THE CORONATION

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 110, 10 May 1902, Page 6

THE CORONATION

LOCAL CELEBRATIONS.

MEETING OF CITIZENS,

A public meeting, convened by His Worship the Mayor (Mr A. Kidd), was held at the Municipal Buildings yesterday, for the purpose of making arrangements for local celebrations on the occasion of the coronation of King Edward VII. His Worship the Mayor presided, and there was a large and representative attendance of citizens.

Ihe Chairman explained the object of the meeting. The coronation would take place on June 2(>th. which would give them ample timo to make arrangements for the local celebrations. The Coronation would be celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the British Empire, it behoved them to take steps to see that the event was fittingly eelebraed in Auckland. It seemed to him that a children's gathering should be made a feature of the celebrations, and that the churches should also be considered in the programme for the forenoon. It would be a great thing for the little ones to be able to say in after life that they had been present at the Coronation celebrations. He moved: "That a committee be formed of those present for the adequate celebration in Auckland of the Coronation of King Edward VII." Mr Savage seconded. Mr Peacock thought that some indication should be given by the meeting as to the direction that the celebrations should take. They could then appoint an executive committee to carry out the arrangements. In answer to the chairman, Archdeacon Calder stated that the King had sent out an order of service tbrotigh the Archbishop of Canterbury, which would be observed by the Anglican churches. This would take up the morning until 12 o'clock, leaving the afternoon free. Mr A. Myers, in order to put the matter on a business-like basis, moved that nothing be undertaken by the committee to clash with the religious celebrations in the forenoon. Mr P. J. Ohlsen seconded. Mr J. H. Hannan asked what the nonconformist churches were doing in the matter. The Rev. G. B. Monro stated that a committee bad been appointed by the Auckland Ministers' Association to arrange the religious celebrations for the churches in question. That committee had not met, but these services would also take place in tho morning. Mr Myers' motion was cai'ried unanimously. Mr I. Alexander thought that in the afternoon a children's celebration should be held in the Drill-shed, and that a citizens' ball should be held in the evening. Admission could be charged, and he proposed that any surplus be devoted to the establishment of a King Edward VII. scholarship. He moved to this effect. Lieutenant-Colonel White said that the Brill-shed would be floored with flag-stones, and not with wood, and would not be suitable for a ball. He thought the roof would be finished in time for tbe celebrations, but not the floor. Mr Kirker said he did not think a citizens' ball would be a success, nor did be think that the scholarship idea was a good one. What they wanted was something that would impress the young people and their parents. He thought the time had come when they should have a statue of the King in the park, as well as the statue of the late Queen. He moved that a children's demonstration be held in t"ie Park on that date, the military to assist, and that it be made the occasion of laying the foundation of a statue of the King; also that the citizens be asked to illuminate their premises in the evening. The Rev. W. E. Gillam seconded. Mr W. J. Speight said his idea was to bring into the city for the occasion every child in the province over the age of nine years. He thought it a selfish policy to confine the cele-' brations to the city children. The scheme meant tbe handling of 15,000 children, and he proposed that the country children be given accommodation in private bouses in town. The getting of children from the country would entail the securing of free passes by rail and steamer, and into this question he had not inquired. He moved, as n.n amendment that a small committee be set up to deal with this question. He had great faith in his scheme, and he was sure that it could be carried out.

Mr. t. Alexander asked if Mr. Speight had considered the time of the year at which he was proposing to bring these children into the city.

Mr. Speight said this was what he wanted the meeting to consider and decide upon.

• Mr. Kirker did not think Mr. Speight's idea advisable, as be considered the responsibility of bringing '.the children into town was too great Io be undertaken.

Mr. Myers asked Mr. Speight to alter his motion so as to leave the arrangements for the afternoon to a committee, it being an Instruction to that committee that special facilities be given to the participation of the child^n in the celebrations. If.Mr. Speight, would do so he would second his amendment.

Mr. Speight consented to do so. Mr. W. J. Beehan said he aoproved of the idea of the citizens' ball.

