THE PEACE CELEBRATION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIV, Issue 136, 12 June 1900, Page 3

THE PEACE CELEBRATION.

♦ • PROGRAMME FOR THIS DISTRICT. Id respcne© to the invitation of Bis Worship the Mayor, about thirty persons interested m the arrangement of a programme for the celebration of the declaration of peace met last night m the Council Chamber. The Mayor, who occupied the Gbair, said the Acting-Premier had intimated that he would give three cr fcur day's notice of the universal demonstration ; but it was as well to start making their preparations m good time. It was desirable that this demonstration should be on a wider scale than anything of the past, that it should eclipse all previous happenings. On Mafeking Day it was remarked that the manage- 1 jaent of the proceedings fell on the 1

people who were responsible for the d etaila of the previous demonstrations ; but for the forthcoming occasion it was hoped that the helpers would represent the district as a whole. Bis idea was that the children should be trea'ed during the daytime and tbo evening should be devoted to the jubilation of the adult population. On the children's Maf eking Day the expenses mounted up to about £30 ; so that it would be seen that theie was tot only the entertainment to arrange, but also the ways and n cans to provide. His Worship proceeded to sketch (ut a pl.~n for tha peace celebration, suggesting a m^rsstor picnic forthe children, and a bonfire at night on tho Taylor Pass hili?, which would ehed its light ovir a groat patriotic meet-ng m town. The mcc iDg then se'tled down to bueinefle, and gradually ou* of a mats of suggestions a definite programme was evolved. The lor.ding features of the plan are as follows : — In the morning, cay about 10 o'clcok, a publio thanksgiving service will be hold m Market Place. The following Committee was appointed to confer wi'h tho heads of the various denominations :— Messrs F. Paine. 0. W. Adatrs, J. D. Iremonger, M. Cheek, J. Fcotr, J. Morrid, P. Birch, W. Pike, F. Hale, and the Bandmaster of the Salvation Army. This Committee includes all the choirmasters of the different churches, as they will be specially interested m the musical arrangements for the occasion. Mr Soott was asked to convene the first meeting of this Committee. A big elevated platform (referred to later on), m front of the Government Buildings, will be ÜBed for the purpose of the thanksgiving service, After that ceremony, there will be a great procession, which will find its way to Seymour Square, where the children will be provided with " tea," and afterwards entertained at sports. It was resolved that all school committees and teachers be asked to arrange for the children's arrival m town for the thanksgiving service and their inclusion m the procession. The arrangements for sports m Seymour Square were entrusted to the following committee :— Messrs J. Penney, Middlemiss, E. Priddle, T. O'Leary, G. Lusk, J. Morris and J. They will have to canvass for subscriptions for prize money, etc. The idea is that mementos, worth beeping, should be given to the winning youngsters. To Mr F. Paino was committed an important work— the arrangement of the procession. The children's part of tbe programme, it was agreed, should be over by 4 15 p.m. It was decided to hold a monster procession at on early hour m the evening. The Volunteers, all the Friendly Societies, sthletio bodies — m faot all tbe associations and societies m the district — are to be aeked to take patt. This procession, after going round town, will ''stand at eese" m Market Place, where a great patriotic gathering will be held. Mr Paine was appointed to make arrangements for the erection of the aforesaid platfcrm ia front of the Government Buildings. Patriotic songe and choruses are to be sung m the evening,, and this pait of the programme was hit to tbe Committee that ia to lock after the details of the thanksgiving service. Mr Priddle's offer of his pacTdock m tho vic:nity of Charles Street as a place for tie bonfire was accepted. The creation of this bonfire was entrusted to a Committee consisting of Messrs T. May, J. Scott 1 , Coleroan, Middlemiss, Jordan, Jamec, and Pike. It was decided to spend from £7 to £8 m firoworks. Ia reply to Mr Carr. the Mayor said he thought he could safely promise a good supply of gas for the illumination of the town at night. Mr T. Pike accepted the duty of communicating with tbo. owners of traction engines, waggons, etc., for the purposes of the processions. All these preparation?, it was said,, meant a good deal of monetary ex* penditure. It was decided that subscription lists be printed and distributed at once. It was e greed that the various committees should meet at once, and that a general meeting should be held on the day on which peaoe is declared. Messrs D. Sinclair and R. Wanden were jointly appointed secre'aries.