OKATO JUBILEE SCENES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 June 1935, Page 9

OKATO JUBILEE SCENES

PROCESSION; GALA DAY

GAP OF 70 YEARS BRIDGED. STRIKING DISPLAY WITNESSED. LARGE CROWD FILLS DOMAIN. The jubilee spirit that has pervaded the Okato district in the past few days was witnessed at its height yesterday, when in sunny weather the jubilee celebrations were continued by a procession and a gala. Since the official opening on Wednesday night the jubilee has been going on from success to success, and yesterday proved a triumph. The procession provided a striking display such as one would not think possible in so small a district. It could not have been achieved but for the capable organisation at the head to devise and plan and the co-operation of the The procession, which was a very lengthy one, was in the nature of a pageant showing the progress of the district and its amenities from the days when Okato was occupied only by the Maori race until the present day, and the part taken in the proceedings by the Maoris showed how harmonious are the relations between the two /races. The advance in transport and in production were all to be noted in the arrangement of the procession. There was plenty of colour and brightness throughout, while humour was given full play in several original displays that added the gala atmosphere. It was remarkable how the residents, both young and old, including at other times staid farmers and business men and their wives, entered fully into the spirit of the occasion and garbed themselves in the correct costumes of the period or the character they were representing.

Mr. L. D. Hickford, chairman of the celebrations committee, was marshal. The route was from the Hempton hall along Main South Road, and up the road by the saleyards to the domain. The procession in that short distance bridged the gap between 1865 and 1935 most picturesquely. “WHEELBARROW DERBY.” The Opunake band, led by DrumMajor I. G. Short and playing a spirited march, headed the procession, followed by the “Wheelbarrow Derby,” an event in which two well known former residents admirably burlesqued the-Austra-lian affair, creating much fun. Then, seated in a car, with stolid mein, came Taramoutu, a chief of tfie Ramahanga hapu, and followed by the Maori haka party, the Maoris asresident in New Zealand before the arrival of the pakeha being given pride of place. They were followed by a car containing old settlers who had resided in,the district for over 60 years—Mrs. Humphrey. Mrs. Bower, Messrs. R. F. Roebuck and Ben Gray.

Typical of old-time transport came a bullock dray, followed by the Maori poi party in a motor-waggon. Three cars contained settlers of, over 50 years’ standing—Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan, Mr. and Mrs. C. Sole, Messrs. W; Corbett, W. A. Corbett, Frank Gill and John Putt, accompanied by Mr. W. H. Skinner and Joe Te Kawa. Then came a cavalcade of horsemen, including Frontiersmen and women, some in old-time fashions riding in side-saddle. There were also pack-horses loaded as in the days of the mud track, and a school boy and girl on a horse that the pillionrider delighted to make “buck,” amusing the crowd. A five-horse waggon, rare sight for the present generation ,and greatly admired, was followed by a three-horse dray bearing sheaves of oats and bales of straw emblematical of the productivity of the district. The strides made in dairying and factory transport was illustrated by a bullock dray with two cans representing 1895, when the factory first started, a dray with a few cans more for 1905, a spring cart for 1915, a two-horse waggon for 1925 and a heavily loaded motortruck for 1935. “Old-timer” gigs and dogcarts with their occupants garbed in the costumes of the period came next. They included a gig illustrating early missionaries. A band of school ponies included a huge draughthorse conveying “a brother and his three sisters” ’ to school. Decorated bicycles and . prams, lorries conveying the concert party, a humorous sketch, the “Badminton Baby,” bearing the motto “ Keep up the school grade,” were the prelude to a display of trade motors. The Okato business people did their part. The Okato fire brigade of 1865 in a car of very ancient vintage and with fire-fighting appliances consist--ing "of a.small can and a ladder gonged its way along. The Okato Rifle Club, represented by a motor-lorry bearing a target at which • riflemen discharged blank cartridges, a representative muster of the Egmont troop of the Q.A.M.R. with ■the Hotchkiss gun and an aeroplane zooming overhead added a rather warlike atmosphere, but that .was easily dispelled by the lighter tones provided by a man and a woman perched high on stilts, on which they moved with dexterity much to the delight of the young folk, who saw such lofty people for the first time, the white horse, “bucking Lizzie” motor-car and tandem and penny-farthing cycle,' all of which added their mite to a procession. EVENTS AT DOMAIN. A large crowd followed the procession to the domain, where the ground was circled. The gala day drew to the domain one of the largest crowds that has ever assembled there—estimated .a$ over 2600. The gate receipts were £4O. All spent an enjoyable day, for they were in holiday mood, prepared to be entertained, and the committee had provided such a variety of fare that there was not a dull moment. . The Maori party consisting of over 60 natives of the Puniho tribe mostly entertained the crowd with exhibitions of haka led by Joe Te Kawa, who was in charge of the party, and Manu Konga, and with poi dancing and the hula, both led by Kipa Manu. Music was provdied by Mathew Coffey (guitar) and W. Mason (accordion). A party of Puniho and Okato school girls also gave poi dances very gracefully, Joe Te Kawa playing, the clarinet.

