JUBILEE AT PALMERSTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 5

JUBILEE AT PALMERSTON.

AUSPICIOUSLY CELEBRATED,

tS’anii (jvv Own Reporter.! PALMERSTON, November 17, With flytng banners, the skirl of the pipes, the music of brass bands, and all the pomp and circumstance tfiat the occasion warranted, the people of Palmerston and of the surrounding county to-day celebrated the jubilee of their town. The weather, although warm, was certainly not all that could be desired. The morning broke dull, and as it wore on a heavy fog bank came down and obscured the tops of the surrounding hills, and presently brought in its train a Scotch mist—wetting and cheerless enough, but in no way serving to diminish the enthusiasm with which the celebrations were entered upon. The farmers, who drove in with their spanking teams, and some even in ihcir motor cars —so has W aiheipo progressed,—may have regarded it as good growing weather, and the old pioneers may have viewed the mist as an old friend; but at any rate no one complained, and all found ample consolation in the day’s fun. During tiie 50 years it has been in existence the town has not become very famous or very great, -but it has been the centre of a good deal of quiet activity, and has become the centre of a rich and extensive farming district. Furthermore, all its associations have been such that those who have had, or still have, any connection with it are warranted in entertaining some slight feeling of pride on that account. A strong committee, which included representatives of the Borough Council, County Council, the Palmerston A. and P. Association, the Palmerston Racing Club, the Municipal Fire Brigade, and representative townspeople, had had the arrangements for the jubilee in hand for some considerable time, and no stone had been left unturned to make them a pronounced success Iho result of the committee’s endeavours was satisfactory in the extreme; everything had been foreseen, and everything went otf smoothly. The celebrations were really' begun yesterday, when appropriate services were hold in the morning in each of the churches, special reference to the occasion being made from the pulpits. Yesterday evening a combined service, at which the various ministers assisted, was held in the Coronation Hall, the preacher being the Rev. J. Clarke. This morning they wore taken up again on the arrival of the first express from the south, which brought a number of visitors, among them many former residents. Flags and streamers were suspended across the principal streets at intervals, and flags were flying from many of the business places and private residences. The procession, which was very lengthy, was only formed up after a good deal of manoeuvring, during which the pipers kept the big crowd enlivened by marching up and down and playing selections. The procession comprised all the features so much calculated to bring back memories of the early days to the old folk —the bullock team, the stage coach, and the miner on his way to the diggings. First in order came the Palmerston Brass Band, then the local troops, a brave show of mounted and foot and Senior Cadets, the bullock team, the stage coach, the old identities (who mustered in force, lusty and cheerful despite their vears), the county and borough councillors, the Oddfellows, the school children (with the cadets), the Pine Band, the Druids ( with their flowing beards and gowns), the fire brigade, and the Citizens' Band. There were also some very fine individual displays, including decorated traps, motor cars, and bicycles. It is worthy of note that the driver of the bullock team (Mr J. M’Lay) was the first man to drive a bullock team through Palmerston. A good deal of interest and amusement was also created by several ladies attired in the fashions of the early Victorian period. The whole procession was a distinctly good one, and its general disposition reflected credit on the marshals. The streets wore well lined with jrcople as the long column twice wound its way through the principal streets, and then formed up in Sanday street prior to dispersing. A general adjournment was thcji made to the show ground, where a sports meeting was held during the afternoon. Despite the somewhat unpleasant weather, there was a very largo attendance, azid an interesting programme of events was got off by the committee, chief among them being the tug-of-war and the old identities’ race. For the former event the committee offered a prize of £lO for the school in the district putting in the best team. This elicited a ready response, a«d about eight or nine teams of sturdy, strong-backed men from the countryside competed. The pipers and the committee also entered teams. The two Inch Valley teams, heavy and light weight, remained unbeaten, and pulled off in the final, the prize going to the heavy men after the time limit of five minutes had boon exhausted. Eight starters lined up in the old identities’ race, two of thorn, being aged 83 and 84 respectively, and Messrs John Maxwell and William Palmer finished first and second. Other items were a display of physical exercises by the school cadets, piping and dancing competitions, and races for the children. In the evening a concert was hold in the Coronation Hall, where there was a very large attendance. His Worship the Mayor (Mr R. W. Wheeler), chairman of the Jubilee Committee, presided. In introducing the speakers—Mr Fraser, K.C., and Mr E. P. Lee. M.P.,—the Chairman took the opportunity of reading a number of apologies and messages of confratulation, including ones from the Prime linister (the Hon. W. F Massey), Ministers of the Crown, and members of Parliament. That day, he said, they had been honouring the memory of the men and women who had come there 50 years ago. Ho thought it was an historic occasion. They had with them that night a gentleman who had commenced his practice in Palmerston South, and who was not a leading man in his profession in Dunedin— Mr J. F. M. I laser, K.{ The speaker then presented to Mr Fraser an ilium nated address setting out the appreciation of the citizens of his kindness in corning up to make a jubilee oration. Mr Fraser, who was very cordially received, first road a poem on the jubilee written by Mr W. Grimsdaio, and then proceeded t<j indulge in some exceedingly interesting and racy reminiscences of the early days of the district when he himself had lived in it. In 1860, he said, he, with the rest o£ his family, had come to the district, and bought out Mr Charley HopIdnson, at Waihemo. He had been out in a bullock wagon driven by Mr John M’Lay.

