BRITISH CELEBRATIONS

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 148, 23 June 1911, Page 5

BRITISH CELEBRATIONS

IN EVERT TOWN AND VILLAGE. .(Received" 5.30 a.m.)] ; LONDON, June 22. Coronation rejoicings were celebrated in every town and village dn Britain and Ireland. " , All were decorated with flags, and in most the Mayors and Corporations attended services in the cathedrals and parish churches. • ■ - -. Many oaks were planted in the parks, and the school children were entertained at teas and sports, while aged pensioners were feasted, the festivities concluding with fireworks and bonfires. Forty-seven Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans were banqueted at Birmingham, where 100,000 children, received medals. The children of.Bournemouth and other places organised Empire pageants, including representatives of every colony. Groceries were distributed to 14,000 of Bristol's aged poor. A Lady Godiva procession was held in Coventry, and 544,000 Georgian halfpennies were distributed to Liverpool children, and 50,000 beakers to Newcastle children. The celebrations in Scotland and Ire? land were less elaborate, the people awaiting Their Majesties' coming in July; Highland sports were general. The Protestant. Churches of Ireland used special Coronation services and anthems. The fleet of foreign warships at Spithead were dressed with flags, arid the vessels and garrison batteries fired royal salutes at midday. AN EXCITING INCIDENT. '.''* r~ . -; .\; ■ : ■ ' ... ■ . (Received 8.10 ajn.); ....,.,;,! LONDON, June 22. An exciting incident occurred when the procession.was leaving the palace. A' restive horsei on which an officer of the Indian contingent was riding just ahead of the King's section, threw the proces-. sion into confusion. The horse toppled; backwards ever his xider, crushing his 'helmet. . '.' The crowd believed that he was-killed, but the officer rose,' and insisted on re--mounting, the crowd cheering him. *"" The Australians j 'began to g&;fcher on the Stafford stand at.four o'clock, and. it was .crowded by eight, o'clock. They, greeted Their Majesties, their children, and the colonial contingent with cooees. -'w. Thousands of gaily, clad. sightseers, were'on the stands about the memorial arch at the end of the wall of gates,: swung open for Their.Majesties to use, them for. the first time. . Thirty thousand- gathered on the stands, and on the. pavements of Parliament Square, including 2500 , a£. West-, minster 'hospital,- -where ,£lo' to £25 apiece was paid for seats. Ten thousand boy scouts assisted the ambulance corps in supplying the crowd with water. . ... *~ After their return to the Palace, whieli , ■was reached at 2.50 pjn. Their Majesties, crowned, appeared for several minutes on the balcony.of the palace, and bowed to the cheering populace. ..-. ■The troops caught,-the enthusiasm, and without orders joined in the demonstration. The officers drew' their swords, which they -waved aloft. •■<

An Imperial significance -was given t* to-day's event by the presence of the standards of the overseas dominions, India and Wales, in addition to those of England, Scotland-and Ireland '•'.- .. FIRST PUBLIC CEREMONY. ' (Received 10.20 aon.)" ' ,; " . LONDON, June 22. His Majesty performed the first public ceremony after the Coronation to-day, when, on his return to Buckingham Palace, he touched an 1 electric button, which laid the'corner stone of the Fishermen's Sailors' Home at St. John's, Newfoundland. : ', ' • • The King is presenting the various governments of the overseas Dominions with a copy of the State portrait of himself and the Queen. . French, German, Austrian, and Russian, newspapers contain warm expressions of goodwill toward King George and the British nation. " " CORONATION , ACCIDENTS. !7 aars at Portsmouth. • (Received 12.23 p.m.) > \- LONDON, June 22. ' It transpires that Captain McCowan, commanding the Canadian mounted escort accompanying the King to the. Abbey,•was turown Irom liis horse aad injured internally. • He has been taken to the hospital. Mr. Chas. Radford, a prominent townsman of Syme Regis, was firing a salute from a cannon when it exploded, killing him instantly. ° Owing to heavy rai.n at Portsmouth, the illumination of thfe fleet was postponed. ■ - ■ - - ■''■ l -' : ' ■•-■■■■ i • ;.^-v]"■■■- ; . ' v