HISTORIC PAGEANT

Waikato Independent, Volume XXVII, Issue 2766, 2 April 1927, Page 2

HISTORIC PAGEANT

BARBECUE IN SYDNEY. i A feature of an historic pageant representing every phase of Australia’s development, to be staged at the Sydney Showground on April 1 and 2, will be a barbecue —the roasting whole of bullocks; It is proposed that the boasts be killed, seasoned and roasted in tin ring. i More than half a century ago a bar becue was hold in Hyde Park in th< city, but it was more or. less a> private affair. The previous big one, the first ever held in Australia, took place a: Vaucluse, when freemen, tieket-of-leave men, emancipationists, soldiers and con viets, met and feasted off bullock: roasted whole, *to celebrate the deposing of Governor Bligh.

The feast lasted a whole night, and !V day. W. 0. Wentworth,, who organise..! it, made certain of that. He supplied such a quantity of beer and bullocks Of such great dimensions, that it took the assembled multitude 36 hours to consume the lot; - But the barbecue that is now being organised will be stripped of many of the features that marred the one directed b y the great Wentworth. Several bullocks will be roasted and each, visitor will bo given a slice. • While the bullocks are being- roasted over the fire-trenches, which the Royal Agricultural Society has given permission to make, a- pageant will parade around the ring. At different positions in the grounds will be enacted poignant phases- of Australia’s history, including the landing of Captain Cook—as explained in the folk lore of the aborigines. Descendants of those aborigines who witnessed the actual scene will stage the tableau.

The hard life of first settlers will he shown, and the discovery of gold will bo illustrated by numerous miners working on the alluvial field. This will be followed by the development of Australian industries. Pastoral, agricultural and manufacturing work will be depicted and each night a great display of fireworks will be given.