A WEEK-DAY WANTED.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3798, 8 April 1913, Page 6

A WEEK-DAY WANTED.

THE BATTLESHIP’S VISIT T.O

GISBORNE.

DISCUSSION AS TO POSSIBLE,

ARRANGEMENTS,

The battleship New Zealand is due at Gisborne on Sunday, April 27, and the present intention is evidently to allow her only one day’s .stay at this port. This fact is perturbing the representatives of the local bodies, who have been entrusted to arrange for the entertainment of the officers and crew during their sojourn hero, because, for a variety of reasons, the Sabbath does not lend itself so well for the purpose of entertainment as any other day of the seven. This was tho main point considered by the delegates present at the meeting held at the .Borough Council Chamber yesterday, over which His Worship the Mayor presided. Those present indulged in long deliberation and finally decided, on the suggestion of Mr E. H. Mann, to despatch the following telegram to the' Minister for Internal Affairs:

“Pleased to hear that tho battleship New Zealand is definitely calling at Gisborne. Citizens very disappointed that a Sunday lias been fixed. If it is absolutely necessary that she should bo here on Sunday, would ask that Saturday or Monday be also arranged.”

This, briefly, was the outcome of the meeting, although tentative arrangements were made, in the hope that the request made would be accede ed to.

Mr J. It. Kirk put in a plea for the children, arguing that the young folk were the major consideration so far as inspecting the ship was concerned. It would not be possible to get the children, or at any rate, those from tho country, together on a Sunday. Mr John Townley agreed that tho chief objection to Sunday was that the country people would not be able to como to town.

Mr If. H. Mann said that arrangements might possibly be made to run the train on a Sunday. Mr H. White did not see that it would be any hardship to either Auckland or Wellington to lose one day of tho ship’s presence, in view of the number of days she was timed to stay at- these ports. Mr Townley said that even one week dav would better suit Gisborne.

The resolution to" make the abovestated request was then carried and the telegram worded later. The Mayor said the best thing to do would be to make arrangements what to do provided that a week-day was arranged for, such as tho matter of attending to the children, etc. Mr Mann thought it was likely that a reply to tho request would como almost immediately. Everything was left to the Governor, which meant the Government.

Mr W. Morgan pointed out that Napier had askeu for the Government steamer Hinemoa to convey people out to the battleship. Could Gisborne'not do likewise ?

The Mayor said he understood that the Hinemoa was coming with the warship right through. At any rate, such things could be arranged hotter as soon as something definite was known.

Mr J. It. Kirk said the Territorials would be returning from the Oringi camp on Sunday the 27th, and it would be very acceptable if the battleship could be detained until the Territorial boat arrived in tho Bay. Mr G. J. Black and Mr Mann were of opinion that a week from now, when a reply would probably bo at hand, would give ample time to fix all such matters.

The question of a ball or a social was briefly talked of, and it was pointed out that there must necessarily be separate functions for men and officers. At a combined affair, both would be out of place, and neither would extract much enjoyment.

Mr Black said that a Maori lfaka would provide excellent entertainment and great novelty aboard the battleship. Besides, it ■would give the Natives an opportunity of seeing tho ship.

Ml' Townley said that Sir James Carroll had agreed to do all lie could in this respect. Mr Kirk moved that Mr Rowley and Mr Frank Heron should be appointed to make such arrangements as are possible for having the children shown over the battleship. On the seconding of Mr Turner, this was agreed to, the names of the other schoolmasters. Messrs Foote (High School), Cole (Mangapapa), Bull (Kaiti) and Faram (To Ha para) also being added. The question of the ages of children to be taken out was then dealt with, and Mr Rowley -said that a standard limit would bo the better scheme, because toine younger child ion were :.s w« ' able to ioo 1 - after + , -emselves a., giowu-nps. was loci led to approa-li Die station master with a view to having arrangements made for the carriage of the children.

Mr J. C. E. Turner mentioned that a Rugby football match with the St. Patrick’s Club would probably be arranged, and he bad heard it mentioned that a “Soccer” game might bo played with a ship’s team and a local eleven.

The matter of athletic sports. were also discussed, Mr Wildish mentioning the necessity of making early arrangements for such an event. After further conversational discussion, the meeting adjourned. The matter will he considered at a meeting in tho early future.