Centennial Pageant In Bay

Northern Advocate, 12 May 1939, Page 8

Centennial Pageant In Bay

The Waimate North Centennial Pageant is going to be “the affair.” At a recent meeting of the pageantry committee of the Bay of Islands Centennial sub-zone, it was evident that the preliminary work in connection with the pageant is well in hand. The principal subject for the night ■Was the discussion of the staging of a mock battle depicting the Hone Heke wars, and, despite the fact that the Maori representatives present stated that the Maoris were cfuite in favour of the proposals, it was decided to do away with the actual clash. It is intended, however, that the cutting down of the flagstaff will be staged, together with its re-erection, and the final reconciliation of the Maoris and Pakehas.

For some time the committee could not decide on a suitable way of building a Maori canoe float in such a way that it would depict the arrival of the Maoris, but a plan was finally decided upon to make a striking feature of the parade.

Hakas and Pois. A championship cup is to be awarded the haka and poi teams to win the competitions to be held. Any sub-zone north of Auckland can enter two teams (one haka, one poi) in the contest, which is to be called the Centennial Championships. It was decided to limit the teams in both contests to not more than 24 Maoris, and the time limit allowed each team for the display will be vj. minutes.

On account of having the haka and poi competitions, it was decided to delete the axemen’s contest from the programme.