The Maori hangi (or cooking in the kapa Maori) proved a great attraction. The preparation of the ovens for cooking kumara and potatoes and the poakq tao (roast pork) was watched with interest as the experts carried out their work under the supervision of Joe Te Kawa. The well cooked viands were .in great demand, realising £9 4s. .

The Okato fire brigade (C. Randrup and Howard Andrews) gave a demonstration on '“Darktown Brigade” lines, extinguishing a ' blazing haystack. The public saw a sham fight by the Egmont troop of the Q.A.M.R. under Squadron Sergeant-Major Gilbert. The troop gave a demonstration of the vanguard attacking a party in ambush, considerable blank ammunition being fired. Mr. S, Roebuck in the bucking motorcar had a busy time, the eccentricities of his car proving very popular. Tilting'the ring was participated in freely by all sections, including women in sidesaddle. y Basketball attracted keen interest. In the opening game the Okato girls defeated Tumahu girls by three goals to one. Two matches between the Okato

young women and young men resulted in victories for the women. The A team won by three goals to 1 one and the B team by five goals to 4 two. Misses' Una Paul and Ivy Putt were the referees. A fancy dress football match between Beach and Bush created amusement, those old- rivals .being •so imbued .with the jubilee atmosphere, as to leave the field satisfied,, that the verdict, a draw, correctly'- indicated .the merits''of 'the teams. , ■ 1 " - J

COLOUR AND MUSIC. •/. There'was plenty of/music throughput the day, the ’Opunake Federal Band;finder Conductor J. Hum’phries' being, unstinting. in a programme •selections that were frequently applauded. The Okato Jubilee- Rebels also added colour with their, bright costuming and tuneful choruses... Fancy .dress ..football, basketball, racing and novelty items made the day pass quickly. . .Proceedings closed with the singing .of Auld Lang Syne, all standing in a huge circle' around the football ground. It was a fitting finale. The women of the (district had charge of the catering and they had a busy time, the pavilion proving to accommodate' the urge crowd. Nevertheless the receipts were over £l5. Tfiose in charge comprised Mesdames K. A. Andrews (supervisor); A. O. Penwarden, P. G. Knight, A. L. ...Williams, A. P. Edwards, J. Hughes, P. Corbett, E. Gibson, W. A. McGill, C. Eustace, A. Gray, D. S. Fox and Misses B; Ashley and Rita Roebuck.