Mr. Bathbone said he had thought about the matter, and he thought that they should make the day one that the town and suburban children would remember. The scheme of bringing in the country children was perhaps too bigr. He thought halls could be secured in various parts of the town where the children could be entertained.. He did not favour the parading of the children. What they wanted to do was to ensure their thorough enjoyment of the day. He had gon_ into the question of medals, and he found that medals could not be struck in time. What they wanted was a series of really good entertainments for the children.

Mr. Upton said the ideas put forward could only be thrashed out in the intimacy of a committee. He thought they should appoint a corn-

mittee to consider the schemes suggested, and report at an early date. His heart was with Mr. Speight's scheme, but he had heard some remarks which made him rather incline the other way. He urged the meeting to agree to a committee being set up, and suggested names to be placed on it.

Mr. Peacock thought "the meeting should decide first whether or not the afternoon was to be devoted to the children.

\f Mr. Speight's amendment was then put, and was lost by 21 votes to 13.

Mr. Kirker then withdrew his motion, and the Mayor moved that the afternoon's celebrations take the form of an entertainment of the city and suburban children, and that a committee be set up td" consider the best means of doing the same, the committee to report, at an early date.

Mr. Kirker said that he did not propose to give up his idea of the King's statue.

The Mayor said they had better take one thing at a time.

Mr. McLeod seconded the motion. He was entirely against the movement for erecting a King's statue at the present time. He thought tbe resolution of the citizens in favour of the erection of a memorial statue for our fallen soldiers had prior claims to the erection of a statue to the King. He objected to the qxiestion of erecting a statue to the King being tacked on to the question of entertaining the children.

On being put t(| the vote the Mayor's motion was carried unanimously.

After some further, discussion it was decided that the committee should consist of, the Mayor, Messrs Speight, Kirker, Rathbone, Stichbury, Berry, Upton, and Beehan, with the following schoolmasters: Messrs Tibbs, Stewart, Dickenson, Ohlsen, Draffin, and Wells.

In answer to a question LieutenantColonel White said at present it was impossible to do anything with regard to the military arrangements as yet. . It was possible that the military Authorities had arranged for a display, which would clash with the arrangements for the children, and he thought the Mayor should see General Babington on the question. He thought it was impossible to have a real military display together with the entertainment to the children, and he considered the latter the more important.

Mr Shera said he did not agree with Lieutenant-Colonel White. He thought that a military display would form an entertainment.

Lieutenant-Colonel White said that if the military display could be arranged so as not to clash with the children's, entertainment by all means let them have both. But if one of these bad to be given up, he thought it should be the military display.

Mr Towsey said he did not think that turning out the cadets would afford enjoyment to the boys who were members of the corps.

Mr McDougall said he did not agree with Mr Towsey.

The Mayor said be never intended that the military should be left out of the celebrations. Military displays would be held throughout the Empire on the occasion of tbe Coronation. He thought the occasion was specially fitting for a parade of cadets. H.e moved that a committee, consisting of Lieutenant-Colonel White, Major Myers, the Hon. T. Thompson, and the mover, be set up to consider the question of a military display.

This motion was carried. * Mr W. J. Beehan moved that the day be wound up with a citizens' ball in the evening.

Mr Stichbury seconded pro forma

Mr Rathbone opposed the suggestion of a ball. Whenever such an idea had come up before it had met with well-merited ridicule, and it would continue to do so. In the first place they bad not a building large enough for the purpose.

Mr Thompson suggested entertaining the children iv the evening.

. Mr Beehan said he wanted to arrange for a ball, which would be attended by the citizens —and not merely by the elite of the city. Mr Rathbone was a member of the inner circle. (Laughter.) Mr Beehan's motion was defeated on the voices.

The Mayor then moved, and it was carried: That the citizens be requested to heartily co-operate in making the Coronation festivities worthy of the city, and particrilarly in making the preparation for a display of bunting and for evening illuminations.

Mr Gresbam suergested the issuing to every child taking part in the celebrations a voucher, which would be afterwards exchanged for a bronze medal.

Tbe meeting then closed