The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” MONDAY, MAY 15, 1939. Centennial Preparations

Northern Advocate, 15 May 1939, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1939. Centennial Preparations

I Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper 1

MUCH useful*work in connection with the Centennial was accomplished at the meeting of the Auckland Provincial Executive at Whangarei on Saturday evening. Ihe various proposals for Centennial memorials in Northland were reviewed by the executive and most of them were approved. One of the most interesting schemes approved by the executive was the proposal to publish a history of the Bay of Islands district, to be edited by the Rev. M. H. Wybert, vicar of Waimate North. It is appropriate that Mr Wvbert should undertake this task, for his church is a focal point of "historical interest in the Bay of Islands district, and from its own record a wealth of material should be obtainable, to say nothing of that which old families in the district should have m their possession. A similar project is being attempted at Cambridge, in the South Auckland zone, where research among local sources of material has been in progress for several months. In addition to these purely local efforts a history of the Auckland province is being prepared, but there is still ro<sm for the preparation of further local histories, as each district has a story worth putting on record as a tribute to its early pioneers Saturday evening’s meeting was also interesting in that it brought to Whangarei several gentlemen who are taking a most important part in the national centennial organisation. Mr J. W. Heenan, as Under Secretary of Internal Affairs, has been actively associated with the Centennial plans since they first took shape, and in fact has perhaps done more than any other one man in shaping the organisation. He has done so with a fine sense of the importance and significance of the occasion, and New Zealand is extremely fortunate that a man of Mr Heenan s ability and imagination was available. Mr A W. Mulligan is another departmental officer on whom rests great responsibility in connection with the Centennial, for he is now and has been for some months, concentrating entirely on Centennial work. He, too, is a valuable man in such a position, for he knows New Zealand from end to end, having been a ministerial secretary for many years. . It was greatly gratifying, too, that Whangarei should have been visited by Sir Ernest Davis,’ Mayor of Auckland, in his capacity as chairman of the Auckland Centennial Committee. Sir Ernest has thrown himself heart and soul into the Centennial effort. Only those who have participated in the organisation know the great amount of work that has been involved. Even in the Northland Zone there has been much hard work, and many people have unselfishly given their time. Those who have worked to make the occasion memorable have been helped by the interest shown by nearly all sections of the people. To-day they are beginning to see the result of their labours. . The key to the Centennial was provided by Sir Ernest Davis, who stressed the fact that the Centennial would provide a splendid occasion for the present generation to look backwards over the years and contemplate the spirit and the woik of the pioneers, largely by whose efforts our present standard of living has been reached. , , ~ As Sir Ernest said, the spirit of the pioneers was to pave the way and improve conditions for succeeding generations. The pioneers cared not what sacrifices they made for posterity. The same spirit still prevails. We all want to do something for those who come after us and the Centennial gives us the opportunity to pay tribute to those who provided for us the conditions we enjoy to-day.