CORONATION DAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 409, 7 May 1902, Page 3

CORONATION DAY.

HOW SHOULD IT BE CELEBRATED ?

A meeting of citizens was held last evening in the Masonic Hotel sample rooms, for the purposo of considering the best means of celebrating Coronation Day. Ilis Worship the Mayor (Mr John Townley) and about thirty others were present, including Rev. Father O’Connor, Rev. H. Williams, Messrs J. A. Harding, J. Brown, Armstrong, Harper, Morrison, Robinson, Dixon, P. Maher, Little, Pettie, Colley,

Lewis, Hepburn. Watt, W. Morgan, R. N Jones, Sinclair, Warren, East, Stubbs, M. Maher, Matthews, W. Hamon, Rosie, Humphreys, Birrell, Simpson, M. Hall, U’itcn, Evans, McGowan, Darton, and Major McCredie.

The Mayor briefly opened the proceed

ings, and invited suggestions from those present. He referred to the greatness of tho occasion, and thought the citizens should do all they cfiuld to celebrate it in a fitting manner. Mr Townley submitted tho following programme : DAY CELEBRATIONS.

Town decorations and bell-tower arch

Public procession to railway station. Bands, volunteers, friendly societies, pioneers ; order of procession as per arrangement; Major Winter, marshal. Public to be conveyed by train to Park racecourse. Pioneers to take first carriage.

Men at Roebuck road Home to be taken by brake. Sports to be organised for gathering at Park.

Trains proceeds to Ormond and brings school children and public thence, and from all intermediate stations, to the racecourse.

Refreshments and luncheon at racecourse.

EVENING CELEBRATIONS.

Bonfire. Town illuminations. Bands to play on river bank. Boating clubs, etc., to bo asked to decorato boats and unito in making a grand illuminated band procession. Fireworks.

Mr Warren admired the simplicity of the proposals, which were well suited to a village. He was surprised at tho absence from the programme of a ball or banquet in the evening. He thought tho suggestions wero well within their range. The volunteers would do all in their power to assist.

Mr R. N. Jones proposed that a committee should be set up to carry out the proposals submitted by the Mayor. He thought that every effort should be made to entertain tho children, as it would be a great day for them. Mr Stubbs seconded the motion pro forma, but thought it was rather an early stage in tho evening to make the proposal. He wanted to seo more discussion.

Mr Harding thought the night entertainment would be the principal one, and a little more should be added to the programme. He wished to see a social, and suggested that Messrs Williams and Kettle’s woolshed might be obtained. Mr Birrell was doubtful if the train accommodation was sufficient. There wero only six carriages. Other parts of the programme were admirable, and had his suppoit.

Mr Harding understood that the carrying accommodation was ample for all who wished to travel by train. Rev. O’Connor : Are we to have one of the carriages built for tho Duke of York. Mr Harding: Yes, that has been arranged for long since. The Mayor was sure that with the assistance of tho railway therb would be four or five thousand people at the Park early in tbo day. It was doubtful if any Ministers would be present, but if they were a banquet would havo to bo arranged. He wished to seo the chief expenditure devoted to an outdoor gathering. The Borough Council were already appointed a committee, with power to add to their number.

Mr Harding : As far as I can see the members of the Borough Council and County Council are conspicuous by their absence.

The Mayor: All tho most energetic members are present. (Laughter). .Rev. Father O’Connor thoroughly agreed with Mr Harding in his remarks that it was a pity that most members of tho Borough Council and County Council were not present. The occasion was an unique one, and should be fittingly celebrated. Since his arrival in Gisborne he bad always been struck with the apathy displayed by the residents of the place. The men who should be present were always conspicuous by their absence, and seemed to take little or no interest in the welfare of the place. The district was one of the best in the colony, and situated anywhere else would be ten times more prosperous. Tho fault rested with tiro people themselves, who were oblivious of their own interests. He did not believe much in great entertainment, as this could be done by individuals. Something, however, should be done by the community in common, and perhaps one of the most suitable things would be to collect funds for a town clock. He hoped, however, to see the citizens rise to the occasion and make the celebration ono worthy of tho district. '(Applause). Mr Jones thought a committee of those present might be appointed independent of the two Councils.

Mr -Warren took exception to the County Council and Borough Council being excluded. He represented the former body that evening, and the reason why members were not present was because they lived at a great distance from town. The County Council had contributed the sum of £SO. and they left it to the younger men like himself to run things. (Laughter). Kev. O’Connor did not think Mr Warren should endeavor to excuse the absence of members of tho Borough and County Councils, for both bodies should have been fully represented. He did not think that it was an insult to the Borough or County Councils to signify this in so many words. It was really time their public men got a move on, and it was their place to be present that evening. This was his opinion, and he was not afraid to express it. It was decided on the motion of Mr Sinclair that all present should form a committee to assist the Borough and County Councils.

The following were appointed a Decoration Committee :—Messrs Morrison, P. Maher, Dixon, Little, Colley, Lewis, Hepburn, Sinclair, Holley, Morgan, Jones, Darton, Webb. Sports Committee : —Messrs Birrell, Matthews, Sawyer, Hamon, M. Hall, Simpson, Rosie, Humphreys, and Major McCredie. , Finance Committee :—Revs. O’Connor and Williams, Messrs Lysnar, Kennedy, Morgan, Shelton, Pyke, Parker, Lysnar, McFarlane, Mason, Bright, Cramond, Eliott, and J. A. Harding (Treasurer.) Social Committee :—Messrs Webb Sawyer, Dixon, Rosie, Gaudin, and R. N‘ Jones. Refreshment Committee : Messrs R. Harper, W. Pettie, J. East, J. Warren, Stubbs, Harding, Brown, U’Reh, and M. Maher. The Town Clark was appointed Secretary. It was decided that the General Committeeo should meet every Monday evening, The School Committees of the district and Mr P. Maher were appointed to look after tho ontertainment of the chil Iren. It was decided to hold all the chief day functions at the Park.