ROYAL VISIT TO GREYMOUTH

Grey River Argus, 3 September 1948, Page 2

ROYAL VISIT TO GREYMOUTH

Meeting Progresses With Arrangements Representatives of local bodies, and various other organisations last night made excellent progress with the initial arrangements for the reception of Their Majesties, the King and Queen, and Princess Margaret in Greymouth on March 8, 1949. Financial allocations by the various organisations, the question of decorations, and the appointment of several strong committees, were features of the meeting. ' Organisations represented with tho Mayor (Mr F. F. Boustridge). in the chair, were the Greymouth Borough Council, Grey County Council, Brunner Borough Council, Hokitika Borough Council, Westland County Council, Cobden School, Education Institute West Coast Federation of Women’s Institute, New Zealand Railways, Runanga Borough Council, New Zealand Road Service, Railway Tradesmen’s Association, Grey Chambers of Commerce, Marist Brothers and Convent. The Mayor said that there had been no announcement of the details of the visit, but officers of the Department of Internal Affairs would shortly visit Greymouth to discuss the matters. The meeting had been called because it was necessary to make arrangements for obtaining decorations, and to arrange financial details. Thfirst thing to do, he considered, was to appoint an executive and certain other committees to deal with the various aspects of the reception. He added that the question of the' site of any reception, the amount to be allocated, the decorations, and arrangements for bringing the people from the country, and providing food for them and ’the children, would have to be dealt with by committees. Mr P. J. McLean, representing the Hokitika Borough Council, was informed by the chairman that there had been no statement of a Government subsidy. He said that as Hokitika had been omitted from the itinerary, tho Council did not want to be involved in too much, expenditure. The Mayor: “There will be no question of a levy on local bodies. Any local body that comes in, will do so voluntarily.’’ , - , The meeting decided that the reception to the Royal Family should be a West Coast function, and include all local bodies and other organisations. DECORATIONS OF TOWN

It had to be remembered, said the Mayor, that the Royal party would pass through Brunner, Runanga and the Grey County, and the local bodies would want to arrange their own form of greeting and decoration. The portion to be decorated in Greymouth would be from the Cobden bridge (the point of entry) to Revington s Hotel; from there to the Recreation Ground, if that was finally selected as the site. Guinness Street, which faced Revington’s, Tainui Street to the wharf and Mawhera Quay, would also be used by the Royal party, and would therefore . form the major points for decoration. In reply to a question, the Mayor said there could be no question of holding a reception indoors, it wouia have to be held outside so that everyone would have the opportunity oi seeing and hearing the Royal visitors. It was agreed that the Recreation Ground be the site of the reception. FINANCIAL ALLOCATIONS

The Mayor said the question of finance would have to be settled as it was necessary to obtain the materials. While in Wellington he had inquired among various firms and had ae ei ) shocked at the prices. The Royal Coat of Arms on a sheet, in oils, Bft.by 4ft was £l2; plays, 4ft 6in by 18ft were Is 6d each, bunting was 4s 6d a square yard. It was hoped to employ local artists for a good deal of the greeting work. ' A , ~ , Mr Boustridge suggested that, as Whangarei was being visite ,rt °P March 28, and Greymouth on March 8. some ararngement might be possible between the two towns. If this was possible, the two borough could co-operate in the purchase of decorative materials. Greymouth could use them and they could be forwarded to Whangarei for use there. This would save considerable expense. It was decided to place the suggestions before the Whangarei Borough Council. , The Mayor, dealing with general finance, said that he offered the following amounts as a suggestion. Some of the amounts could be reduced or increased- as the body concerned thought fit, and if the Government granted a subsidy, the expense would be considerably reduced. Greymouth Borough Council £aoo, Grey Electric Power Board £2OO, Grey Harbour Board £2OO. Grey County Council £2OO. Runanga Borough Council £lOO, Hokitika Borough Council £lOO, Brunner Borough Council £5O; Ross Borough Council £4O, Kumara Borough Council £3O and £lOO from the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, for fireworks. making a total of It was decided to submit the amounts to the respective organisations for consideration.

PRESENTATION OF BOUQUETS

It was decided that the presentation of a bouquet to Her Majesty should pe made by Miss B. Howat, who, as “Miss Westland,” was runner-up in the “Miss New Zealand” contest, and who was the . choice of the West Coast.. The Commissioner of Ciri Guides is to be asked to choose a ranger to present a bouquet to Princess Margaret. FIREWORKS DISPLAY

Difference of opinion arose on questions of staging a fireworks display. Mr P. J. McLean said Hokitika opposed the expenditure of money on fireEgbert said he agreed with Mr McLean. If there was a fireworks display for the King and Queen it might lead to the stupidities that existed a few years ago when, children went around cadging pennies for fireworks. . , . ~ „ The Mayor said he favoured the idea and if there were no fireworks, it had to be decided what was to be done to entertain the big crowd, and especially the children. . Mr Truman said the arrival time was not known, but there would be no need for children to congregate m towns until the afternoon. Mr Galbraith said that children would be coming from all parts of the West Coast, and a sports meeting could be provided. A fireworks display would keep the children up too late. ~ The Mayor: There would be no barm in giving them a half holiday the next day. „. „ It Was decided to arrange a fireworks display at a cost of not more than £5OO plus donations for the purpose and the question of the final expenditure to be left to the executive. The meeting appointed the following executive and committees: —Executive: Messrs F. F. Boustridge, R. J Truman, T. G. Jamieson, Sinclair Trotte?, A. L. Galbraith, A. J. Fairmaid, and D. S. Kennedy. Transport Committee: Messrs S. D. Dallard, D. Coburn, R. Wylde, W. Kennedy, H. L R. Larkin, and Mrs I. McGlashan. Decoration Committee: Messrs R. J. Truman, R. P. Chibnail, H. Hutchinson. J. Rhodes, G. Skeates, Mesdames R Barber and Timlin and Miss M. E. Ray Reception committee: A. L. Galbraith, R. K. Holmes. E. Darracott, W M. Stewart, E. M. Todd, J. Turnbull W. B. Hutton, G. Ormandy, JGraham,, J., Young, Rev. Bro. Egbert. Catering Committee: Messrs G. R. Harker, R. z A. Barrowman and Mrs T. Mclntosh.