REMARKABLE PAGEANT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 244, 15 October 1931, Page 5

REMARKABLE PAGEANT

BRIDGING THE CENTURIES SCOTLAND AND FRANCE STUART HERO HONOURED. The tiny town of Aubigny, not far from Bruges, in the heart of France, once more on August 15 became a pui t of Scotland set in a foreign land, it was the occasion of a festival and pageant commemorating the close alliance between France and Scotland down the centuries before the Union of 1603.

And in what more appropriate town could this commemoration take place than Aubigny, whivh until 1840, when it was purcaascd by the Marquis de Vogue, remained in the domain of Scottish families? It was in 1423 that Sir Charles Stuart, or Darnley, who fought in the service of Charles VII. of France, was given the territory of Aubigny by a grateful monarch. Five years later he was killed at the siege of Orleans, but his family and descendants continued to live on the estate for 200 years. A castle was built in the fifteenth century by a Stuart who was Marshal of France.

Eventually the property passed to the Duchess of Portsmouth, a gift from Charles 11. of England, and from her to the Dukes of Richmond and Gordon, who, indeed, bear the title of Duke of Aubigny to the present day, although they no longer own the pro. perty. So the little town, its streets and houses smothered in flowers and gay bunting, rendered honour two months ago to Scotland—for the local traditions still remain deeply imprinted on the hearts of the now Republican inhabitants.

The streets were black with people who had come to see a pageant in which appeared Robert Stuart, the old-time Marshal of Fran*ce, the great French warrior Bayard, and a troop of old Scottish Guards in their picturesque medieval red, white and green uniforms, says the Daily Express.

Not the least attraction was the band og bagpipes from the Caledonian School in London, with their pipes skirling, their kilts swirling and their drum-major performing amazing feats with his staff. These drew cries of admiration from the crowd.

Salvos of artillery had welcomed the ladies-in-waiting of “Anne Stuart,” the trains of their brocaded gowns held from the ground by dozens of small pages. Then came the state entrj r of “Robert Stuart,” grand and brave, with his gaily-caparisoned war-oerse, in blue, embroidered with fleur-dc-lys, his bright armour twinkling in the sunshine.

For a few hours Aubigny had forgotten the intervening centuries. It was a grand sight to rejoice the hearts of the Scots present, who included descendants of the Stuart family in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. Ruthven Stuart.

Toward the end of the banquet held in the middle of the day the toast of the King was proposed by the Mayor of Aubigny. Suddenly 400 French men and women leapt to their feet, holding their glasses high, and cried out enthusiastically, “King George V.!” The ceremony was presided over by the present Marquis de Vogue, who now possesses this domain and in whose possession is the original standard of Robert Stuart.

the links by cab.” But one knew instinctively that she spoke only in jest. She belonged to another age and if ever she was caught travelling linkwards in a vehicle of that sort it would be for a joke, or to settle a weger perhaps. And the one-horse buggy of ancient days was there, its patrons being clother in appropriate fashion—long skirts, straw hats, frock coats and so forth. Even they, so realistically attired, looked back, ever and anon, to the smoothly purring cars behind, vehicles that were conscious of their power. The Coalition Government had certainly put the price of benzine up a little more, but Patea’s procession was so moulded as to show that man had risen above the sphere of the horse, and the smoothly revolving crankshafts told that the motor was still king in the world of transport. It would be a strong power indeed that ousted him from his position. THE SPORTS MEETING Sounds of hockey stick hitting hockey stick mingled with the sound of the starter’s gun at the sports held yesterday afternoon, the second day of Patea’s Jubilee festivities. There was a fair attendance, and fine weather prevailed. The Patea Municipal Band was in attendance, and enlivened the proceedings with many selections. A hockey match was the main item of the afternoon, and was played be tween the two senior teams of Hawera, Orientals and Alhambra. This was the fourteenth game played between these two teams this season, the thirteen being all drawn games. Yesterday’s match proved the deciding one after many a long and hard-fought tussle for supremacy. It was a fair game, with no score up to half-time. After that, Orientals scored two goals in rapid succession, followed shortly after with one goal scored by Alhambra, the Orientals thus proving the winners of the Hawera Senior Championship and the South Taranaki Championship also. Mr McCutcheon, of Hawera, refereed. Races were held for the athletes present, but no great amount of competition was evident. This was no fault of the organisers, Messrs Rook. Gardiner, Rutherford, and others who had worked with energetic fervour to make this event as successful as the former festivities. The following are the results of the races:— Bandsmen’s Ra*ee (50 yards'): P. Carey (drum) 1. Obstacle Race. —First heat: F. Willis 1, B. Willis 2; second heat: P. Bourke 1. J. Petersen 2; final: F. Willis 1, J. Petersen 2. Putting the Shot: J. Petersen, 31ft. 9in. 1; T. Maule, 30ft., 2. Greasy Pig: F. Stanford.

Several children’s races were also run for the thorough enjoyment of the kiddies who were present, but their day will be Friday, when all the schools have boon allowed a holiday by the Education Board.