DIAMOND JUBILEE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20891, 22 November 1937, Page 16

DIAMOND JUBILEE

CELEBRATIONS OPEN By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N., November 20. In beautiful weather, Palmerston North to-day began ? week of celebration, marking the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the borough. A comprehensive programme has been arranged, not the least interesting feature of which will be a gathering of old identities from all parts of the Dominion.

This morning, as an interesting feature hundreds of pigeons were released, first seven, then ten, for Whangarei. Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Trcntham, Hamilton, Pukemiro, Te Aroha, Huntly, Gisborne, Waipukurau, Wanganui, Egmont Village and New Plymouth. Each carried a note of greeting from the Mayor, Mr Mansfcrd, to the Mayor of the town where the pigeons came from.

This afternoon the largest procession in the history of the city was staged and took 30 minutes to pass a given point. It was representative of all decades from a bullock waggon d awing a Maori canoe in which sat Maoris stripped to fighting kit. to the most modem of to-day’s transport vehicles. Several real ol dtime cars spat like motor-cycles. Penny farthing bicycles were unearthed for the occasion, also buggies and four-wheelers almost in pieces for want of use. The city was thronged, the Square holding the largest crowd ever seen. The procession was followed by an inter-house sports meeting.