Waitangi—Preparing For Big Ceremony

Northern Advocate, 1 February 1940, Page 3

Waitangi— Preparing For Big Ceremony

WAITANGI, This Day.

Where, 100 years ago next Tuesday, law and order were first introduced to New Zealand, several policemen are now on duty. At Waitangi, a party of five constables under the control of Sen’iorSergeant A. Henderson, of Whangarei, is stationed at a specially opened station.

The main object of the constables is to prevent the introduction of intoxicating liquor to the natives at the celebrations.

On Wednesday, the constables appeared in uniform for the first time, and it was a strange sight to see a uniformed man walking amid the bustle of preparations which are now nearing finality. However, the attendance of police officers is appreciated by the Maori leaders, who are co-operating to see that nothing happens to mar the success of such an historical event.

! On Tuesday, the police force at j Waitangi will be 20 constables, in- ; eluding two mounted officers. SPECIAL PETROL , LICENSES NOW ' j Petrol is now being made availI able to motorists wishing to visit | Waitangi. Latest information received at the Whangarei Post Office is that special licenses may be issued for these wishing to attend the Centennial celebrations over a period of five days. The amount of petrol issued will depend on the horse-power of the cars, * * * * ARRANGEMENTS FOR CAR PARKNG Special parking arrangements have been finalised for the pageant on Tuesday. Private cars will have ample parking space. Motorists are requested to drive across the Waitangi River Bridge and then turn left to a specially prepared parking area. Officials will park their cars on the right, after crossing the bridge. No cars will be allowed to leave the Waitangi Estate until after 2 p.m. This will help to avoid congestion by ensuring that until that hour all traffic will be travelling towards the estate only. , Buses anil taxis will find parking space before reaching the Waitangi Bridge. Special signs have been erected from Pakaraka to Waitangi, and over 30 parking stewards and traffic inspectors will minimise traffic congestion. * - s * i POST OFFICE OPENED A public post office is opened for business today. Erected behind the official houses, the office is appointed to deal with ail postal business. A staff of three has been engaged from Auckland.

Special public telephone boxes will be available towards the end of the week, and morse lines to deal with the flow of Press messages are to be installed.

HOBSON MEMORIAL CAIRN

A stone cairn, 12 feet high, as a memorial to Governor Hobson, is being erected on the Waitangi Estate. Work on the cairn, which is being erected in a neatly laid-out garden by the road at the rear of the Treaty House, should be completed by today. The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) is to unveil the cairn at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. Special plaques are to be affixed to the cairn before the week-end.

TIMBER WON’T EE WASTED There is to be no wastage of timber at present being used to erect extra seats at Waitangi. Although a terrific amount of timber is being sawn into varied lengths for a large assortment of jobs, all the wood will be utilised when the celebrations are over. All timber, roofing iron and piping have been cut in suen a way that they will be suitable for use in the erection of native houses and cowsheds. At the present time there are 24 carpenters employed at Waitangi, three plumbers and 12 labourers. Seating accomodation for 500 people has been completed in front of the stage erected at the foot of the WaiFlagstaff. K- 3 P * :4 SIX-BED MARQUEE HOSPITAL Owing to accommodation at the Bay of Islands Hospital at Kawakawa being taxed to the limit, a six-bed emergency hospital is being established. This Will be housed in a large marquee and will be capable of dealing with all but the most serious cases. The District Medical Officer of Health (Dr. Gilberd) will arrive at Waitangi tomorrow to complete arrangements. Conducted by the Whangarei Y.M.C.A. division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, a first aid post will also be established and will be manned by officers from Whangarei and Moerewa. Dr. Gilberd and health inspectors will be accommodated in one of the Government houses, while vdistrict nurses will be located in another, adjacent to the marquee hospital. Squads of Maori volunteers are being organised by the Health Department for continuous duty in the collection and disposal of refuse and disinfecting work. Health inspectors will supervise the general cleanliness of the camp, preparation of food and sanitation generally. They will remain on duty until the Maoris disperse.