TO-DAY'S CEREMONY.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12378, 18 December 1905, Page 8

TO-DAY'S CEREMONY.

The ceremony to-day will commence at 11 a.m. A largo platform will be erected near the stone, which v.ill be occupied by the Premier and tie Ministers, the Mayor and Mayoress, Consuls representing various foreign nations, end official representatives, and on eacih side a space •trill bo enclosed and chairs provided for some eight hundred guests, including members of the various committees, members of borough councils, end their wives. The Ministry will, bo represented by the Right Hon. tho Premier, the Hon. Kir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G., tho Hon.

Mr Hall-Jones, tho Hon. Mr CarroU, and the Hon. Mr Pitt. L -The chief speech will bo made by tlie Premier, as President of tho Exhibition, and the Hon. Sir J. Q. Ward will aleo give a short address. The Mayor, as chairman of the Executive Committee, will receive the Ministers, and ask the Premier, as President, to perform the ceremony of laying the stone. A handsome trowel will-bo presented, to the Premier by Mr James Jauneson, on behalf of tno contractors. Aβ soon as the stone is laid.a verse of the National Anthem is to be sung by the school children nnd tho*o assembled to witness tho ceremony, after which the Premiers address will be ei^en. His Worship the Mayor of AVellington and his danghter. Miss Hislop, have accepted the invitation- of the Executive Committee, and will bo present at the ceremony. A considerable number of the volunteers and school cadets will tako part in the proceedings, and after the addresses there will be a march past. The Burnham School, with their brass hand, wiil also attend, and the band will assist with the Doxology and National Anthem. Special trains havo been provided to convoy the volunteers and other visitors to Christchurcli. and arrangements havo been also made for delayed trains to convey them to their homes agnin.