CELEBRATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11346, 8 August 1902, Page 5

CELEBRATIONS IN CHRISTCHURCH.

MBETECG OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Executive Committee of the Coronation Celebration met yesterday. Present— The .Mayor of Christchurch (in the chair), Messis Board, W. Harris, C. M. Gray, the Mayors of Sumner, Linwood, 'New Brighton, Woolston, Sydenham, and St. Albans.

, The Chairman said he had sent the telegrams to the Acting-Premier re altering the date of the Coronation celebration, but as they had seen, they had been unsuccessful. The meeting had been convened to see if anything wanted to be done. He had to apologise for the absence of Colonel *A ebb, who had go—c to Lyttelton to meet the troopers arriving by the Orient. Mr Gray, on bahalf of tbe Fireworks and Water Display Committee, reported that the site bad been selected, and all tbe arrangemeats were well in hand. The Committee intended inspecting the set pieces on Saturday at 5 p.m. Everything pointed to a successful display taking place. Mr Jtioard, Chairman of the Children's Committee, reported, in accordance with the suggestion of tbe Executive, that the demonstration in connection with the children should be on a more extended scale, the Committee had carefully considered the matter. It was, however, decided that the former proposed programme should be adhered to, and that it would not be wise to give an outdoor entertainment, as the weather was too uncertain. The Committ«e had arranged for the second bail in the Canterbury Hall Buildings, which would be available for any overflow if it were required. The preliminary details had been carried cut, and be had called a meeting of the Committee for twelve o'clock on Saturday. The Mayor of Linwood asked whether this was to be taken as the report of the .Sub-Con_Eittee, the Children's Committee, or the -Chairman. •Mr Board said v was the report of the Children's Committee. The Mayor of Linwood said the Executive had expressed the opinion that the nildren's demonstration should be carried _-t on a more extended scale. The arrangements were referred to a sub-commit-t--*e, who had to report to the General Committee. ' The subcommittee had not reported to the C'eneral Committee, hence i he report just made was not that oi the committee. The Mayor of Sumner objected to the ■ourse taker! by the Chairman of the Committee. Mr Board said that as the General Committee had come to the conclusion tbat lie programme as originally intended should bs carried out, there wasj therefore, no_v :ag for the sub-committee to do, but to revise the programme. He had consulted Colonel Webb a* to the children going on :o the Park, and the Colonel bad said that t would _ot be fit to take tbe children on to the Park. He thought the Mayors of Linwood and Sumner were making fax too much out of nothing. The CThairm_n thought that it would not be wise to carry the argument fuither. The Mayors of Linwood and _______ bxd

entered their protest, and there tbe matter had better stand.

Mr Harris, on behalf of _he Procession Committee, stated that the carriages for the local bodies were to be in posction at Madras street, near the Belt, by 2.30 p.m. sharp. The various Friendly .Societies, etc., would meet as appointed, and tha marshals would then direct them, a* to the place in the Procession they were to take np. The Mayor said that ho thought the members of the Executive Committee and of the Sub-Committees should have a space allotted to them at the review in the Park near the saluting base. The Executive and the various Sub-Committees had had a good deal of work to do in connection with the matter, and he thought this rfboold be recognised. Mr Gray pointed out the Executive Committee, or nearly all of them, would be with their various local •jodies. He would suggest, however, that the Executive should support the Mayor on the Rotunda on the procession arriving at Victoria square. It was agreed to carry out this suggestion. » It was resolved to ask the Mayor to close the streets through whioh the procession passed, and also to get the City Surveyor to sweep the streets. The Chairman said that, the Friendly Societies had! asked them to plant tbe Coronation oak for them, It was decided to arrange for a space being reserved for the Executive Committee on the occasion of the oak being planted by the Mayoress. The Executive did not see their way clear to do anything with regard to the reservation of space at the saluting point iat the review. ' The Mayor of Sydenham asked whether the question of the payment of subsidy by the Government had been cleared up. The -—airman said ti\e matter was in the hands of the Finance Committee, who ' would attend to the question. The meeting then terminated.