King Albert Memorial Park
p. 10 · Read in the full issue
New Reserve Officially Opened at Papeete
From Our Own Correspondent.
PAPEETE, August 8.
A VERY pretty ceremony took place in Papeete on July 21—the National fete day of Belgium—when the new park facing the Quai de Commerce was opened to the public, and given the name of “La
a great Colonial Administrator and as the head of a great family. Monsieur Millaud, as was fitting, lauded the King’s abilities as an extremely efficient and much loved military commander.
His Excellency Governor Montagne, who
Place Albert Ier” in commemoration of the late Belgian Monarch.
Owing to the town being full of people present for the July festivities, there was a very large gathering of the general pub lic to witness this interesting and emotional event and, of course, the officials of the government and the municipal authorities turned out in full force. A contingent of the local Infanterie Coloniale was also present, and the band from the Catholic Brothers’ school did the musical honours suitable to the occasion by play ing the Marsellaise and La Brabanconne.
The grounds had been very artistically decorated by the Department of Public Works and the entrance temporarily closed by a broad ribbon displaying the three colours of the Belgian flag. The rib bon was cut at 4 p.m. by two young girls —daughters of His Excellency Governor Montagne and Monsieur Salzani, the Bel gian Consul —very charmingly and appro priately dressed in France-Belgian colours.
Officials present with H.E. the Governor were M. Leboucher (Secretary-General), M. George Bambridge (Mayor of Papeete).
M. Salzani and M. Millaud (President of the War Veterans’ Association).
In the speeches which followed, Monsieur Salzani, who is not only Belgian Consul but also the manager in French Oceania for the Messageries Maritimes Steamship Company, discoursed upon the virtues of the late lamented King, not only as an ideal Sovereign of his country, but also as
is the first Governor of French Oceania to work with enthusiasm for the embellish ment of the natural beauties of Papeete, then brought this very interesting cere mony to a close by declaring the new park open to the public.
The decorated entrance to the Albert Memorial Park, Papeete, on the occasion of the officia l i n July. Seated in the central group before the entrance are: M. George Bambridge Mayor of Papeete).
M. Charlier (ex-Treasurer of Tahiti), M. Leboucher (Secretary General), H IS Excellency the Governor (M. Montague), M. Salzani (Consul for Belgium), and M. Barenger (Public Prosecutor).