VICTORIA'S CENTURY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21962, 20 November 1934, Page 9

VICTORIA'S CENTURY

PORTLAND CELEBRATION THOUSANDS OF VISITORS HISTORICAL PAGEANT tribute: to the pioneers By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 19. 10.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov, 19 To-day begins the second century of the history of Victoria. Just 100 years ago the Henty family landed at Portland from the small schooner Thistle and, with their few cattle and sheep, established the first settlement in Victoria. The celebrations which have been proceeding this week at Portland culminated to-day with the presentation of a pageant re-enacting the historic landing. The usual population of the" town — 2000 —was swelled to more than 20,000 for the occasion. Visitors came from far and near. Many descendants of the Hontys wore among the visitors, including Mrs. Coster, from Nelson. New Zealand, who came, with her daughter, M iss Nellia Coster. Mrs. Coster is Stephen-Henty's only surviving daughter. She and her brother, George Edward Henty, who was not able to leave Sydney on account of illness, belong to the generation which immediately followed the pioneer Henty brothers. Dawn. Service on the Beach The proceedings to-day began with a united service on the beach in the cold, grey light of dawn. Lord Huntingfield, Governor of Victoria, attended. The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr. F. A\. Head, and the Bishop of Ballarat, Dr. P. C. T. Crick. In the course of an address Dr. Head said: " We should give thanks for our Empire, our Monarchy, our Church, and our British character. You people of Portland have given a lead to the city on how to celebrate a centenary.

Dr. Crick spoke of those who, in humble confidence and venturesome faith, had landed at Portland a century ago and established tinder the Southern Cross a new home for the sons and daughters of the common stock. " We thank God for those who followed," said the speaker, ".and built faithfully on the foundations so well and truly laid." Hentys' Landing Reproduced

The Duke of Gloucester arrived in the cruiser Sussex from Tasmania at 10.35 a.m., and went ashore to witness the pageant. "Whereas only a few aborigines watched the Hentys land from the Thistle 100 years ago thousands of well dressed modern "citizens gazed from the cliffs on the shore as the scenes of 1834 were made to live again. Every vantage point was crowded. A strange contrast was presented by a tiny ketch representing the Thistle and the towering hulks of the Sussex and Canberra.

When the Thistle c-ame to anchor a boat dropped a party dressed in costumes of the period. They came ashore with a weird assortment of cattle, dogs and farming implements. Then they ceremoniously landed. There were some unrehearsed incidents such as one steer fouling the anchor chains and later colliding with a motor-boat which was incongruously on the scene.

The Duke was keenly interested in the proceedings. Mrs. Coster was presented to him later. His Royal Highness remained in Portland throughout the day, leaving in the evening. FAREWELL TO STATE THE DUKE IMPRESSED STOCK WORTHY OF FORBEARS \ (Received November 19, 10.55«. p.m.) MELBOURNE, Nov. 19 In a farewell message to Victoria the Duke of Gloucester said: " Having travelled the length and breadth of Victoria and having met its men, women and children from cities and from the land, I feel encouraged to say that here is a stock worthy of its ancestors — worthy to hold the fair land which has been handed down to it."