CITIZENS’ CORONATION MEETING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 143, 2 June 1911, Page 3

CITIZENS’ CORONATION MEETING

A meeting of citizens xvas held last evening in the Napier Borough Council Chambers, his \\ orship the Mayor (Mr. J. Vigor Brown;. M.P., presiding over a very small attendance.

Mr. Brown, in opening the meeting. stated that in other parts of the Dominion the arrangements for celebrating the coining Coronation had been entered into very enthusiastically. Apparently in Napier not much interest was '•>< ing shown He congratulated the clergy, however, on tin ir large ;.ttendanee. The smallness of the inerting was •irobably due to tl <■ parade ar the Garrison Hail. He had received !< tiers of apoio-'x for ron-att< ndar.ee from ItiloiKt .S.indlmi’ii. Colom i Hislop, and U-.pt.Pi Ringland. The Rev. Sir. Asher also forwarded an apology. Mr. Brown explains 4 th" ot)je<-t of the meeting was tlie making of suggest ions and the arrangement of a programme suitable for the occasion of the Crowning of the King. At the late King’s death a service was held in Clive Square, but noxv that much larger areas of ground were available, he suggested that Nelson Park should be used. By using Clive Square the speakers laboured under a great disadvantage as they could speak to and be heard, only by half the people present. Suggestions were also asked for the disposal of a £250 grant that the Government had offered for a memorial to celebrate the Coronation. The speaker explained that he thought another ambulance van for the removal of infectious diseases to the hospital was necessary. At present a person suffering from an infectious disease would be taken to the hospital and a little later a victim of an accident. By so doing there was a great danger of contagion. He telegraphed to the Acting-Premier. Hon. J. Carroll, concerning this, and received a telegram from the Hon. Buddo, whose business it is to deal with such matters, that an ambulance was not eligible for the Government subsidy. The commanders of the local military forces had offered Io do their share in any arrangements that were made.

Bishop Averill then spoke concerning the time at which the celebrations should be held ; in the morning or the afternoon. Jn his church and in all the Anglican Churches throughout the Dominion, services had been fixed on this occasion to take place in the morning. The paratie of the military would take place before or after the service—probably after. The offer of a £250 Government grant should not be allowed to go by. There was not a decent hall in the town. He suggested that the money should be spent on a picture gallery or a museum. Such things would be lasting memorials of King George’s crowning. The Rev. McNaughton stated that most of the churches had decided to hold special services on the Sunday after the Coronation. A great deal depended upon the weather. If it were fine he suggested Nelson Park for the celebration. if not the Theatre Roval or the Drill Hall. The Rev. J. K. Archer suggested that the civic function should take place at about 11 o'clock. If it were held in the afternoon. considering the shortness of the day. the ceremony would be spoilt. It was the most awkward time of the year to arrange a celebration, as the 22nd June was a day after midwinter and there was every chance of it raining. Bishop /Averill said that in order to facilitate arrangements he would commence his church service at 10.30 and it w’ould only lust about an hour. Mr. E. Bee said that a salute was to be delivered and this could only be done at noon. For this reason •alone the ceremony must take place in the morning.

Mr. Walter McCarthy thought that Nelson Park would be too damp for the ceremony. It had to be considered that mostly women and children would attend ami for them to stand on a rl.mib park would mean colds, which world not be a fitting method of celebrating the Coronation. He stremudy supported the Marine Para<:i’ as the place for the ceremony, litre the people would’be standing <m t sph- ’ alt all the time and no great harm ‘ even if it did rain, would result. J Mr. Brown said that the previous I speaker’s remarks wad altered his opinion and he would support the Marine Parade as the place for the ; < ceremonv. > Mr. Tr eston also spoke in favour <of Mr. McCarthy’s suggestion. ; Bishop Averill then mon d that the Coronation celebrations be held at 11.30 on the Marine Parade This was seconded by the Rer. Mr. Naughton ,and carried unanimously-

j A committee was then appointed i:i order to make further arrange- { ments. Colonel Sandtman, Colonel Hislop, Captain Ringland and Captain Siinmni will represent the military. Father MacDonald. Canon Tukc, Rev. Asher and Rev. McNaughton will represent the clergy. Cr. F. Bee will represent the Council and Inspector Hili the 1 schools.

j Representatives will be chosen ' from the Chaiqbcr of Commerce, I Highland Society, A. and P. Society, County Council. Friendly Society and the Labour Party. The Mayor was appoined ex officio chairman of the committee. | QUESTION OF A CORONA- | TION MEMORIAL. i The next business before the I meeting was the question of what ; form the Coronation memorial [ should take. The Government had i ! iii'ui..i!cd a list <>i things for what, j 1 hey would give money. The (grant was to be made on the £1 l for ‘,*l principle. I Mr. Brown suggested at some ’length that a hail should be built ion the proposed theatre site as they easily had enough room for both. Cr. Bee thought that a shelter shed, etc., at Nelson Park would be a very good method of spending the money. > Nir. Broxvn pointed out that shelter sheds were not mentioned in the Government list and besides it was not quite a fitting structure to commemorate the Coronation. Cr. Bee then xvithdrew his suggestion. Canon Tuke suggested that a good town clock would be a very desirable thing. This to, Mr. Brown pointed out was not in the list, although the Govt'rnment could be telegraphed to know whether they would allow it or not. Mr. M. Gleeson pointed out that a hall built for £5OO would be a very small one. A number of things such as clocks, museums, picture galleries, halls, fountains, pavilions, etc., were suggested, and it xvas decided that these should be put on a list and sent to the Government asking which one they would allow. Mr. Treston at this stage suggested that a children’s bath connected with the Municipal Baths xvoukl be a good object to spend £sl'o upon. Mr. Brown said this about fitted the bill, and the question was held over for future consideration. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the meeting.