OTAGO'S ANNIVERSARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9193, 24 March 1908, Page 4

OTAGO'S ANNIVERSARY.

(Pjbr Press Assoc____on.] DUNEDIN, March 23. To-day w r as observed as a holiday in honour of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the province of Otago. The principal event in connection with the celebration was the opening of tlie Early Settlers' Hall, which has been erected in, memory of the pioneers. The hall will be used for reunions and meetings of the Early Settlers' Association, and also as a store-house for records and mementoes, of which the Association' has many. The ceremony was attended by a Large and representative gathering. The various speakers paid tributes to the energy and pluck of the pioneers, and related many interesting experiences of the early days. On the motion* of Dr Hockin, it was decided — " That this meeting, on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of the first settlers'at the settlement of Otago, express their grateful recognition of the labours of Edwar<J Gibbon Wakefield in the colonisation of New Zealand, and their desire that steps should be taken to raise a suitable memorial to his memory." Owing to a Scotch mist, which prevailed during the day, a picnic arranged for the afternoon was abandoned, and a conversazione was held instead. A concert was held in the evening, and was largely attended. There is still a "Headsman of the Tower" in London. He is generally a distinguished soldier, who, on account of long and faithful service, has been appointed to the post. The present headsman has never had occasion to exercise his office, and his chief duty i s to carry the axe in procession on Holy Thursday, when the officials of th© tower "beat the bounds," and when the new Governor is installed. He is officially known as the Yoeonan gaoler.