KING GEORGE VI. HAILED

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 296, 14 December 1936, Page 3

KING GEORGE VI. HAILED

SCENE AT THE TOWN HALT. CIVIC AND NAVAL CEREMONIAL. AUCKLAND ACCEPTS THE NEW RULER. To-day Aucklanders, in common with all citizens of New Zealand and the other communities of the Empire, accepted King George VI. as their "only lawful and rightful liege lord." They accepted him with an enthusiasm that in its fervidness demonstrated the reaction of the people who through weeks had waited anxiously. Now, it seemed, they said, the past is gone and we the people of the British Empire stand solidly behind our new' Ruler. In front of the apex of the Town Hall, at the intersection of Queen Street and Grey's Avenue, from where the proclamation of the accession of King George VI. was read, a large crowd had gathered well before the ceremony was announced to take place. Jt was not as large an attendance as on the former occasion last January when King Edward VIII. was proclaimed, but then circumstances were different. On that occasion it was a work day, broken on'ly by the hour in which the people of the city gathered to declare their homage. This time the proclamation coincided with the Sovereign's birthday and in the holiday atmosphere of the city the people were scattered far and wide throughout the district. While the attendance was smaller, the feelings expressed were similar in essence to those displayed earlier in the year. The same reverent silence was observed as the voice of the Mayor gave its sonorous message; there was the same flash of colour in the uniforms and sun-sparkled accoutrements of the naval and military guards. The guns broke with their Royal Salute that same tense silence and up from the valley of the street rose the stirring strains and words of "God Save the King" rose in a thrilling volume of sound that lifted to the heights as the flags that had run to the top of the mastheads broke in the breeze and fluttered their equally stirring message. The page of history had been turned and British citizens proclaimed again their Sovereign. The proclamation as read by his Excellency the GovernorGeneral, Lord Galway, from the steps of Parliament Buildings, Wellington, by his Worship the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. Ernest Davis, at the Town Hall, and by other civic authorities throughout New Zealand and the Empire, was as follows: "Whereas by an instrument of abdication dated the 10th day of December instant, His former Majesty, King Edward the Eighth, did declare his irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for himself and his descendants, and the said instrument of abdication has now taken effect whereby the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, Ireland and all His former Majesty's Dominions is now wholly and rightfully come to the high and mighty Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George. We, therefore, George Vere Arundell, Viscount Galway, the Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, Michael Joseph Savage, Prime Minister of the said Dominion and the members of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, assisted by members of both houses of the General Assembly, judges and magistrates, ministers of religion, mayors, chairmen and members of local bodies, and numerous other representatives and the Mayor, and citizens here present, do now hereby with one voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George is now become our only lawful, rightful liege Lord, George V 1.,. by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland, the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India to whom we acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom all Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Prince George VI. with long and happy years to reign over us. "Given at Wellington, in the Dominion cf New Zealand, this 14th day of December, in the year of our Lord, 1936. Signed—Galway, Governor-General, Michael Joseph Savage, Peter Fraser, Daniel Giles Sullivan, Henry Greathead Rex Mason, Hugh Thomas Armstrong, Robert Semple, William Edward Parry, Patrick Charles Webb, Frederick Jones, William Lee Martin, Frank Langstone, Mark Fagan, Michael Myers, C.J., Adam Hamilton, Apirana Turupa Ngata. God save the King."