PREPARATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10996, 20 June 1901, Page 5

PREPARATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

MEETING OF THE EXEOUTIVK.

ARRANGE3IENTB FOR ILLUMINATING THE CATHEDRAL.

A meeting of the Executivi Gwnmittee

was %vH y.esterday, wisn hi« Worship the Mayor i)iss?4ed« 1r ■ TJia Chairman stated, that witE regard to the Qphir BsUKJfcjpiUying, Mr.Bjshop, ths chfcirm*a of the Procession Committee, ha<l been canuaunaeafciag' in the matter. The Dscpration Committee bad pointed out that an extra sum of £85 beyond that voted by tlra Ks«cu.tive had been asked for by the Decoration Committee to illuminate the CafchedrsL As time was shore Air Stead 1 and himself- had agreed to gr.vnt tie sum asked the result would. tVtfv felt mite, justify this being expended. He Loped the £xecutive would -confirm tie action of Mr Stead and iumself. (Hear, bear.) Mr Stead had wxijfcten, poiafcujg out tihat' the amount was required in order to stake the UiumLa»tian. of lite C&thedr&l "Jftctave. Mf Stead wss unable to be present that day, but is* had forwarded a letter detailing the circumstances under which lite unauthorised expenditure of ihe £85 had been agreed to. Hβ hod receded a latter from .Mr Appfeby, resigsing his seat oa "the General and Finance Committees, and, a.ppairantly, h* (the Mayor) had been unwittingly the cause of that resignation. Mr Appleby had written tr> him officially, pointing' out that he resigned his positions on tf»e Committees because after nine years' public work, and an ex-Councillor, he was not; invited to the mayoral reception. Well, ,ba (the Mayor) might say that he had not invited any of the ex-Councillors. Undsr these circumstances Ire, perhaps, wns, unconsciously, the cause of the resignation of Atr Appieby. Mr Ropsr explained, that on trying the illumination on the Cathedral, it cas s£en that though very beautiful ao4 effective, it was yet incomplete, iaasnuich as the cross , .was not h'ghte<f up. A proposal was made to the Committee to carry out the work of lightiug up th* cross, but as it involved their taking the risk of life, they declined to do so. Ultimately a plan was devised by which the Cathedral would bs most effectively illuminated, an£l form, one of the most beautiful of the illuminations. He moved —"That the Executive approve of the action of. the Mayor aadi Mr Stead in granting the expenditure of £85 for extra illuminations."

Mr G. T. Booth seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

On tho motion-of Mr Booth, it was resolved that the Executive request that, as far an possible, nil employees should get the holidays on Saturday and' Monday. "Sir Ropsr brought up the proposed bad-ge for the Committee vlueh nad been prepared. The badge was approved. The Chairman said that with regard to ths casket, as it was somewhat bulky, it had been dedefed to p&nd it to the Royal sidenue, and simply present the address at tha railway station. Tho Executive Committee approved of this being done. Mr Graham roported regarcfing tlie bonfirew. He had, hs said, reogjved' quit? a number of telegiaansi ;ind letis*?, stating tJiat several bonfires would be lighted nt various points along the coast, so thi*t theOphiv would see thim on the journey irony Wellington. A bonfire would also be lighted at Sumner.

Mr A. H. TiUTibull said that hs did not know how rhs bonfires were to ba lighted, but ths one nt Sumuer might, possibly, be mistake© for lights. Mr Maodonald drew attention to the fact that the J&ecutfre had agreed th<it only two membsrs should go on. to the platform in the centre, on the occasion of the. laying of thy foundation stow? by th» Dulce. jfow the Pl*tfoin> Committee wei-e asked that th& architM diwild lw ft?so The Platform Committee were etropgly of opinion t-Uafc the numbs? on tl*e central platjorm should be aa few as possib.l«, in ord** , not to -interfere with tl»9 public view of the ceremony. It must bo remembered tte.t one man. in a position like that might obstruct the view of a number of people, The l>?rsons who had t-ak&n tickets for the stand lnd c r -ou« so to i?e» the Dulra of Cornwall perform the ceremony, and not to see Christchnrch paople on \hs platform in front. This ■yras what tho Executive Co3nmitt-w considieped, and thsy had only arranged that his Worship the Mayor and Mr Wigram Rhould go forward. Therefore, he considered that, with tbsvsxoeption.of thosa whom tlie Biifce might, retii>ire to he present, no one but th* two gentlemen referred to should be allowed to go forward. ■ » It was resolved , that the original resolution as to th* Mayor and- Mr Wigram only being present on the platform in tit© centre b3 adhered to. " . Mr 11. C. Bishop brought up the question of gentlemen wearing flowers at the Mftyora 1 . .Reception. The Chairman propossd to telegraph ami ciwiertain what was the etiquette on the point raised- by Mr Bishop. Speaking p&rsonaUr, as thoea- attending were supposed to be in half mourning, flowers would not be admissible.

This was all the businens.