CORONATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1937, Page 8

CORONATION.

CIVIC CEREMONY.

AUCKLAND READY. PARADE OF THE FORCES. FIRING OF FEU-I>E-JOIE. The arrangements which have been completed for the ceremonial observation of Coronation Day in Auckland on May 12 are on a scale which will ensure that. the ceremony will be most impressive. Details of the programme arranged were given this morning I\v the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, who said the ceremony would be conducted from a d-.iis at the 'northern end of the Town Hall. In front would be erected a flagstaff, from which the Royal Standard would be flown during the proceedings. Arrangements had been made for the naval and military authorities to co-operate fully to make the occasion a success. The ceremony would be broadcast, and special provision would be made for loud speakers, not only in the Civic Square, but i-lso in the side streets and in Queen Street below the Civic Theatre. By these arrangements it was hoped that the public would not crowd into the comparatively small area in front of the Town Hall and cause unnecessary congestion. Both tram and motor traffic would be prohibited in Queen Street between the hours of 10.20 a.m. and 11.30 a.m. In front of the Town Hall an area would be roped off for occupation by the naval and military forces and ex-servicemen. Mr. Davis said the units of the Royal Navy and the regular and territorial forces would parade at the Queen's wharf, march up Queen Street accompanied by their bands, and take up positions allotted to them in front of the Town Hall at 11.50 a.m. The various units of ex-servicemen would assemble in Shortland Street at 10.15 a.m. and then march up Queen Street. Fanfare of Trumpets. At 11 a.m. the Mayor, Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Druinmond. commanding officer of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, Colonel R. Miles, officer in charge of the military forces of the Northern Command, city councillors and other members of the official party will appear on the dais. They will be heralded with a fanfare of trumpets. after which the troops will stand at ease. The Mayor will then read an address, the troops at this stage standing easy. At the conclusion of the address the Mayor, Rear-Admiral the Hon. E. R. Drummond and the officer commanding the military forces, will leave the dais and take up a position facing the flagstaff, on which the Royal Standard will have been previously run up. The councillors and other members of the official party will remain on the dais.

The Royal Standard will then be unfurled, °and the Royal .Salute will be given by the troops. A feu-de-joic will be fired by the guard of the Royal Marines. There will be three rounds with an interval between each round. After each round the band w?H play part of the National Anthem. Seven guns will be fired from a battery at Albert Park. Cheers for the King. At the conclusion of the feu-de-joie the troops will receive an order from the oflicer in charge of the parade to remove their head-dress, and three cheers will be called for the Kins. The Royal Standard will then be lowered, and the troops will give the Royal Salute. The band will play the National Anthem, and the public will be invited to join in the singing. After the official party has returned to the Town Hall the troops will move off in the following order: Tiie Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the regular and territorial forces and the ex-service-men.

The Municipal Band will play at the reserve at the apex of the Town Hall before the ceremony, but will conclude tfieir programme before the other bands arrive.