WEEK'S HOLIDAY FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14055, 29 May 1911, Page 7

WEEK'S HOLIDAY FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS.

Tho North Canterbury Education Board has asked tho school committees throughout the North Canterbury district to closo for Coronation Day and the following day. On Saturday morning a deputation of headmasters of tho city and suburban schools waited on the chairman of the Board (Mr C. H. Opie), with a request that a weekjs holiday should be observed in their schools. Tho deputation pointed out that thero would ■be matinee performances for the' city and suburban school children, and it was- estimated that provision would have to be made for 12,000 children on the afternoons of Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday of Coronation week. It was also represented that very complete arrangements were being made by tho Entertainment Committee, and that seeing there would be only one free day (Monday) and that day would he one of great expectation and excit&nent among the children, a groat many would be absent for the succeeding festivities. Tho deputation practically asked that a whole week's holiday should bo given for Coronation week. Mr Opie said that the proposal seemed so reasonable and desirable that he had no hesitation in recommending that it should bo adopted by the Board, and that the Board would ask tho local committees to give a whole week's holiday.

A publio meeting was held in the Sumner Town Hall on Friday night to discuss what form the borough's Coronation celebrations should take. The Mayor (Mr H. J. Marriner) presided over a fair attendance. In the course of his address, the chairman stated that the matter had been discussed by tho Council, and it had been thought that, as tho present bathing accommodation would have to bo removed when the promenade was completed, new baths built •on the promenade would he a suitable memorial. They already had a Town Hall, and any scheme other than the erection of a public building would not carry the Government subsidy. It was also thought that they should havo a procession and a short commemorative service. The whole proceedings could be over in time for the residents to join in the city celebrations. A motion that a permanent memorial should be constructed was carried, and a sub-committeo, consisting of Messrs Pratt, Denham, Allen, A. C. Wilson, Menzies, A. Senior, C. Wood, Bradbury, and Brown, was aippbinted to confer with a sub-committee already appointed by the Council, the joint committee to report at a public meeting to be held ai a later date.

Tho special meeting of the Rangiora Borough Council on Thursday decided to obtain a foundation stono to* be laid at tho batli site on Coronation Day. An offer of pumping plant to supply the bath and tho size of the bath were discussed and referred to the Baths Committee. A grant was passed for fireworks, and an offer of motor-cars to convey councillors and their wives in the Coronation procession was accepted. A meeting will bo held in tho Presbyterian Schoolroom, Barrington street, Spreydon, on Wednesday evening, to discuss the matter of a Coronation memorial for the district.

Several school committees havo been enquiring from tho Education Board whether tho Government would grant them any subsidy in connection with their Coronation expenditure. The following is the reply received by tho Board from the Education Department: —"The Government has no intention of subsidising moneys spent by school committees in connection with tho King's Coronation. E. 0. Cibbes, secretary." Tho Mayor of New Brighton ("Mr C. H. Opie) stated to a "Press" reporter that a feature of tho Coronation celebrations at the seaside would be a huge bonfire on the beach. A very large number of trees in the Domain wero relics of the lato fire, and tho removal of these would givo the Borough a good opportunity of providing a very fine bonfire. The question of the Canterbury Automobile Association being represented in the Coronation procession will bo considered at a meeting of tho committee, to be held to-morrow afternoon.