THE SLUE MOUNTAINS.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13735, 29 May 1913, Page 5

THE SLUE MOUNTAINS.

QENTENARY OF FIRST CROSSING

PIONEERS COMMEMORATED

CELEBRATION FESTIVITIES

(Received May 28, 9.50 p.m.)

Sydney, May 28

. The Blue Mountains centenary celebrations were held in glorious weather. The various mountain centres were gaily decorated, but the principal locality for the festivities was Mt. Victoria, whore the Governor, Sir Gerald Strickland, dedicated Victoria Park.

His Excellency tho» "proceeded to Mt. York, where ho unveiled a memorial tablet^ on a pavilion erected in honour of Blaxland, W^entworth, and Lawson, the three pioneers who discovered tho route across the mountains. Tho proceedings to-night include the lighting of bonfires on a hundred points from Orango to Prospect. ,< !

"On May 28th, 1913," writes Mr Frank Walker, president of the celebration committee, in "Life," "Gregory Blaxland,, William Charles Wentworth, and Lieutenant William Lawson, emerged upon the eminence now known as Mt. York, after seventeen days of incredible hardship and toil in forcing a passage, thus far, across this wild and inhospitable region. The causes that led to their expedition are well known, and the successful finding of a track across these hitherto unassailable heights resulted in tho subsequent acquirement of hundreds and thousands of acres of magnificont country. The then colony was at this time in dire need of fresh pasturage, and the rich lands discovered by a surveyor, George Williams Evans, soo*n attracted a band of worthy pioneers, whose work of cultivation and sottlomont in the years that followed laid tho foundation of many present-day fortunes, and assisted in the establishment of ono of our greatest sources of woalth —the wool and the wheat industries.

' 'It is only in the fitness of things that, as tho first centenary of tho explorers' accomplishment dawns upon us, wo should seek to honour their memories by some commemoration which shall bo of a national and Australian significance. Our history teems withthe records of noble deeds performed by our early pioneers, doecls which have helped to build up the fabric of Australia's greatness and make possible tho many advantages and benefits wo at present enjoy. Therefore, ono of" the main features of tho celebrations in May will be the unveiling and dedication of a memorial pavilion to the men who so well deserved tho honour we desire to bestow upon them. The memorial will take the form of « miniature temple, of tho classic order of architecture, whose domed roof."will be supported by eight columns, each column to bear the name of one of tho explorers, or earliest pioneers. It is also proposed to erect a tablet upon tho summit of Mt. Blaxland, seven miles distant from Mt. York, to record the fact that this eminence marks the terminal point of Blaxland's expedition in 1813, and also tho beginning of Evans further explorations to the westward. "Tho Blue Mountains of New South Wales are far-famed for their 'beauty and attractiveness, for their historic associations, and the important placo they occupy in tho annals of our country'also appeals to our interest and patriotism as Australians. The contenary celebrations* will servo but to enhance this second attraction, and should also prove of value to the many flourishing and important townships in tho western districts, whoso estabhshnumt_nav, whoso very existence—-de-pended upon the result of that modest expedition of a century ago, whose loaders at last solved the croat mystery that for over 25 years had rested upon tb» rugged heights and deep gorges or this wondorfurand attractive region.