Tahiti En Fete.

Celebration of France’s National Day.

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, July 20.

PREPARATIONS for the French Nat ional festivities on July 14 are now well advanced, and, as the time of the fete coincides nicely with the arrival of two Union Company mail steamers, as well as the Messageries boat from Europe, it is anticipated that there will

be an unusually large number of visitors present. The New Zealand warship “Veronica” is also due in port shortly.

Already the “Barraques,” dance halls, refreshment parlours, and other tempor ary structures erected along the Papeete water-front exceed greatly in number those of last year. The privilege to run these concessions is auctioned by the Government and space allotted at so much per square metre, and the figures realised are sometimes surprisingly high when it is taken into consideration that the fete only runs for a few days. Con cessions during the July fete are not sold to persons other than French citizens.

The programme of events arranged by the “Comite des Fetes,” which is a long and generous one, opens on the evening of the 13th with a torchlight procession and a preparatory song and dance.

The official part of the celebrations, which takes place on the 14th, will no doubt be more impressive than usual be cause Mons. de Tastes, the newly-elected delegate who represents this colony in the French Senate, is arriving by the s.s. “Makura,” and is bringing with him parcel of sacred earth from the Verdun battlefield: this is to be deposited at the monument in St. Amelie Avenue, which was erected to the memory of the Tahitians who fell in the Great War.

There will also be a reception at Gov ernment House.

The succeeding days will be devoted to various sports and amusements which will include the usual competitive com munity singing and dancing events, horse races, a “Bal Publique,” water sports, canoe races and the like.

For the time being the low price of copra and other troubles incidental to the depression are all forgotten, and for a month past the residents around the outskirts of Papeete have retired to the accompaniment of throbbing drums and the weird melody of ancient chants.

These are rehearsals, for competition is keen this year, seeing that the prizes are well worth while, and it is surprising

what an amount of energy and persist ence the Polynesian can muster on an occasion like this.

In addition to the usual events, the Tahiti Yacht Club is putting up a special prize of 1500 francs for a sailing race.

During the French National Day celebrations at Papeete, Tahiti, on July 14, the Commander (Captain W. L. Jackson) of H.M.S. “Veronica” placed a wreath on the Soldiers’ Memorial. Photo, (by Pastor A. G. Stewart) shows the ceremony.