TWO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 164, 11 July 1919, Page 2

TWO PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

■ ' t AND A TANGIBLE PROGRAMME. THE PEACE FESTIVAL. The Government lias proclaimed both Saturday, July 19, and Monday, July 21, as public holidays, and in Auckland the schedule for the peace celebrations on these two days has at last Teached something like a tangible and definite form. When Mr A. J. Entricqn (DeputyMayor) reported progress to the City Council last night, be gave the complete programme as it has been set out so far, and mentioned that it would probably be ratified at the meeting of the Peace Celebration Committee this afternoon. On Saturday, July 19, the big procession, which isintended to be fully representative of everything, is due to leave the General Post Office at ten in the morning, and will get to the Domain i about noon. There a dais has been built, j and the 0.C.8. and other officers will be assembled, and there will be a grand march past. Then the units will be formed up and the proclamation of His Majesty the King will be read, this to be followed by the Royal salute of 21 guns. Refreshments are going to be provided for the eoldiere, and the R.S.A. has arranged a programme of sports that will span the interval between this luncheon and the football matches that will begin later on in the afternoon. The pavilion at the Domain will be reserved for wounded soldiers and their escorts, and the proceeds from the programmes cold during the afternoon will be devoted to the purchase of comforts for the men at Feathereton 'Camp. In the afternoon entertainments will be given to the people at the Knox Home, Tamaki, and a band performance to the inmates of the Mental Hospital. A brass band will also go out to the Little Sistere of the Poor, at Grey Lynn, and will play there, while music will also be discoursed in the grounds at the Auckland Hospital. On Saturday night the bands will play on the Albert Park and at the foot ot Queen Street. But the main event ot the evening will be the dance given to returned eoldiers at the Town Hall. Monday's programme is a continuation of that on Saturday, with special attractions for the children. The email kiddies of the primers and Standard I. ■will be provided with entertainment and games in their own schools, but the bigger ones are going to be taken to the pictures, where the proclamation of the King will be Tead to them, and a speaker will address them upon the significance of the occasion. This speech—for there will *be only one at each picture show—is going to be strictly limited to five minutes, and j then, while refreshments are taken I round to them, the youngsters will ibe at ' liberty to enjoy the .blood-and-thunder romances and the Chaplin comedies of the screen. The children from the orphanages in the metropolitan area are being catered for as well, and the orphans, widows, and dependents of the eoldiers -who are dead are also gping to 'be the guests of ' the city ' during the afternoon. Then they will be escorted up to the To*n" "Hall,"'whore high - jbe the n'&xt "event, "'and -£he children will play various games. At night band music will be played lin front of the Town Hall and'down on i the waterfront. During the whole of the festival Auckland will be illuminated here and there. Of course, its clusters of lights will not match those of gay Paris, but they will be pleasant to see, at all events, and should impart something of the carnival touch to the city. BUSINESS ARRANGEMENTS. TWO DAYS' CLOSING. ADOPTED BY EMPLOYERS. The following resolutions have been idopted by the committee of the Auckland Employers' Association: — '•'That this committee recommends all businesses and industries to observe ooth Saturday, 19th, and Monday, 21st, instants, as public holidays in honour of the Declaration of Peace." It was also resolved to communicate the above resolution to the Deputy-Mayor. "That this committee strongly urgee Government to declare both Saturday, 19th, and Monday 31et instants statutory public holidays in honour of the Peace celebrations, and also resolved that a copy of this resolution be telegraphed to the Acting-Prime Minister." THE SOLDIER BALI> Arrangements for the ball to members of the R.S.A. and lady friends are being made by the honorary organiser (Mr C. P. Bickford) in conjunction with the R.S.A. Invitations are being issued to admit soldier and one lady friend at the Soldiers' Club to-night from 6 to 8, Saturday from 1 p.m.. to 8 p.m., Monday 6 to 8 p.m., Tuesday 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday 0 a.m. to 8 p.m. R.S.A. SPORTS. Entries are being received by Mr F. 11. Burbush (Repatriation Department) for the sports events in connection with peace celebrations on July 19. There are seven events (as per advertisement) and these are open under service conditions to men who have served in the forces in the present vtir- at home or abroad.