Whangarei V E Day Arrangements

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1945, Page 2

Whangarei V E Day Arrangements

With the cessation of hostilities in Europe imminent, all arrangements for the commemoration of the occasion in Whangarei have been finalised, and generally provide for the maintenance of skeleton staffs to operate all essential services. Provided news of peace in Europe is received during the day, bells will be iung and sirens and whistles sounded immediately to inform the public.

Cne hour later, shops and offices will close and a service of commemoration and thanksgiving will be held in front of the Town Hall. This service will take place at that time only if the news is received before 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the thanksgiving being held at 10 o’clock the following morning' if the news is received later. Shops and offices will then remain closed for the remainder of that day and the following day, but if notification of the cessation of hostilities in ■Europe is received on either Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the second day’s holiday will be observed on Monday.

jA civic thanksgiving service will be held on the Sunday following.the announcement in the Town Hall at 2.30 p.m., or any special time appointed by the King, while individual church services of thanksgiving will generally take place at 7.30 on the night following the announcement, or, if the news is received after p.m., the service will occur at the same time on the following night.

Arrangements of essential services for the two days’ holiday are.— “Advocate.”—Publication and Delivery of the “Northern Advocate” will take place as usual during the two days’ holiday. Bakers. —Bakers’ shops in Whangarei will probably remain open for two hours after "ccaiit of the news, to enable all broad on hand to be sold, and to allow all dough .to be baked off. It news is received on Monday. Tuesday or Wednesday, the second day’s holiday will he observed on the,- day following, otherwise the following Monday will be observed. Arrangements will be made to continue the supply of bread to essential institutions during the period. Banks. —If announcement of the news is made during banking hours, bankinghouses in Whangarei will remain open lor the following hour and then close for the remainder of that day and for the following day. The banks, however, will probably remain closed for the full two days following, if the news is announced out cf banking hours. Bus Service. The usual timetable for lccal buses will operate, unless, prior to the announcement of VE Day, -any other timetable is advertised. Butchers. —Irrespective of the day notification of the cessation of hostilities in Europe is received, butchers in Whangarei will close on Monday. May 34. in com-, mefnoration of VE Day, while following the announcement of the news, the shops will remain open for the next hour and then close for the balance of the day. Arrangements, however, will be made to maintain a supply of meat to essential institutions. If news is received in the early morning or after shops have closed at night, outchcrs will open for one hour the following morning' to enable customers to obtain meat for the day. Churches. The majority of churches will remain open on the day peace in Europe is announced, to enable individual churchgoers to express their thanksgivings, while in the evening services will be held at 7.30 p.m. At St. Francis Xavier’s Church, however, a special devotional service will be held at 7 pan., while throughout the following day services of thanksgiving will be held, concluding with the “Te Deum” in the evening. Thanksgiving services for Anglicans will be held on the day following the announcement at hourly intervals from 7 am. until 11 a.m. Milk Venders. —House-to-houre deliveries of milk will proceed as usual during the holidays, while Sunday hours will generally be observed for dailies. Petrol Stations. —Petrol stations will observe the same hours and holidays as re-

tailers. Post Office.—lf the news is received after the post, office opens, ail blanches will remain open for one hour alter :he ringing of the bells, and postmen will make a complete delivery. Mails will be despatched as usual. If the news is received prior to the opening of the office, mails will be despatched as usual and postmen will make a complete delivery. Other branches, except ihe telephone exchange, will remain closed. On the second day of the holiday, the telegraph office will open from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m,, but other branches will be closed. If the announcement is made on Saturday or on Sunday, Monday will be regarded as the second day of the holiday. Retail Shops.—Grocers, retail shops and offices will close one hour following the announcement; of the news, and will remain closed for the balance' of that day and the following day, provided the noti - fication of peace is made on a Monday, Tuesday or before 5.30 p.m. or. Wednesday. If. however, the news is received on Thursday, Friday. Saturday or Sunday, the shops, if open, will close one hour later for the remainder of that day, and the second day’s holiday will be observed on Monday. Service Cars. —All service cars, except the Whangarei-Maungatapere transport, which will not operate the early morning bus, and the Whangarei-Portlanu service, which will operate on a Saturday’s timetable, will observe normal timetables on VE Day and the following holiday. Stock Auctioneers. —Although observing ihe two days’ holiday, stock auctioneers will hold any sales advertised which fail during the period, as it is anticipated that too much difficulty would arise through their cancellation. Theatres. Films will be screened r.s usual during the two days’ holiday, in commemoration of VE Day.

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