice a day, and packing the tent, arid utensils when shifting cplrtcrs. A week s holiday at the Awahuri riversido oyer, during which they were shooting native pigeons and wild cattle, the Maori boy-cook Mohi packed the old cow for. the return journey, but they got lost. in the forest foi two hungry days and nights. At dawn on the third day, after, packing, Mohi I tinned Carandini loose, when she guided them to their headquarters at full gallop, in 2D minutes. The hungry hunters apologised to Mohi and praised both his and the bovine sagacity.