Mr. E. B. Corbett as ground marshal kept matters well undercontrol, and every member of the committee, did his’ .share, those responsible for the various .departments 'being: Canteen 'stewards, Messrs. A. L. Williams, J. Shaw, ? D. A. Fox; gate stewards,-Messrs. H. -Webb, W. Haylock, J. Moorby,, P. McCabe; naif.driving, Mr. J. O. Fox; chain‘-stepping, Messrs. J. J. Carey, F. W. 'Roebuck;sheep guessing, Messrs. L. O’Sullivan, ,B. Hickford; running events, Messrs. H. Tod, H. ' C." Paul; fancy ch-eta' football, Mr. L. Hickford; referee, S. Roebuck; goal kicking; Messrs. L. Wooldridge and'B. Pen warden; til ting-the ring, Messrs. P. Corbett and E. Gibson.The committee responsible for the organisation of the gala --’nprised Messrs. S. Roebuck (president), P. M. Corbett,' E. Gibson, J. L. Power, H. T./Paul, H.’ C. Paul. F. W. Roebuck, R. F. Roebuck, L. D. Hickford, B. Penwarden, L.-Woold-. ridge, A. L. Williams, A. J. Smith, S. B. Hall, H. J. Slater, the Rev. J. G- .Grindlay and Mr. D. A. Fox- (hon. secretary), i Results of the competition events are; ■ ’■■- Running, r- , - Men’s 100 race: Julian 1,. Percy Edwards 2. ’/• • ‘ : J -7 ? Goal kicking: S. Jones 1. Stepping the distance: A. Humphrey’ 25 yards 1 foot (the exact distance), 1; C; Eustace, 25 yards 11 inches, 2 % Sheep guessing: L. D. Hickford, 1041 b (the correct weight). ■ Nail driving:’ Mrs. Roy Fraser (Hauraki Plains). ' '.’; w jta Child’s decorated bicycle (judged ,by Mr. J. L. Power): Doris Churchill I, 1 Marjorie Sfiaw 2..- ; ; 7.. Children’s Skaces. The children were given am. enjoyable time, numerous graces being run tay t^e^r ' benefit. Those in charge were Messrs. H, T. Paul, H. C. Paul, Les. Wooldridge, S. B. Hall and S. Roebuck. The results are:— •, •'../■ Standards I. and n. girls: Winnie Hudson 1, Betty Shaw 2. Lucy Hudson 3. '■ Standards 111. and IV. girls: Betty Briscoe 1, Edna Fox 2, Doris Julian 3. •: Standard V. girls: Everil Gray .1,. Fay Corbett and Nola Jury equal 2.Primers boys: Archie Corbett 1, Noel Roebuck and Gordon Old equal 2. Standards I. and 11. boys: Jackie. Rua I, Arthur Magbn 2. Standards. 111. and IV. boys: Monte Andrews 1, Neville Corbett 2, Ray Rooke 3. Standards V, and VI. bdj-s: Lindsay ■Young 1, John Hughes and Fred Edwards qual 2. , ” Three-legged race, girls: Fay Corbett and Nora Willis 1, Everill Gray and Alice Carey 2.

Three-legged race, boys: John Hug"hes and Jack Brophy 1, T. Ruakere and-j-fihek Rua 2. I Maori poi dancers’ race: Lucy Hudson i 1, Winnie Hudson 2, Jean Paora 3. Wheelbarrow race, girls: Queenie Kira and Everill Gray 1,- Doris Julian and Marion Roebuck 2. >

' Boys’ wheelbarrow race: Fred Edwards and Jack Brophy 1, Ray Rook and Darcy Larking 2, Richard Mathews and Dudley Shelter 3. Hopping race, girls: Winnie Hudson 1, Queenie Kira and Everill Gray equal 2. Hopping race, boys: John Hughes 1, Jack Brophy 2, Fred Edwards 3. Last night the celebrations were continued by the screening of 'the special jubilee picture attraction, JI Was-a Spy.” .This, afternoon, there will be a football match between Opunake and Okato, and this evening the rexinion in ■the Hempton hall. To-morrow evening the celebrations will close with a reunion, thanksgiving and memorial service at Hempton hall.