THE DUCAL VISIT

Hokitika Guardian, 26 February 1927, Page 2

THE DUCAL VISIT

GENERAL PREPARATIONS. A meeting of the executive of the local Reception Committee was held ;it the County Chambers at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Present: The Mayor (Mr G. 15. Perry), Messrs A. A.. Andrewes, Town Clerk, and D. J. Evans, County Clerk. Apology was made for the absence of Messrs Partridge and Conning. The following particulars of the official programme was received from the Department of Internal Affairs for Friday, March 11.: 3.28 p.in., arrive Hokitika. Received by his Worship the Mayor, Mayoress and Town Clerk.

Motor to Cass Square via Weld. Fitzherbert and Stafford Streets. Guard of Honour. ■ Presentation of address of welcome* to be read by the Mayor. i

His Worship the Mayor presents Councillors, local body representatives, pioneers and their wives. ■Parade of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts. Children’s gathering.

4.30 leave by train for Greymouth. Air Sedition, M.P.. intimated he would arrive in Hokitika in the forenoon and assist to entertain the country children. Arrangements were made for the disposition of the people on tho grounds. The platform for the Royal party will he a. commodious one. and seats in front will be reserved for members of public bodies and pioneers. The arrangements for the parades of the Guard. Guides and Scouts were agreed to. Space will Iw? kept also for the Returned Soldiers and Veterans. The lists of visiting numbers from country schools was still incomplete, delaying tile filial fixing of the arrangements. Some 46 children would he hero from South Westland, and billets were arranged for most of them. Bfdlets are '.required Still fo about ten hoys. The tender of Morgan Bros for a lorry to transport South AA’ostland children was accepted. These scholars wiTl be here overnight, and will be entertained at- the pictures. Final arrangements for the transport of the South children will be advised by circular to the respective schools next week. Five schools from which the scholars will travel hv train have failed to advise the number expected to travel. This information should be sent without further delay to enable the Railway authorities to provide cars.

The tender of Mrs Preston to supply meat pies, buns and currant cake for lunch and afternoon tea, was accepted. Supplies of biscuits, fruit and lollies are being procured also. It is estimated that upwards of 400 children will require to lie supplied with luncli. and about 1000 with afternoon tea. The lunch for the country children will he from noon to 1 p.m., and the afternoon tea at ’4.43, for all children. Vehicles with returning country children will depart from 5 p.m. onwbrds. he re will be a working bee of teachers (male and female) and school committee men and their wives, and any other willing assistants, from 9 am., on Friday (the day of tho visit) to prepare the meals for tho children. This will lie done on Gass Square in the pavilion. Hot water and tea will he supplied from noon onwards to all requiring same on Cass Square, so that famiies may -arrange a picnic meal if so required. All arrangements were advanced as much as possible, and an estimate of the cost for the day was set clown at £IOO, which was considered reasonable and satisfactory.

Those who are prepared to (accommodate auv of the bovs for the nialit are desired to notify tlie County Office.