CELEBRATION OF CENTENARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 7

CELEBRATION OF CENTENARY

COMING FESTIVITIES AT RIVERTON “ Preparation begets confidence:' confidence begets success.” This slogan is the introduction to the official programme of the Riverton centenary celebrations, which will be commenced on December 26 this year and continue till January 8, 1938. And, from the programme, it is apparent that this slogan has guided the directors of the centenary committee in their work. No detail has been overlooked to ensure that the centenary will be celebrated in a manner that will give the event its true importance in the history of Southland.

Pageantry will play a big part in the festivities. On Tuesday, December 28, a grand parade will be held from the recreation ground to Waldeck and back to the town. A prominent part of the parade will be a representation of the progress of transport from the days of the bullock waggon to 1937 and its modern air clippers. The development of industries will also be shown in a series of effective displays. The early history of the town will again be the background for the main event on the programme for Monday, January 3, which will show the landing of Captain John Howell ahd his establishment of a British settlement at the mouth of the Aparima River. The scene will be a Maori village at Tails Point, and the full story of that memorable day in 1835 will be told in colourful and picturesque fashion by a company of specially selected performers. Maori songs, dances and hakas will be given in the traditional manner, providing an appropriate atmosphere to what should be an impressive as well as highly entertaining incursion into history. The centenary exhibition, which will be opened on Tuesday. December 28, and a variety of sporting attractions will also be prominent features of the celebrations. Every sporting taste has been catered for, tennis, croquet, and bowls tournaments, athletic sports meetings, a regatta, and many other fixtures having been arranged. In addition to these there is an abundance of other attractions, full particulars of which are given in the official programme.

The programme, which has been issued in the form of a very attractive booklet, is much more than a list of events. It gives interesting details about the history of the town, describes its attractions, and, for the benefit of visitors, there is a map showing the layout of Riverton and where the main buildings and places of importance are situated