Postponement of Intended Half Holiday.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 409, 28 January 1890, Page 2

Postponement of Intended Half Holiday.

ITO THE XDITOn.J But,—l have personally ascertained from a great number of the business people of Gisborne that it would be in accordance with their wishes that the local celebration of the Jubilee day of the colony (291 h January) should be postponed for a week out of respect to the memory of the late Rev. J. McAra and to the Churoh over which he was the head. I have not seen everybody, but I have seen everyone I could very well meet this morning, and the wish is a very general one. Thia suggestion, I should like to aay, is in entire accordance with what I think is right. Mr McArs wae no ordinary resident. He was a landmark in the district. For years before tbe inauguration of State charitable aid he was the almoner of the voluntary charity of the public. He has borne hia share in all public duties which were not incompatible with hia position as minister of a Church. He has shown an example of sterling uprightness and steadfastness at all times. Ho was, to my own knowledge, the willing helper of all who were in any distress, whatever their creed ; while his breadth of mind, hie cheerful heartiness, and constant good sense and perseverance in all that ha undertook attracted the attention of even those who hsd not the opportunity of knowing him personally. If his death had been different, we might, perhaps, have kept oar holiday, but as it is, in all its sudden shook, it cannot well be. We cannot bury our friend to-day and keep holiday on Wednesday. Under these oiroumetanoes I Invite the co-operation of all the residents of Gisborne in the postponement of tha half-holiday celebration of the jubilee day of the colony to the afternoon of Wednesday, the Sth day of February next—l am, &c., O, A. DbLautour. Mayor of Gisborne, Gisborne, 27th January, 1890.