WAIROA'S CELEBRATIONS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13092, 4 June 1913, Page 3

WAIROA'S CELEBRATIONS.

. v :-■■•.■ YVAIROA, this day. There was magnificent- spring-like weather for the observance of. King's birthday. There were 1 flags on public and private buildings. A large number of people assembled -at the Coronation square to witness $he parade of local defence forces. , About 65 men, territorials, senior cadets, and |frontiersmen, besides veterans, ■ were present. The flag was Balnted, a royal salute given, and a feu '"de joie. fifed. The band headed the. march, and play eji during the proceedings. The Mayo.r and Judge Jones' delivered speeches .suitable to the occasion. They specially complimented Ljeuts. and Nilsson on the smart appearance of the- men. Wairoa had done 'its" part m. South Africa, and wouJd no doubt do so again if palled on. .The m-en were entertained; afterwards by the licensee of the Wairoa hotel. The/usuaJ loyal toasts were given and reminiscence^ of early fighting days were 1 narrated. There was a pretty incident at the close. The men gathered rpund the large flag, rndy grasping the borders, sang* "God £>aye the King." There was much comment at the absence of school cadets owing to their abolition. Wairoa could have paraded IJOOT lads well drilled as territorials but for the action of the defence department m breaking up /the system. The general opinion is that the system would have been a splendid stepping stone for fads