VIII. THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY DAY

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

VIII. THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY DAY

The first of February, 1843, being the Anniversary Day of the foundation of the Sett-lenient,- was celebrated with much feasting and amusements of various kinds. All classes seemed de-

termincd to put their animosities aside for this day, and to forget their hardships as well as they could. The Committee to carry out the arrangements were —Messrs Wakeh'eld, Thompson, Richardson, McDonald, Sclanders, Poynter, Empson-, Lcighton, Cauiley, Greaves, Fell, Mills, Mct'arlanc, iionre, Ross, King. Dillon, Dappa, Tytler. England, Monro, Young, Otterson, Wallace, Howard, and Macbhane. Mr W. M. Stanton acted as secretary..'. At the "Fair," as it was called, theprogramme for the da\r consisted of guns firing from Britannia Heights and the Church: Hill, at 8 o'clock a.m. Regatta at 9 o'clock, under the auspices of Mr James Howard, Mr Pilot Cross, Asst. Pilot Ciaringbold and "Bosen'v Wilson, including whale boats, sailing boats, and Maori canoes. Races at 31 o'clock- —tlio course-being frotri Trafalgar street, round the Church Hill by the east and south to the Waimea Road. The "horses were Captain Wake-neld's-"Slyboots, !J ridden by Mr Thompson;. "Haiitrigger," ridden by hisr owner; Mr Duppa; Mr Weightman's ''Lottery," ridden by Mr Thorpe; and Mr Tinline's "Cannonball," ridden by Mr Rutter. "Hairtrigger" was the winner. At one o'clock the sports commenced —vaulting, catching the soaptailed pig, climbing the greasy pole, running, wheelbarrow and sack races, and the piece de resistance, tho war dance of the Maoris in great force. Refreshments ad libitum during the whole of the day, were finished by a monster free tea ab five o'clock on. the grounds, which had been specially levelled and rolled for tho occasion, afterwards known as "The Green," and fronting Hardy and Collingwood streets, near Selwyn Place. At-night there was a dance on the Green, wuich was brightly illuminated with, variegatedj. coloured, and other lamps, and surrounded by refreshment tents an.d lounges. . The mirth was kept up. to a late hour. The orchestra was composed of Messrs Purnell (violin), Miles (clarionet), Smith (cornopean) and Parker (trombone). It was the first and last anniversary some of these, the earliest settlers, were to see. Within1, a lew month? the awful tragedy of the "Wairau had closed their earthly careers