VERY SLOW.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 305, 26 December 1928, Page 7

VERY SLOW.

KING'S PROGRESS.

His Majesty Doing As Well

As Can Be Expected.

BULLETINS ROUSE HOPE.

(Australian Press Assn. —United Service.)

LONDON, December 25

The following bulletin, signed by Lord Dawson of Penn, Sir Stanley Hewett and Sir Hugh Rigby, was issued at 8.30 p.m. last evening at Buckingham Palace:—

''The very slow progress of His Majesty's local and general condition continues. No further bulletin will be issued until Tuesday evening.''

A bulletin was issued at 11.40 a.m. yesterday by the doctors, which said: •'His Majesty has had a quiet night. The local conditions continue to show progress, and the King's general condition remains unchanged."

The bulletin on Sunday was regarded as being one of the most favourable issued since the King's illness became grave. It indicated more clearly and definitely than those of the past two or three days that the illness was pursuing the course the doctors had hoped and anticipated.

It supported the suggestion that the King had every chance of being definitely out of danger by Christmas Day.

The Palace officials emphasised the fact last night that as long as there was progress, however slow, His Majesty was doing as well as could be expected.

The last bulletin is regarded as being distinctly favourable. It was the fust for some days which notes any definite improvement in the King's general condition. As his progress was so satisfactory the doctors were able to suspend the light treatment for a night or two.

There is a distinct air of hopefulness at the Palace. Christmas Day with the Royal family is always just a quiet family occasion. Naturally it is quieter than usual this year, but the King's progress has made the Palace a happier place than it has been for many days.

Queen Mary pave special orders concerning the comfort and entertaining of the domestic staff. Parts of the Palace were decorated with holly and mistletoe. The staff at the Palace is so much larger than that at Sandringham that the time-honoured Christmas custom or assembling the staff in the morning and giving each a present had to be abardoned. The Queen, however, arranged that all the old retainers should receive gifts. The Royal family's presents to each other are always a close secret. The most,; secret Of all were Princess Elizabeth's gifts to her parents and grandparents, and to her Uncle David, the Prince of Wales. His Majesty naturally was far too il' to join in any of the festivities. It is understood that the family visited the sick room in twos and throes. POPE REJOICES. PRAYERS OF THE VATICAN. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) ROME, December 25. In the course of, his reply to the resident cardinals, who presented Christmas greetings to him. Pope Pius said the improvement in King George's condition had rejoiced him. "We trembled and prayed," said the Pope, "for the life of the sovereign who graciously visited us and whose empire is the greatest in the world. Many millions of Catholics live and prosper within it, as the Eucharistic Congress in Australia proved. "Wo trembled and prayed for the life of- the sovereign who always showed himself well-disposed and benevolent toward all these Catholics."