Coronation Day

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 36, 26 February 1937, Page 12

Coronation Day

NAPIER CEREMONIES

Fireworks Display From Ship at Sea DECORATIVE SCHEME Plans for the fitting celebration of Ooronation Day were discussed by 21 citizens of Napier present at a public meeting convened by the Mayor, Mr O. O. Morse. A coanmittee was set up to make arrangements apd to carry out various sriggestjons put forward at the meeting. Mr Morse indicated, in epeuing tbo meeting, that some ceremony wouiu take pla&e at tlie sound-sheli, taking the form of the reading of .a proclamatiou, _ and he suggested that other functions ehould arrange themBelves aocording.to this. In the eveuing thgre would be a fireworks display, probably from a vessel at fiea^ while two balls, ope organised by the jubilee committee of the Hastings Street School, and the other a military function in honour of Coronation Day, would be held. Retailers had been offered special low electricity rates for the period as an ind.ucement to decorate their ehops with coloured lights and bunting, and mnny of them had already ordered the material for this. Addrtional street lighting in coloured lights would be provided by the council. He added that the local secretary of the Navy League, Mr C. F. H. Pollock, was- at present in Wellington, and would there endeavour to have a wavship come to Napier at this period. While it was by no means definite that this could be arranged, it would be seen that the prospect of the colour added by the presence of the vessel, and possibly by a searchlight display, would be well worth while. Those present at the meeting were agreed that any celebrations should include special arrangements for th« children of the schools, but also agreed that anything in the nature of a long and complicated programme for them wus not to be desired. A march-past and salute of the flag was considered ideal. It was finally decided that the morning'e events should take plac'e at McLean Park, owing to the faet that accommodation for spectators there was greater than that on the Marino Parade. Eepresentatives of all tho organisations in the town, preferably in distinctive uniform or costume, together witii the school children, ara to take part in a ceremony there following the reading of the proclamation of the coronation of the King. If it is possible to organxse it, a maypole dance will be arranged for the same morning. k Further arrangements cwere left to u selected commi.ttee, but some discusaipn arose ou the subject of a fanoy-dross competition in the evening. It was pointe.d out that the totai attendance at the two balls could not exceed 1200, and that the fireworks display on tbo parade would oceupy a short part of the evening orly. It was therefpre decided that prizes should be awrarded for fancy dresses and facilities oft'ered for dancing on the parade. Following was the eommittee; Tho Mayor, Mr 0. O. Morse (chairman and convenor), Mr L. Pickering (deputychainnan), Mxs 3J. p. Barnett, Miss K. Matthews, and Messrs S. P, Spiller, F. B. Watters, G. B. Menzies, H. Dowliug, P. F. Higgins, J. C-. Runciman. R. McGlashan, H. G. johnstone, J. Mai colm. H. L. Benjamin, N. A. MeKenzie and J. Fairclough. The first meeting of the eommittee wae arranged for a fortnight hence, and it was given powei to add to its number any other citizer : whose services would prove of value.