Papeete Celebrates July 14
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
In Gay Mood
From Our Own Correspondent.
PAPEETE, August 7.
THE anniversary of the taking of the Bastille (July 14) was celebrated in Papeete with the customary eclat, in spite of low copra prices and a consequent shortage of spending money. The gaiety of the occasion was greatly enhanced by the presence in port of H.M.S. Dunedin from which a detachment of marines came ashore to be present at the official cere mony, which took place at the monument erected in the Saint Amelie Avenue in memory of the Tahitian soldiers killed in the Great War.
The festivities, which commenced, as usual, with a torchlight procession on the evening of July 13, and continued without interruption till midnight on the 22nd, included a generous programme of native events, such as community singing and dancing. The water-sports this year were rendered exceedingly attractive by a canoe sailing race, something which has not been seen in Papeete harbour for several years. The Comite de Fetes, of which Mr. George Bambridge is president, is to be congratulated upon the successful re sult of its efforts to preserve the purely Tahitian character of the old time songs and dances.
When native people wriggle through a barbaric dance clothed in knee length cos tumes of bark over long European dresses and trousers—as has been noticed some times in the past—the thing becomes meaningless and a farce, and the onlooker, who has perhaps travelled to the Islands especially to be present, walks away dis
appointed, if not disgusted, with the show.
This year, however, a special edict went out from the Comite des Fetes which pro hibited any such antics.
Other diversions of the Fete week in cluded horse races on the Fautaua course, a ball given at Government House by His Excellency the Governor and Madame Montagne, at which many local celebrities and the officers of H.M.S. Dunedin were present: a ‘Bal Publique” in the open space in front of the Governor's residence, and a reception and dance aboard the Dunedin given by Rear Admiral Burgess- Watson and the Ward Room Officers.