DECLARATION OF WAR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8207, 3 August 1915, Page 2

DECLARATION OF WAR

ANNIVERSARY TO-MORROW

ARRANGEMENTS FOR ASHBURTON'S CELEBRATIONS.

In common with- the other local authorities throughout the British Empire, the AshburtorT Borough Council has decided to co-operate in the movement to hold meetings to commemorate the anniversary of Great Britain's declaration of war. Wednesday next will be anniversary day, and at the meeting of the Council last evening, on the motion of Crs. F. Z. D. Ferriman and G. W. Andrew^, it was decided to hold a public meeting in Baring Square "West, by the Band Rotunda, commencing at about 12.15 p.m. On the same day intercessory services are to be held in. the various .churches in Ashburton in the morning, and a united service in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the evening. At the meeting of the Council last evening a deputation .from the Ashburton County Ministers' Association, consisting of the Rev. Messrs G. Miller and W. J. Elliott, waited on the Council and urged that shopkeepers and business.people should' be asked to close their 1 "premises for a couple of ; sholirs whilst the 'intercessory; services were in progress. Mr Elliott: said the time suggested was from 10.30 a.m. t0'12.30 p.m. He thought the services would be over by 12 o'clock noon.' Cr. Hefford asked if there would be any objection to business places being closed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ' Mr-Elliott replied that he thought the services had been arranged for 10.30 a.m. At the same time, he considered that the churches would not object if the time decided to ask ,the business places to close were altered to fit in with the Council's own arrangements. A letter was also received from the Rev. J. '11. Burgin, containing a similar request.

Cr. G. H. Buchanan moved—" That the business people "in the town bo requested to close their premises from 10.30 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Wednesday." Cr. G. W. Andrews' seconded the motion. \

! Cr. It. Keri^ suggested that the i Council should ask business people .to close all day on Wednesday and open all day on Thursday. ! Other councillors thought the idea^ a pood one, but it was.not acted upon. The motion was carried. A letter was also received from the: j Ministers' Association, thanking the I Mayor for 'consenting. to attend . the | united religious . which is to bo held in St. Andrew's Church on Wednesday evening, and extending to the j whole Council an iuvitation to be present on that occasion.

It was decided that the Council, as a body, should attend the united intercessory service.