CELEBRATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11279, 21 May 1902, Page 7

CELEBRATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

ADJOURNED MEETTNG OF CTHZENS.

An adjourned meeting of citiaens was held in the City Council Chamber yesterday afternoon, to discuss the proposals for celebrating the Coionation in Christchurch. There were present—Tbe Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. F. Wigram), the Mayor of Sydenham (Mr J. B. Sim), the -Mayor of St. Albans (Mr T. H. Davey), the Mayor of Linwood (Mr H. Pearce), the Mayor of Woolston (Mr Richardson), Crs. C. M. Gray, R. M. Macdonai.d, 11. Wood, J. TSmith, Messrs W. Prudhoe, W. H. Cooper, P. J. Board, E. G. Staveley, Sandilands, J. Brunt, J. M. Douglass, W. Minson, tlie Rev. W. Baumher, and the Rev. C. E. Ward. Apt. ogies for absence were received from the Ma*, or of Sumner (Mr W. Rollitt) and 'Mr_A."E. G. Rhode-. The Chairman (Mr Wigram) snid 'a ■ " small sub-committee had been appointed at the last meeting to d_a\v up v piogrumme. It. was felt that the celebration, on this occasion should be like those of the Royal visit, of a national character, and the expenses should he borne by the local bodies. The sum of £800 had been returned to the ;".ocal bodies after the Royal visit, and it would on!.y be asking for some cf this money 'back again. . He would move— "That this me_t__g endorse the. principle tliat the Coronation festivities i*esei_bl_ the Royal visit to Christchirrch in its national character, and that it is fit and risrht that the cost of the celebrations in Christchurch should be Iborne by the local bodies in the same manner a_ was done on the occasion of xhe Royal visit." Mr W. H. Cooper seconded the motion, •which was carried. Mr F. J. Board asked if some idea of the oosfc of the proposed programme could be given. He did not think people would Iba prepared to go in for so large a scheme a9 on th© occasion of the Royal visit. The Mayor read the programme as already pub.ished. Discussion followed, the Chairman stilt*, ing that the Committee waa very anxiouto do something for the children. . It waa suggested that _bout 4000 would have to 'be allowed for. * In reply to a furtiher question, his Worship said Jt was proposed that the local bodies Ibe asked to frubscriba £500, and that the Government be asked to give £500 sulbsidy. It was not necessary 'that the whole sum should be expended. Anything they might do would not ibe binding on the local 'bodies, ibub it was hoped that these bodies would fall in with the desires of their representatives: Mr Wigram moved—"That, the ' loca' bodies be asked to subscribe £500 among, t . them .or the' Coronation festivities,' to be supplemented by a further £500, being the £ for £ gran. promaß-d by tne Government." . Mr T. H. Davey seconded the motion, which was carcried. '. In reply to Cr. Gray, the Mayor eadd it would be a wise proceeding to secure, both the Canterbury Hall and the C__o__. Un, if it were possible, in o__e of the day -_*__- ing out wet, for the ac-otn_K>d_.ibn of the cbildren. • Cr. Gray suggested a colossal , '___- fight" for the young people, ea sonsfithinj to be re_-_t_b_red by them. Mir E. G. Staveley asked w__t_i__ something of a more permanent character than a "bun fight" or a bonfire could not be arranged. The planting of a walk of trees through the Park, for instanoe, appeared to him a desirable thing. The Mayor said while agreeing that it would be good to plant a Coronation oak or an. avenue of trees, he should be Sorry to see the people asked, to subscribe to anything more in the kind of a permanent memorial just now. The Jubilee Memorial wag still unfinished, and there would ,be a. ' ' call, when the war was finished, to provide a, memorial to those who fell during the campaign. It was d-cided that the question of treeplanting be a suggestion to the Committee. Discussion took place a. to the advisabJeness of providing -the oliildren with a meal, it being finally decided to leave the question to tlie Committee. The programme submitted was adopted -without alteration. On .the Chairman's motion it was resolved to add to the existing Committee the following:—Colonel Webb, the C__ai_m_n of the Board of Education, members •of Parliament for the distriot, Chairman of-the Harbour Board, Chairman of tho Board,' Chairman of the Riccarton Road Board, Chairman of the Avon Road Board. President of the Trades and Labour Council, heads of the various Friendly Societies, headmasters and mistresses of tlie principal schools in the district, Chairman of the Hospital Board, Chairman of the Charitable Aid Board, Chairman of the Selwyn County Council,- Chairman of the Heathcote Road Board, Messrs E. G. Stavelev. G. G.! Stead, A. E. G. Rhodes, C. Louissbn, B. P. Manhire, R M Macdona'.d, 0. M. Gray, with r. power to add to their number. * / a. Mr R. W. Barry was appointed general -- ___ secretary, and the meeting adjourned. ■£*"-"* A Committee _-_et__4_ of the Mayors of '■*£ the Boroughs will be held this afternoon at & four o'clock.