Bastille Day In Fr.

Oceania

From Our Own Correspondent.

Papeete, July 30.

THE chief celebration of Bastille Day (July 14), so far as native partici pation is concerned, was held this year at Ra’iatea, under the Presidency of Honour of M. Andre Perrin, Administra tor of the Leeward Islands.

At Papeete, because the fete in honour of the naval training ship “Jeanne d’Arc” (during which the native celebrations usual at Bastille Day were enacted) was held at so recent a date, it was,decided to observe only the official ceremonies.

Until a year ago, when the natives of Tahiti and adjacent islands revived in all its splendour the traditional Bastille Day fete in honour of His Excellency, M.

Chastenet de Gery, present Governor of the Colony, the native celebrations at Ra’iatea have usually been superior to those at Papeete. The Leeward Islanders being in less intimate contact with Euro pean influence, have preserved their native customs and traditions more faith fully than have the Tahitians.