PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 2 May 1919, Page 3

PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

PREPARATIONS AT OTAKI. SUCCESSFUL COMMITTEE MEETING. A -well-attended meeting of the committee to make further arrangements for the pieace celebrations was«held in the Town Board office on' Wednesday nights Those present were: Mr Byron Brown (chairman), Miss Ednied, ■ Mr Standish (Waihoanga s«hool), Messrs T. Clifford and J. Nicholson (Manakau school), Eli Allen, G.~W. Kirk and W. W. Westaway (To Horo school), H. Nicolson, S. Norgrove, M. H. Ayr*, W. H-. Reynolds, Puku . Rikikana, Frank penn, Revs. G. F. Petrie, M.A., and G. Calver.t Blathwayt. Tho Chairman indicated what had been done, and welcomed the representatives of tho outlying districts who i were present at the meeting. Mr Brown I stated that ho ksid fcoen successful in securing the services of the Wellington Central Mission Band, of some 35 to 40 performers, for Sunday and Monday's qekbrntions. Visiting School Children.

Mr Westaway stated that the Te iloro and Waihoanga School Commit-, tecs had decided to amalgamate with .Otaki for the celebrations. To Hor ; 6 bad .secured a £lO grant from tho County Council, and this, with the Goviernnient subsidy, would make £2O available. The To Horo people askei that they be allowed to spend a portion of this on ribbons, flags, etc., for the children, and the balance could be handed over to the central fund.

Mr H."'Nicolson reported .that he had interviewed the County Council, which had granted £lO for the Otaki celebrations; but Or. Ryder ka'd afterwards informed kirn, that the £lO would not bo available unless tho public subscribed another £lO.

Mr Brown stated that he had issue* a few subscription lists, and already several pounds had been offered in donations. Ho pointed wit that all the money would have to go through the lo*al body in order to get tho Government subsidy. Mr Brown thought there would be no difficulty in raising £6O, and .this, with the subsidy, would provide £l2O, which he thought would suffice.

Mr T. Clifford said the Manakaru peoplo wore not unanimously in favour of joining with Otaki in tho celcbraThe main objection was tho difficulty in getting the children homo, as the train was too late. They also wished to know a little more about the nature of tho celebrations. Or. Bryant had informed him that the County Council would give Manakau a £lO grant.

After considerable discussion it was scjoivcd, on the motion of Mr Penn, seconded by Mr Reynolds, that the •committeo undertake to bring tho Manakau children down to Otaki and get them home again free of expense.

Later in the meeting it was announced that arrangements could be made with Mr Archie Smith to tako the Manakau children back home in his tiro big motor 'buses at a reasonable price. It was pointed out that the children could come down in the morning train. Tho Manakau delegates expressed themselves as satisfied with this arrangement.

Tho wish was freely expressed that tho Manakau peoplo would see their way to join in the celebrations, as the bigg«i the number "participating the greater the success would be. The Manakau delegates said the matter would be definitely decided at a meeting to be held on Friday (to-nig-ht)

Refreshments. «»nsiderablo discussion ensued as to the best moans of providing refreshments for the crowd. It was ultimately decided, on tho motion of Mr- Westaway, seconded by Mr Penn, that a mid-day meal be provided by the committee for all school children, but that the general public fee requested to provide their own refreshments and picnic together. • It was resolved that each school set up its own committee to attend to the refreshments. , Badges and Flags. After discussing the matter of badges for tho children, it was decided that the children's badges bo of red, white and blue; also that tho various school committees notify the central committee as soon as possible the number of flags required for the children, so that same might bo procured without delay. Monday's Celebrations. The Chairman was deputed to arrange for a few short speeches to be given on the Monday. Mr Brown said ho understod tho Rev. Knowles Smith, of Wellington, would be visiting Otaki with the band, and would be willing to give an address. The meeting instructed Mr Brown to iavite Kev. Knowles Smith to give an address on the Monday, and also at the thanksgiving service on the Sunday afternoon. Mr Field, M.P., is also to be asked to speak. Arrangements in connection with. printing souvenir hymn sheets and programmes wero left in tho hands of the secretary, chairman and Kev. Petrie. Wind-up Entertainment. Mr Nicolson suggested that a dance be held on the Monday night to wind up the celebrations. After some discussion, Rev. Petrie proposed that a patriotic concert be held on Monday night, to be followed by a dance, a

—Mr Nicolson seconded. Mr Westaway proposed as an amendment that a " danee only be held. Seconded t>7 Mr K^ ll3l^ Rev Petrie's motion was earneu, and Kev' Petrie :m3 Mr Fufcu Kikihana were appointed a sub-committee to carry out the entire arrangements for the function: It was suggested that the concert be held in the Theatre, and the dance following in the Town Hall; also that a small charge be made, for admission to both- function^

The Procession. There was some .little discussion re- r . garding the procession on Monday. It was decided to start the procession at 10.30 a.m. from near the post.office. Mr Reynolds, the marshal, is to have complete control over tho procession, but each school contingent will be in charge j of its own teachers and officers. j It was reported that the Natives in- i tended to take part in the procession in force, also that the Druids would turn out in strength in regalia. The Band. Messrs H. Nicolson and M. H. Ayre wero deputed to make arrangements for accommodating .the vjsiting bandsnien. Mr Brown said he anticipated about £4O would cover the whole cost of tho band's travelling and accommodation, the band having generously offered their services free.

Mr M. H. Ayre (convener of the sports committee) reported that his committee would mako all arrangements for a sports programme for Monday's celebrations. They did not intend to have any horse events.

A number of matters of detail were discussed, and a very successful meeting terminated at a late hour.