Newspaper Article – Foundation Stone For Rotunda That Was Never Built

Site Clearing Work at the Waipawa Domain Recently Uncovered An Historic Plaque

Foundation Stone for Rotunda That Was Never Built

By Mary Hollywood

Within a mile of the Waipawa town clock and the busy State Highway lies a stone laid to commemorate the Peace and Coronation celebrations of King Edward VII in 1902.

This stone, the whereabouts of which is probably unknown to the greater proportion of Waipawa residents today, is perhaps appropriately, sited in the Waipawa Domain property behind the recently-opened Waipawa Pensioner Flats.

It lies in an apparently abandoned state, but the inscription: “This stone was laid by Jas. Williams Esq., Chairman, Town Board, to commemorate the Coronation of King Edward VII 26 June 1902” is still quite plainly visible.

The stone was not, however, laid by James Williams, but by a well-known “old identity” of the district, Mr A.E. Jull, who was called to officiate at the last moment due to the illness of Mr Williams’ daughter.

CENTRE

The Waipawa Domain, in its hey-day was a centre for town recreation. Many residents, even today, remember the traditional Sunday outings to stroll down the walks and listen to one of two bands in the area who performed regularly on Sunday afternoons.

Senior citizens all remember the creek and lake in the domain, which seemed to be the centre of attraction for the children of Waipawa at the turn of the century.

Arrangements for the commemoration of King Edward’s Coronation were coupled with Peace Celebrations and a committee with the austere title of “The Peace and Coronation Celebrations Committee” was set up.

One of the first moves of the committee was to approach the Town Board for financial assistance.

The board agreed to meet the application for a $30 subsidy toward the committee funds. The clerk was, however, instructed to write to the acting Premier, Sir J.C. Ward, to inquire whether “small or town boards would be treated the same as boroughs as to the $2 for $2 subsidy to the town board.

Total expenses for commemoration festivities in Waipawa was estimated at less than $40.

PUBLICITY

Details of Coronation Day celebrations received a great deal of publicity. It was decided to start the day with a flag saluting ceremony followed by a thanksgiving service. Eleven thirty was the time set down for laying the foundation stone of the band rotunda.

In the afternoon plans were made for a grand procession headed by the Waipawa Brass Bands. The evening programme included a torchlight procession again with the bands in attendance, fireworks, tableaux and a grand concert.

The Waipawa Town Board meeting of July 7, 1902, records that numerous telegrams were received from Sir Joseph Ward referring to the King’s illness and directing postponement of festivities “other than the children’s functions and feeding of the poor.”

An old identity can remember no necessity in this district for the latter direction, but feels that these telegrams, one of the fastest methods of communication in the early days of the century, were almost “mass produced” and sent to all local body authorities in New Zealand.

She cannot remember any arrangements for the specific “feeding of the poor”.

Newspapers of the day carried daily bulletins on the state of the King’s health. These progressed from “critical condition” to “spent restful night” “taking light sustenance” to “holiday to recuperate.”

CORONATION DAY

The King improved daily and plans were made to celebrate the Coronation on August 9, 1902.

A special edition of the “Waipawa Mail” on best quality paper and printed in special blue ink carried a full report of the day’s activities.

Evidence of the postponed Coronation is borne out very clearly in this ‘special edition”. The front page, which includes suitable local advertisements, is dated June 26, but all subsequent pages are correctly dated August 9. Special mention is made of the presence in town of the Te Aute Cadets “resplendently dressed in naval uniforms”.

Mr Jull, deputising for Mr Williams said at the stone-laying ceremony:
“I am about to lay the foundation stone of an edifice which will prove a lasting tribute and bear testimony of the event for those who come after us.

“The domain was given to this town many years ago, but it is only recently that steps have been taken to utilise it for the purpose for which it was originally dedicated, an open air space for the young and old of the town.

“It is very necessary that some provision should be made for a place in which instrumentalists can sit in comfort and discourse sweet music to the townspeople.

“The stone I am about to lay is evidence that in the near future reasonable accommodation will be provided in the rotunda for the instrumentalists of the town to perform their duties with comfort.”

Mr Jull ended his address by telling the towns people: We are indebted to the Waipawa Volunteers, who because they are not numerically strong have decided to disband in preference to carrying out their duties in a perfunctory manner and have made a gift of $150 [£150] toward the erection of a structure.

“In the death of the Corps the building to be erected will serve as an indication of their loyalty in the time to come when the descendants of the youngest present will be gambolling in the domain.”

FORGOTTEN

Strangely enough, the Corona[tion celebrations do not seem to] hold pride of place in the memories of our senior citizens. Most remember the joyous celebrations held when Baden-Powell and his soldiers were freed in the famous relief of Mafeking.

Residents showed their jubilation and the air rang with the banging of kerosene tins and the noise of firearms being discharged.

The activities of the early 1900s have waned. With the formation of football teams and other sporting bodies in the area the domain was used less and less.

It was not suitable for Rugby and the tennis club in Waipawa sported its own ground, one of the oldest remaining clubs in the history of tennis in New Zealand.

The domain was still used for bazaars and other fund-raising activities, but gradually the townsfolk began to meet at other grounds and develop other interests.

Today the stone lies it is thought, in its original position, but certainly not fulfilling the original purpose, to form the corner stone of a proposed band rotunda envisaged as the final “grace” to the Waipawa Domain.