CORONATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 12

CORONATION.

NEXT WEEK'S EVENT

AUCKLAND PREPARES.

GAY DECORATIONS.

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICES,

Auckland plans for the celebration of the Coronation are so far advanced that the city is taking on a carnival appearance. First in the round of celebrations will be special church services held tomorrow by all denominations.

Many business houses and shops have completed their preparations, and others are still arranging their displays. Red, white and blue bunting and flags have been used on a generoua ecale, while photographs of Royalty and representations, of the Crown have been given much prominence.

With the preparations that are being made for the illumination and decoration of public buildings, and the decorative scheme in the main streets which has been carried out on a wide scale by the City Council, Auckland will be a very gay city during Coronation Week, and at night in particular the scene will be a most spectacular one. Government Buildings. The Government building in Customs Street has Deen decorated with pillars of red and gold. There is a large portrait of the King and Queen in the centre above the main entrance, and higher still is a crown.

The Auckland Harbour Board has embarked on a comprehensive scheme of decorations. The wiring of the Harbour Board building has been completed for flood lighting, while at the entrance to Queens wharf there is an ornate gateway with two pairs of pylons 60 feet or more in height. These are flanked with turreted wing walls, and the structure is to be draped with banners and bunting.

The Royal coat of arms is a central piece at the Chief Post Office, and banners of the different Dominions are linked to portraits of Their Majesties with golden festooning. Above, in large letters, are the words "Long live our beloved King and Queen." A golden crown surmounts the whole decorative scheme.

Pylons have been placed in front of the Chief Post Office to give the necessary flood-lighting effects.

The Auckland railway station lends itself admirably to lighting effects. The facade has been decorated, and the building will be brilliantly floodlit.

Over 2000 white lights will be used to pick out the Auckland Town Hall in relief, and a crown and the letters "G. R.," appear below the clock-face.

Banners from poles and cable festooning to carry electrical bulbs have been the main part of the general street decoration scheme carried out by the Auckland City Council to harmonise with the decorations which are being made by the business community.

In suburban Auckland shopping areas there are decorations on a wide scale. At Balmoral spaced flagging from poles above shop verandahs has, with special lighting, assisted to produce a brilliant effect. To-morrow in the Churches. Special Coronation services will be held in Auckland churches of all denominations to-morrow, where, as in England, the day 'will be observed as one for the preparation of the Coronation. Special prayers will be offered for the hallowing of the King and the rededication of his people.

In the Anglican churches the services will be on the same lines as those in England. At the morning service at St. Mary's Cathedral at Parnell the special service will be conducted by Canon Fancourt, and the evening service, which will be of a form of prayer and dedication preparatory to the Coronation, will be conducted by Archbishop Averill. who will also conduct a service of prayer and thanksgiving at the Cathedral on the morning of Coronation Day.

At the Epiphany Church to-morrow evening a Coronation regalia pageant will be presented by the Rev. Jasper Calder, assisted, by the Epiphany choir and members of local dramatic clubs. Replicas of the full Coronation regalia have been made by the City Mission staff. The ceremony will follow closely in an abbreviated form the ceremony at Westminster Abbev.

In the Roman Catholic churches tomorrow there will be solemn Mass to invoke the blessing of God on the King and Queen and the people. Ip the evening there will be special prayers, Litany of the Saints in English, the Te Deum or Magnificat to ask for the gift of peace and goodwill among men, and for the return of mankind to its supreme allegiance to God.

A commemoration service will be held at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in the morning, and the evening service will be broadcast. Special services will be held at the other Presbyterian churches in Auckland and suburbs. Special Coronation and Mother's Day services will be neld at the Baptist Tabernacle, where the preacher will be Dr. A. Hodge. Pre-Coronation services will be Leld in all the Methodist churches.

A united service is to be held at the Gaiety Theatre at Takapuna on Coronation Day, and during the week the council chambers will be decorated.

Shops and Offices Close. Shops, offices and warehouses will generally close for Coronation Day, but very few factories will close. In some instances partial closinf will be observed to allow employees to attend the ceremony at the Town Hall. \ The Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association Ims invited ex-service men and women to take jwirt in the Town Hall ceremor.y on Coronation Day, and South African War veterans will also attend. The parade, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel T. H. Dawson, will join the naval and military parade when It passes Shorthand Street. The Coronation Week has been a great stimulant to business in Auckland, ;.nd directly and indirectly has provided a great deal of employment. Electrical workers have been in great demand, a*H> they have been kept particularly busy. A big influx of visitors is expected during the week from country districts. So far there has not been any exceptional demand for hotel accommodation] over Coronation Week.