VICE-REGAL VISIT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5056, 24 November 1926, Page 2

VICE-REGAL VISIT.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S RECEPTION PROGRAMME ARRANGED. A special meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held on Monday night to arrange a programme for the reception of His Excellency .the Gov-ernor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, Lady Alice Fergusson, and pfli’ty, who will arrive in Paeroa at 11 o’clock on the morning of December 9. His Worship the. Mayor (Mr W. Marshall), who presided over a 'full meeting of councillors, said that a communication had been received from His Excellency intimating that he would pay a visit to Paeroa. It wa ( s just five and a half years since Paeroa was honoured by .the viceregal visit of the Governor-General Lord and Lady Jellicoe, and he hoped and felt sure that all would do their best to make the reception a successful 'function, and one befitting .the occasion. They had a high standard to come up to in the previous one, and it was essential that a fitting welcome should be given. In view of the short notice he suggested that the council should organise the programme, and he moved that the Borough Council proceed to formulate a programme for the reception of the Vice-Regal visit.

After a good deal of informal discussion, the resolution was carried, and the council then went into committee to formulate the programme, which, briefly, is as follows :—

Their Excellencies will be met a.t the borough boundary on the Waihi road at 11 a.m. by His Worship the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr A. M. Samuel, M.P., and Mrs Samuel. The public reception will commence in the Domain at 11.30 a,m„ when His Excellency will be tendered an address of loyalty .and welcome by His Worship the

After the addresses .the GovernorGeneral will, in accordance with his expressed wish, meet the returned soldiers, veterans, boy scouts, and girl guides, after which Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson will be invited to plant two trees—an oak and an elm—in the domain.

An opportunity is to be afforded prominent local members of the Native race to meet the Govej-nor-Genera.h. This is to be arranged through Haora .Tate-ranui. After the reception the Vice-Regal party will be the guests of His Worsnip the Mayor at a private luncheon at the Criterion Hotel. >

Just before the departure of the party at 2.30 p.m. the school children will be assembled at' the bridge, to bid farewell to the party. A gua t rd of honour, undqr Captain Porritt, D.S.O. composed of territorials, will be formed.

An invitation is to b.e sent .to the Paeroa, Karangahake, Tirohia, Netherton, Komata, Kofaiata Reefs, - Hikutaia, and Kerepeehi school committees, and Fathey Dunphy, inviting them to arrange to have the children from their schools assembled near the ba:nd ro.tunda in the domain. Some light refreshments will be provided for the children. ,

Invitations are alsp to be issued to the members and their wives of the Ohinemuri and Hauraki Plains County Councils, and chairmen of the various school committees. The local Salvation Army Band is alsio to be invited to provide a suitable musical programme. '

The following committees were appointed. with power to add to the number : Executive, the .Mayor and Crs. Brenan and Edwards; Address of Welcome, the Mayor and Cr. Porritt ; seating, Crs. Brenan and Pinder; children’s, arrangements, Cr. Silcock and Messrs C. H. Pascoe and G. H. Taylor ; decorations, Cr. Hare and Messrs P. Williams,, R. W. Evans, K. Slyfield, W. .Bajrclay, Ji McDonald, and G. P. Lamb.

It was decided to clean up the Domain grounds and effect a -number of needed improvements, and also repair the Bradford memorial. In the event -of unfavourable weather conditions it was decide/! to hold the reception in the Drill Hall, Cr. Porritt undertaking to make the necessary arrangements.

The'public ar© earnestly asked to assist in every way possible, and the shopkeepers are invited to close for a few hours and also fly huntings from their business premises and make suitable decoratiqns. Arrangements have been made,- by the council for the supply of ferns and greenery.