HISTORIC AKAROA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 121, 20 April 1940, Page 6

HISTORIC AKAROA

CENTENNIAL SCENES. STRIKING PAGEANTRY j Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, April 20. The eventful pages in Akaroa’s history were thumbed rapidly back to the opening chapter to-day, when with the re-enactment of the declaration or sovereignty and the landing of the French settlers as the chief leatures, the South Island's principal Centennial celebration began. Once again Captain Stanley or the staunch Britomart raised- the flag which confirmed British rule m the South Island. Once again Muiphy and Robinson, the two Magistrates sent by Captain Hobson, - prepared to hold the. first Courts of Justice in the South Island. Once again Jimmy Robinson Clough, the redoubtable pakeha-Maori, translated Stanley’s historic proclamation. It was the biggest day in Akaroa’s history. The little hamlet, untouched by the bustle of modem ways, hummed with activity. By the main highway from- Christchurch people flocked to the scene of to-da.y’s festivities and crowds jostled each other in streets which are usually sleepily peaceful. There was a concentration of eminent folk headed by Lord and Lady Galway and the Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) Foui other Cabinet iMiniaters present were Hons. H. T. Armstrong, P. C. Webb, W. E. Parry, and D. G. Sullivan. Archbishop West-Wat-son represented the Church of England, and three members _ of Parliament, the Mayors of cities and boroughs, the chairmen of county councils, and representatives of local bodies attended. MAORI WELCOME. After the reception of the Vice-Regal party on the jetty, the Maoris took command of the celebrations. 1 ( or halt an hour natives from many parts of the South Island, reinforced by a strong contingent from the North Island, gave Lord Galway a welcome. A warrior of the local Maoris placed tho challenge stick ill front of the Gover-nor-General, who picked it up as an indication' that he was on a peaceful mission and then retired to his seat in the pavilion. The warrior gave a taiaha display —a vivid illustration of the dexterity with which the old-time Maori wielded this dual purpose weapon—after which there was the general reception, consisting of speeches and poi dances. At this stage the clock was put hack for Captain Stanley and his band to enter. It was an impressive scene as the British sailors and marines, dressed in the colourful garb of a century ao-o, arrived to re-enact the historic events of August 10, 1840. As the flag fluttered from the staff while Captain Stanley and his party stood grouped against the background of sailors, marines, settlers, and Maoris, there was a dfeen silence, and it was obvious that the thoughts of the big crowd had turned to the past. FRENCH SETTLERS HONOURED. The next stage in the celebration was the reception by Their Excellencies of the descendants of the original French settlers- —a small band of New Zealanders' whose forebears; came to Akaroa as Frenchmen, but accepted the position philosophically enough when, they found the British in possession and lived conteirtly under British rule. Alter the official luncheon the venue of the celebration was shifted to the Beach Road, where Lord Galway unveiled a memorial to the French settlers. The landing of the emigrants was enacted with colour at this stage, this part of the pageant emphasising the influence of the French in the colonisation of Akaroa and the amity in which tho people of the two races have so long lived side by side before being fused into one as New Zealanders. This moving chapter in the celebration was concluded by the singing of the three National Anthems—“La Marseillaise” led by the New Zealand tenor Oscar Natzke, “God Defend New Zealand,” and “God Save the King.’’