Peace Celebrations.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 209, 29 May 1902, Page 3

Peace Celebrations.

A meeting of the Peace Celebrations Committee was held on Tuesday evening ; present —Dr H. C. Barclay (chair), Ilev. G. Barclay, and Messrs Walker, Philip, Mathias, Middleton, Hamilton, Pitcaithly, Milsom, and F. Akhurst (secretary). An apology was received from the Rev. McK. Gibson.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read.

Dr Barclay said he hardly thought he should be in the chair, as he was elected while Mayor, and he thought he might bo usurping someone else's place. Some discussion ensued on this question. Mr Walker said the Committee did not go out ot office till peace was proclaimed, and he thought this applied to the chairman. There was no reason for Dr Barclay to vacate the chair,

To put the matter in order, it was resolved that Messrs Hamilton and Walker wait upon the Mayor and explain the position. In the meantime hr Barclay act as chairman. The chairman said that they expected news almost daily, and it was to be considered whether they should carry out the programme as formerly arranged. There was another question—they were only throe weeks off the Coronation, and it was to be considered whether they should have two celebrations or only one. Still, several questions required arrange-, tnent, such as the question of a bonfire and catering. The secretary stated that there.waa almost T3O in hand and .£ls worth of fireworks. The programmes and posters had already been distributed. CORRESPONDENCE.

From Mr E, C. Studholme, agreeing to give brushwood for bonfire and a gnm sapling for flagpole. Some discussion took place as to the likelihood of there being one day set aside as Peace Day apart from any spontaneous outburst.

The Rev. G. Parc 1 >y moved and Mr Hamilton seclud'd —“That in view of celebrating in some : ' 'able manner the exnectod announcement of the Government bo asked whether it was proposed to suggest a fiay lot the whole colony, in accord-

j a ice with prev.o .. vru >g m ■ n-.” j Carried. ! A further resolution, that if the i Gov nvuent did not give an answer to this request the Committee meet and fix a day, was carried. All the committees were instructed to go on with their duties as before. The motion standing on the books that the surplus from the collection bo given to the Indian Famine Fund was rescinded as obsolete. The motion that medals be given the children was rescinded, as Coronation medals will likely be issued. The bonfire was held over for the present. The Rev. George Barclay reported that the form of religious service had been agreed upon formerly, but several of the then cl mgym on were now out of town.

Mr B. Ak l urst, sec etary of the Peace Celebrations i ’oa-mittee yesterday reccived the following wire from the Acting-Premier, Mir J. G. Ward “If pe-cc intima ion .rr ves early in the day all public offices ihruighout tho colony wili be closed at oner. If it arrives very late at night, the billowing (lay alloffics will b’ closed throughout the colony. li it arrives in tho middle of the ay all public off! ;es will ho closed invite liately on receipt of :ho ic-ws. It will be impissiUe t> restrain the public until ' ho following d iv.” On receipt ■ f (he tele.'ram a meeting wi; cillei and cel i in the Library bnil.hng, and the following amended inline adop ed : -()) On receipt of news the firebeli to he rung ; (2) .Vleo'V-g in the Its,rough Unuocii (J .ambers ; (15) Mayor reads lii; ne-.s; (1; Niti unl As limn. Other h;c eelvs will bo givii. In .‘he evening at 6 UO general illumina. lions, 7-'JO u.rcli light procession from Fire Rng-ide stuion, m d a grand display of fireworks.

It is suggesic.l that the remainder of tbs origin.l p ogramme, including children’s sports, should lake place on Corona ion day.