NAPIER CORONATION PLANS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 74, 14 April 1937, Page 12

NAPIER CORONATION PLANS

Celebrations on Nelson Park and Parade MAORIS TO PARTICIPATE Military and naval parading, Maoris and pakeha singing, a fireworks display, and a specially chosen service are inclnded in the celebrations to be held at Napier on May 12 to commemonte the coronation of King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth. The Napier Coronation Committee met to arrange the morning, afternoon and evening programme, the Eev. Mr Eangiihu and Mr. Ike Eobin bemg present to xepresent the Maori people. Details of the arrangements were outlined by the Mayor, Mr. C. O. M'oxse. He said that the celebrations would begin at 11 o'clock, when all organised bodies such as the territorials, naval ratings, returned soliders, South Afrlean war veterans, girl guides, boy scouts, Eed Cross, St. John Ambulance, Frontiersmen, Maori veterans, and representatives of sports bodies, would assemble at Clive Square under the supervision of SergeantMajor J. Kearney. Led by the massed bands, the parade would march up to the Marino Par,ade soundshell, where a special service would be held, he added. This function would begin by the reading of a special Coronation message by the Mayor, to be'followed by an address by Bishop F. A. Bennett. A Psalm would be sung or a prayer said, led by a representative of the Napier Ministers' Assoeiation. After that the Maoris would sing the first verse of "Land of Hope and Glory," the pakeha people singing the second verse. All would join in singing the chorus. The morning ceremony wonld conclude with the singing by the Maoris of one verse of the National Anthem, and the Pakehas singing the second verse, all joining in the chorus. Hospital Patients. "Arrangements are being made so that hospital patients and invalids may attend this morning ceremony," Mr. Morse- added. ' ' Ifiey will be taken to |he Parade in cars, which will be parked along the Government bus stand. A suitable tree, . commemorating the Coronation celebrations, is to be planted somewhere on the Parade, ander the supervision oi the superintendent of borough reserves, Mr. C. Oorner, '" The afternoon ceremony is to begin at Nelson Park at 2.15 p.m. There wilJ be a grand parade of all organised bodies, including the Territorials and Navy, around the park, led by the massed bands. The parade will be followed by naval gun drill, then by a demonstration of Maoris hakas, poi daucing and singing, to occupy about an hour's time. , Loud speakers are to be lnstalled, and programmes will be printed with the verses of the songs and hymns to be sung. This is to be an elaborate programme, whieh people will value as a souvenir. A collection is to be made by women collectors, by arrangement with the Chief Postmaster, and all moneys collected will be given to the funds of the King George Memorial National Health Camp. The evening ceremony, startlng at 8 o'clock, will be opened by a display of fireworks some 200 yards out to sea off the Marino Parade. An hour's entertainment by the Maoris will follow, after which there will be fancy dress dancing on the Parade pavement. The borough authorities are trying to arrange that the colours of the water of the Tom Parker Fountain are red, white and blue. The Napier Coronation Committee is to finalise arrangements at a meeting to be held on April 27. The Navy will be represented at the celebrations by H.M.S. Leith, a sloop attached to the New Zealand Division.