GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14153, 12 March 1910, Page 6

GOVERNOR'S VISIT.

PREPARATIONS FOR IT. , The public meeting, called by the Mayor, to make arrangements for the reception and entertainment of His Excellency the Governor when he pays liis farewell visit to Timaru on March 24 and 25, was held in the .Borough Council Chambers lasi night. Pre-' sent—-The Mayor and Messrs Virtue, (Town Clerk), T. Hawkey, G. J.-Seal-' Wagstaff, A. Beck, W. Gilchrist, Captain aiid Adjutant Foderi . and-the Rev. S. Treriee Adc.ms. Apologies were received for the ah-' sence of Colonel Beckingham and 1 Major Raymond, who are at pregant ou .tL°f town, and from iMr r J. * Hole. rho Mayor expressed regret at the smallness of the meeting and Said he had hoped to ees a largs and thoroughly representative gathering. It was their duty, as loyal citizens, to welcome the Governor. The question was how best to do it. The matter had been before the Borough Council, irnt' that body had decided that it should bo open to all the citizens to have a say as to what should be done. Some suggestions had been made by the Council—that the stereotyped illuminated address could very well be j dispensed with ; that the Mayor and i °f the citizens Bhould welcome His Excellency on arrival; that he should if he so desired, be given an opportunity of visiting the "local instituiiona; that he be t&ken for *i rooior drive around the country surrounding orities should unit© in jjivih# hi£d & banquet. Ho did not think it would do to havfi a public baunii'et as such functions had proved failures in Ti-

niaru in tlie past. Lord Plunket 110011 preceding Good Friday and would leave on Good Friday afternoon. Presumably His Excellency would go to church on Good Friday, and if so, they would only hare to provide for his entertainment 011 the Thursday afternoon and evening. He (the Mayor) would ask him to lunch on Good Friday. Mr J. B. Griffiths as representing the St. John Ambulance, said that this Association had wired asking Lord Plunket if he would when here, present the certificates won by the nursing division and those who had passed their examinations in first aid. There were about 60 of them and a reply had b&en received from His Excellency agreeing to comply with the request if it fitted in with the other arrangements made- for his reception. Giving out the certificates would take about an hour and the Association was prepared to take the Drill Hall for the purpose. The Mayor said they all appreciated the work of this Association, hut he was afraid an hour would be too long to take up in this way. Captain and Adjutant Foden said that they could not hold any function on the Thursday night which would extend beyond midnight; they must not get, into Good Friday morning on which day they should leave His Excellency entirely to himself. The few present could not he called representative of the citiziens and he thought they should therefore leave the arrangements to the Borough Council which was a representative body.

With this view the Rev. Mr Adams concurred, and suggested that an album of views be presented to the Governor, the same as was given to Lord Kitchener. They might also arrange a big public gathering and allow the presentation of ambulance certificates to come in as part of the programme. They would be perfectly safe if they left the whole matter to the Mayor. Mr Porter stiid lie had intended to suggest the giving of an album of Titnaru views but was against spending public money on banquets. Finally on the motion of the Rev. Mr Adams, seconded by Captain and Adjutant Foden it was decided that tlie whole matter he left in the hands I of the Borough Council.