CORONATION DAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 998, 30 May 1911, Page 2

CORONATION DAY.

A. public meeting, convened by the Mayor, was held in the Council Chamber last night to discuss what programme should he adopted to celebrate Coronation Day. There was a representative gathering present. The Mayor, who presided, pointed out what it was proposed to do in other places on the occasion. He referred to the local celebrations at the time of King Kdward’s Coronation. Other centres had decided upon a combined religious service, to be followed by patriotic speeches, etc. In the past Foxtou had not been behind other places in respect to these matters and the prospect of a successful function on Coronation Day was bright. The Borough Council had already decided that the laying of the foundation stone of the Town Hall should be included in the programme. No doubt the ministers could arrange a combined religious service appropriate to the occasion and the band, cadets and other local societies would assist in the matter.

Mr Stewart said he had given the matter some consideration and he did not think the meeting could do better than follow the programme which had been carried out at the Coronation of King Edward. He suggested that religious services should be held in the various churches at 11 a.m. after which a procession be formed ac the Post Office or Borough Council to include local friendly societies, members of athletic bodies, cadets, school children and others and proceed to the hall where a halt could be made for the foundation stone ceremony and then reform and continue to the Park where speeches could be delivered. He urged that a special invitation be extended to the Maoris —as this was overlooked on a former occasion. Mr Golder said he would do his best to arrange for the band to be in attendance. At present they were short of players, but there were a sufficient number of instrumentalists in the town, who, if asked, would be willing to assist.

Rev. Mr Aitken did not approve of people standing about lor an hour or so in the Park at this time of the year. He thought the united services could be held at the Triangle and the patriotic speeches delivered at the hall. The Mayor said it had been suggested that the religious ceremony be held in the morning and the secular portion in the afternoon, but he thought the ceremony should be continuous.

Mr Chrystall said the function should be held iu the afternoon, otherwise it would prevent a number of people from attending. Rev Aitken and Mr Greig spoke iu favour of a united religious service as against distinctive services in the various churches. The Rev Mr Woodward said that a service would he held in every Anglican Church at n a.m., after that hour he would be pleased to take part in any united service decided upon. It was proposed that a united religious service be held at the Triangle at 2 p.m., after which an adjournment be made to the Hall, where the foundation stone would be laid and patriotic speeches delivered.

It was decided that the programme for the religious service be left iu the hands of the ministers.

It was resolved that a procession be formed, to include the Band, cadets, Borough Councillors, friendly societies, athletic bodies, Maoris, school children and citizens, and to proceed along a route to be defined.

Mr Cfarystall was appointed secretary to the committee.

A committee was appointed of all those present, Borough Councillors, and other prominent citizens, the Mayor to be convenor.

Mr A. D. Clemett was appointed marshall. The secretary was instructed to invite the heads of the various societies, and leading Maoris and the schoolmasters of Moutoa and Himatangi to co-operate with the committee.

It was decided to hold over further details until Thursday, Bth June.

A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.