Programme And Pageantry Plans

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1939, Page 8

Programme And Pageantry Plans

THE CENT DENIAL

Numerous suggestions for the more spectacular side of Whangarei and district Centennial celebrations were brought forward at a meeting of the Sub-zone A 5 Programme and Pageantry Sub-committee last night. Those jDrosent were Mesdamos Warrington, Robison and Worsp, Miss Thora Warrington and Messrs L. O. Hall, L. Porteous, M. Young and P. Campbell, as well as the sub-zone chairman, Mr W. Jones. and the Northland organiser, Mr K. Hayr. It was agreed that the committee should be reconstituted, with Mr Campbell as secretary. The appointment of a chairman was deferred. Mr Hayr acting in that capacity for the meeting. Decoration Plans. The committee decided to recommend to the sub-zone autliQrities that the Whangarei business ai’ea be illuminated and decorated during the whole of the period of the celebrations, which it is estimated, will extend from February 17 until the week following Easter. Special attention, it was stated, should be given to outstanding landmarks through the medium of special lighting and other effects.

The committee is also recommending that a fireworks display be staged at Kensington Park during the progress of the celebrations, with bonfires at prominent points in the town, and at the park itself, while what should bo an attractive feature is the suggested torchlight procession through the town and at the park. Drama Festival. District Women’s Institutes are to be asked to name their dramatic festival for 1940, with a view to this being made a Centennial occasion on the lines of an indoor pageant. The central sub-zone committee is to be asked to allocate £SO as prizemoney for a floral-decorated vehicle competition, also to be staged at Kensington Park.

The sub-committoG set up a further

special sub-committee to examine the possibilities of an open-air musical festival being held in Whangarei during the period of intensive celebration.

A further suggestion is that the Whangarei High School authorities should be approached with the request that the co-operation of pupils and staff be secured in staging several open-air functions, including a Shakespearean performance, an historical pageant and a pageant of youth.

A second sub-committee is to bring down proposals for a street procession, including historical features together with historical and other floats, ,