DUKE’S VISIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18529, 16 October 1934, Page 6

DUKE’S VISIT

GISBORNE CELEBRATION OPEN ATI?. RECEPTION “A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY” Further discussion on the subject of celebrations to he' held during the visit to Gisborne of the Duke of Gloucester, on December 20, took place at a meeting of the reception committee, held last evening. It was agreed that all functions held in honor of the Royal visitor should he staged in the open air, as there is no hall accommodation sufficiently large to cater' for gatherings such as are expected during the Duke’s brief stay in the district. There were present at the reception committee’s meeting the Mayor, Mr. John Jackson, chairman, Miss W. Lysnar, Girl Guides, Mrs. J. Keany, Women’s Club and kindred organisations, and Mrs. T. Itangiuia, Takitimu Women’s Institute, IJeut.-Col. R. F. Gambrill, Defence Forces, Mr. C. Matthews, Cook County Council, Mr. G. H. Scents, sports associations, Mr. W. Oakden, Returned Soldiers’ Association, Mr. J. fj. Shimmin, Headmasters’ Association, Mr. W. E. Goffe, Tairawhiti Maori Association, and Mr, \V- 'M. • Jenkins-,' town clerk and:secretary to the committee. ACCESS FOR, EVERYONE In opening the meeting, the Mayor reviewed the recommendations forwarded from the general meeting last week, and laid emphasis on the proposal that all gatherings should he held where everyone could have access to them, and an opportunity of seeing the Duke of Gloucester. The latest advice was* that the Duke will arrive in Gisborne from Napier and Wairoa at 4 p.m. on December 20, and that the public reception will he held at 4.46 p.m. Jn the evening, it. would he desirable to conduct some form of celebration at which the Duke, would he present, and his own conviction was that the Childers road reserve, where there was provision, for flood-lighting, would be ideal for this gathering, providing the weather was favotable. The general meeting last week had favored the holding of an evening function in the. open air. the Mayor remarked, and it was the object of the executive to settle what form this, gathering should take. Lieut.-Col. Gambrill agreed that the gatherings in honor of the Duke should be held outdoor if possible, and he suggested that a sports meeting, with representation from every club and organisation in the district, should find general approval. MAORI ITEMS Mr. J. E. Shimmin suggested that Maori items should form part of the pro'.yamme of a demonstration meeting, but this drew from Mr. Goffe the observation that the best of the Maori talent was 'ikely to be required for the Rotorua hui, at which the Maoris would tender a special welcome to Royalty. Mr, Goffe expressed the opinion that while there might be a good deal of talent available in Poverty Bay at the time of the Duke’s visit, there would he some difficulty about leaders, and impromptu efforts would have to ho depended on to a certain extent.

Referring to the possibility of the Duke paying a visit to Pono-o-Rawiri and inspecting the meeting house, there, it was decided that the only possibility of his fitting this into his programme of functions at Gisborne would be to call there on the morning of his departure from the district. SPORTS PROPOSAL

Concerning the sports proposal Mr. G. IT. Sceats stated that he had (teen in touch with the majority of sports bodies, and these had signified their anxiety to .ve all the assistance possible in. connection with the celebrations. The •.ports meeting at night could be made an outstanding function, he thought, but there would be some difficulty in arrang.ng for the staging of competitions in full sight of the majority of the spectators He suggested that as many items as possible should be presented from a staging, three or four feet above the level of the 'round. A further suggestion was that die. Savage Club and the Scottish Society should he. asked to co-operate. A discussion ensued upon tho marshalling of children and spectators at the evening function, Colonel Gnmbrill point,ng out Hie advisability of having a special enclosure for children, in order to protect them from injury in the event of a sudden shift of the crowd. Colonel Gambrili and Mr. C. Rigby were appointed a sub-committee, with power to add, and with authority to arrange for the allocation of ground space about the sports arena. It was arranged that tho dais for the official party should be erected on the plan used on the occasion of the visit to Gisborno of Sir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson, during Sir Charles’ term as Governor-General, and various details in regard to the attendance of school-children for the afternoon reception and for the evening sports gathering were discussed. DECORATIVE SCHEME The decorative Scheme to be adopted m connection with the Duke’s visit was not settled, and will be further debated at the uext meeting of the committee. In tho meantime the town clerk is to inquire into the cost, of a formal arch, erected m Gladstone road, similar to that prepared for the district jubilee in 1-G26. The meeting was in agreement

with Colonel Gambrili that the opportunity was a golden one for registering a. good impression upon official circles, and that every effort should be made to make the. celebrations a credit to the town and district. A suggestion that a carnival extending over several days might by arranged in connection with' the Royal visit was referred to tho Retailers’ Association for comment. Mrs. Rangiuia announced that the women’s organisations of the district will hold a dance on October 31 to augment Hie funds at tbe disposal of the reception committee.