PEACE CELEBRATIONS

Taihape Daily Times, 22 March 1919, Page 4

PEACE CELEBRATIONS

PUBLIC MEETING

DEFINITE PROGRAMME ADOPTED

A public meeting was held in the supper-room of the Town Hull last night to consider the question oil niak-

ing arrangements for the celebration of peaee. There was a representative attendance of about 50 persons present.. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and said the function was not one from which they expected to make money. He hoped the celebrations would be adequate to the importance of the occasion. He laid before the meeting a suggested programme for the three days —Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday—which would be declared public holidays. The, Mayor's suggested programme coincided to a remarkable degree with the programme submitted by the Government, which w y as received whilst the meeting was in progress. It was decided, after considerable discussion, that the programme be as follows: 1 SUNDAY. Thanksgiving services and combined afternoon services, the arrangements for which are to be left in the hands of the local clergymen, MONDAY. A monster procession to be formed in the morning, to march to the Recreation Grounds, where sports are to be held. The assistance of the Maoris is to be invoked, and it is expected some special items wall be contributed by the natives.

The arrangements for the procession are to be left in the hands of Sergeant-Major Forrest, with a recommendation that as many returned soldiers as possible take part in the procession.

The Sports Committee appointed consisted of Messrs W. MoLcnnan and Bond, with power to add #

In the evening a fancy dress and masked ball was decided upon, Mesdames Loughnan and Davics and Miss Spooner to act as committee. A concert is to be held in the. Three. Stars Theatre, under the .management of Mr, Stan Peyton. A Carnival is, to, be hold in the streets of Taihape. in the evening, after the manner of . Continental cities, the arrangements for which are to be left in the hands of the Rev. W. P. Stent, who promises us something novel and amusing. It was decided that all the functions should be free of chargo. TUESDAY. In the morning an immense proces- j sion of children is to be formed, to ] march through the town to the Re- j creation Grounds, when prizes will be ! awarded for the most original and | novel dresses, costumes and ckarac- I fers, etc., particulars of which will be J made public at a later date. On arriving at the Recreation Grounds a children 's picnic and sports meeting will take place. The committee appointed to have charge of Children's Day con- j sists of Messrs Thurston, E. McLaughlan, "Wilson, and Swindells. With regard to this portion ,of the programme it is desired to make it a picnic for grown-ups as well, and every encouragement is to be given for families to bring refreshments and food, and ma,ke an al fresco picnic .on the grounds and in the bush. Hot water will be provided. The evening is to be marked by a great pyrotechnic display in the Re creation Grounds, for which a most comprehensive selection of fireworks is to be obtained, and huge bonfires are to be/lit upon the most prominent hills in the neighbourhood of Taihepe_ Sergeant-Major Forrest, with the as- > sistance of the Fire Brigade, is to have charge of this portion of the celebrations. Each committee for the various portions of the programme were given , power to add to their number. GENERAL. A Finance Committee, consisting of Messrs Arrowsmith, Lawson, and Wrightson, was . appointed to have j control of financial arrangements, and ! to fix the necessary form of appeal i for subscriptions* General Committee of Management.; ■ —Messrs Wrightson, Loughnan, and ' Reid. The work of this committee is co-ordinate the activities of the various sub-committees to enable them to work harmoniously to a common ena. Messrs Murrell and Mercer were appointed joint secretaries. 'A letter was received from the Railway Department, asking in what manner they could work in sympathy with the local committee in the way of trains and decorations. The necos sary information is to be supplied as soon as inquiries are made, probably in the course of a day or two. Tho local band is to be engaged tn render the necessary musical assisttance. Arrangements to this end were left in the hands of Mr. E. Loader. All the preliminary arangements for peace celebration have now been put in hand, and the public will be duly notified as to what is being done as

, soon as the various committees get to i work. The first and most important will bu ! the work of the Finance Committee. } who have to raise the necessary funds I and an appeal will be made to the reI sidents of the town and district for ' contributions. There is not the slight- , est doubt that ample funds will be i forthcoming to commemorate the most \ momentous event in the history of the j human race. All subreptions carry j a Government subsidy.