DURBAR INVESTITURE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 299, 16 December 1911, Page 5

DURBAR INVESTITURE.

A BRILLIANT REVIEW. ANOTHER TENT ABLAZE. A PANIC AVERTED. (By Cable.—Press Association—Copyright.) DELHI, December 15. A retdew of 50,000 British and Indian troops took place to-day in connection with the Durbar ceremonies. The spectacle was a magnificent one, and it lasted an hour and a-half. The Maharajahs rode at the head of their own troops, including the child Prince of Bahawalpur, who carried a sword longer than himself, and rode a huge camel at the head of his camel corps.

In the afternoon a great audience assembled at the investiture tent an hour before the King-Emperor was due. A cry of "fire" was raised, and a glow of fire through the tent caused the crowd to rise in great excitement. A rush for the doors seemed imminent, but cries of "Sit down" steadied the audience. It was discovered that a neighbouring tent had caught fire owing to a bicycle lamp exploding. The burning tent was isolated, and the excitement soon subsided. The King-Emperor, wearing the robes and the Star of India, invested the Queen with the grand cross. A two hours' picturesque ceremony followed, 93 knights, 200 companions, and members of different orders being decorated. PRISONERS REEEABED. IN HONOUR OF THE DURBAR. LONDON. December 1.5. In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr. E. S. Montague, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for India, said that out of 220 political prisonerin India, 183 were being released, or having a portion of tiicir sentences remitted, in honour of the Durbar celebrations. DISMAY IN CALCUTTA AT CHANGE IN CAPITAL. (Received 10.20 a.m.) DELHI. December 10. Some bitter criticisms of the removal of the capital arc expressed in Calcutta. Tbe shopkeepers are dismayed. It is suggested that the administration in future will be solely guided by the ideas of a small official coterie. I THE NEW CAPITAL. (Received 1.30 p.m.) DELHI, December 15. Their Majesties laid the foundation stones of the new capita] in the presence of a brilliant assemblage. The. Maharajah of Gwalior offered a statue of King George for the new city.