The Coming Coronation.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5456, 27 August 1901, Page 4

The Coming Coronation.

INVITATIONS TO COLONIAL PREMIERS

The London correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, under" date July 20th, says:—-It is semiofficially an« Bounced that according to the present intentions of the Imperial Government Invitations will be gent to the Prime Ministers of »ll tho British coloni s and States to be present at the Coronation of his Majesty King Edward VII in the month of June next

Accord ing- to the plan of procedure In contemplation, the invitations will be sent to each Premier and his wife as was done on the occasion of the late Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee four years ago, and the arrangements will be as nearly as possible on the same liberal and hospitable basis. It is tally expected that the Invitations will be very largely accepted, if not un^nimouily, and that consequently an exeefMocftliy large gathering ofrepresen. ialtive colonists will assemble in London in Jane, 1902 With the object of utilising so far us possible the presence of so many prominent colonial statesmen, the Ooreroraent, or at any rate Mr Ohsmberlaio, baa in contemplation the holding of a sort of Imperial Conference or •'' Pan-Britannic assembly, for the purpose of considering all the questions of mutual import that have arisen as between the mother country and her dependencies daring the last few years, more particularly since the outbreak of the South African war, and the remarkable manifestation of Imperial sentiment and loyalty on the p«rl of the colonies which that war has elicited One question of mush gravity and Urgency which it Is suggested might well come before such a conference is that of Imperial defence in its special colonial aspect, and that reference alike ta- the needs aod liability to attack of tie varloai colonies, and also to the capacity of each for contributing in a reasonable measure toward the cost of iuffiolenS u&val protection, alike of the portf, the coast, And the maritime eomnaeroe.

Other subjects which it la kitended ttt bring before such a conference, if it takes place, may be grouped under the general heading of the commercial} relations between Great Britain and her dependencies. There are several points tnoiudiog customs tariSa,postal services eiCj which it is thought might profitably be discussed on such an occasion and by auea an assembly.