-(Applause.) It would not be out of place for him to refer briefly to the early history of their local bodies. The first road board meeting in the district was in 1872, and the first meeting of the town board was in April, 1872. Mr W. A Young was the first Mayor. On November 12, 1877, it was declared a municipality, and at the first meeting of the council, held about a week later, Mr Charles Haynes (afterwards Mayor of Dunedin) presided. The first meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held in November, 1882, Mr J. M'Kenzie being chairman. The district had produced many prominent men, and many others had been connected with it in one way or another. Including those who either had lived permanently in it* or had represented the district at some time or other, they could reckon up no fewer than eight Cabinet Ministers, wirich surely was a splendid record. Speaking from memory, there wore Sir Francis Bell, then ft.r George M‘Lean (who he thought was the smartest man who had over represented the district), Sir John M’Kenzie (the best Minister of I. the country had ever had), the Hon. William Fraser (a cousin of his own), Sir John Findlay, the Hon. T. Mackenzie, the Hon. Mr Hardman, and the Hon. Jam- s Allen. That was a record held by no other district or no other two districts in the dominion. In addition it was responsible for three of the King’s Counsel in the dominion Ho himself might well claim to bo proud of his old district. Looking at it from one point of view, there was a touch of sadness about such a jubilee. He stood there that night to bear a just tribute to the old pioneers. There were no finer men or women in the dominion than the old pioneers of the Shag Valley and Goodwood. Lot thorn never waste their sympathies on the pioneers of this or any other district. The old people were ton times happier than the people of to-day, because they were not cursed with the luxuries that they had to-day. Those pioneers came from every walk of life, and when they landed all petty conventions that made life a misery fell from them like garments. They had no labour troubles- in those days. He had seen scores of bare-footed sailors coming up the roads hungry, and looking for work. Again, there had been no snobbery in those days. He used the word advisedly, because the pure curse of society to-day was snobbery. These days passed away; railways came, and Palmerston drifted out of a primitive state to a more progressive state. After speak ng of of those ho had known in the early days. Mr Fraser went on to say that the district had been very good to him. When ho had come to it a second time the? had taken him in, and whatever success he had had in life ho owed, to Shag Valley. There was no doubt as to what the future of the district must be. It would be a residential town for retired men to come and live in. The years had done a great deal, but still more could bo done to beautify it. That object should steadily be kept in view. Some day they could have a golf links, for they were deemed a necessary adjunct to every modern town. Other amenities were also necessary. In conclusion, Mr Fraser said ho was pleased to see Mr Leo present. As ho had said, they had eight Ministers to their credit, and after watching Mr Lee’s career, he really saw no reasom why, after mellowing for a year or two, Mr Lee should not give them the n : nth.—(Applause.) Mr Lee said he was sure they had all listened to Mr Fraser’s instructive and entertaining address with the greatest interest. It was fitting that thev should record their appreciation of the work of the early settlors of the dominion In the present day they seemed always to be striving for something that was just beyond their grasp. In the natural order of things some of their early pioneers had passed away, but many of them wore present that night.—(Applause.) Balmorston had done its duty in many respects, but there was one particular respect that they should not forget. It had given of its men" in the service of the Empire. It was, therefore, fitting that on an occasion such ns the present they should pay a tribute to the memories of the men who had laid down them lives in the defence of the Empire. He thanked them for the opportunity he had had of speaking to them that night. Mr Lee then presented the following prizes to the successful competitors, the prizes taking the form of handsome silver cups:— Mr John Maxwell (Old Identities’ RaceJ, Mr \V. Robertson (best decorated vehicle), Mr T. Muir (decorated motor car), Mr R. Wheeler (decorated tradesman’s cart). The following was the programme;— Song, Mre R. A. Power; song, ’‘Mandalay,” Mr Noel Smith; monologue, “My Word,” Mr Colin Gray; violin solo, Mr F. Appleby; song, Mrs R. A. Power; ’ recitation, ‘‘Jim Bludso.” Mr R. P. Ormiston ; songs, “Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes” and ‘ C I Did Not Know.” Mr J. Leech; humorous song, Mr J. M'Connell; duet. “Still as the Night,” Messrs N, Smith and J. Leech; monologue, “The Girl on the Stair,” Mr Colin Gray; song, “Reuben Ranzo,” Mr Or mis ton; song, Mr G. Porteous. Mr A. Paoov acted ns accompanist, and also contributed a pianoforte solo.