Forum and Aginum

1969's Getting Close

Nothing much seems to be doing in relation to the Cook Bicentenary (a) memorial, or (b) celebrations. Time, the enemy, is passing; we are now less than two years from the great occasion. Little enough in many respects. A certain amount of real preparation is going on quietly behind the scenes, but the ordinary citizen is not being kept sufficiently aware of progress. The eyes of all New Zealand, indeed of the world, will be focussed on us when the time comes, and we must make sure that we present a good image. This is an unparalleled opportunity for town and country to get together, and for all our citizens to lend a hand to make the occasion a momentous one. The will exists; what is needed is leadership, unanimity about what to do, and detailed information disseminated in monthly, weekly, and ultimately daily doses so that everybody is brought into the picture. Obviously a job for a dedicated publicity officer, and generous co-operation from our newspaper and broadcasting station. (Picture above from a water-colour by A. S. Paterson depicting Cook's landing at Kaiti Beach).

Doneraille Park Sign

A visitor complains, not about the park, which he considered one of the most beautiful he has ever seen, but about the fact that he got right to Tiniroto without noticing where to turn off. He sent us these photographs to prove his point. The first shows the entrance as seen from the Tiniroto approach (nothing wrong with this); the second shows the scene greeting the motorist coming from Gisborne. In this, the sign is quite obscured by a mail box. It is an awkward corner, but there seems to be a good case for the sign to be placed more prominently.