THE PROCLAMATION READ BY MAYOR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11930, 23 January 1936, Page 3

THE PROCLAMATION READ BY MAYOR

DR IKK AND IMPORTANT CEKEAK )XY

The accession of His Majesty Kin? Edward VIII was proclaimed at Parliament Buildings, Wellington, at 11 a.m. to-day. Acting in accordance with the request of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Mr Savage, the Mayor of Tauranga, Mr L. R. Wilkinson, read the proclamation at the same hour from the steps of the Municipal Chambers, before a very large assemblage of citizens representing both town and country. As the town clock struck eleven, His Worship took up a position on the steps, and beside him were Crs. W. McKinnon, P. J. Allely, T. E. Youngman, C. T. McFarlane, I). Matheson, the Town Clerk, Mr R. B. Shearman, the County Clerk,-Mr H. Lewis, and the Yen. Archdeacon Chatterton, Rev. O. S. O. Gibson, the Rev. Father Eccleston, Rev. Middlebrook and Rev. D. H. Stewart. The Mayor read the proclamation as follows;

WHEREAS it "hath pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lord, King George the Fifth, of blessed and gloi ions memory, by whose decease the Imperial Grown of Great Britain, Ireland and all oilier of His late Majesty’s Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David—We, therefore, George Vere Arundel), 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 representative European and Maori citizens here present, do now hereby, with one voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the Higli and Mighty Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy memory become our only lawful and rightful liege Lord Edward VIII, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, to bless the Royal Prince Edward the Eighth with long and happy years to

reign over ns. Given at Wellington in the Dominion of New Zealand tills twen-ty-third day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six. (Signed) GALWAY, Governor-General M. J. SAVAGE P. FRASER W. NASH D. G, SULLIVAN H. G. R. MASON H. T. ARMSTRONG AV. E. PARRY F. JONES AV. LEE MARTIN FRANK LANGSTONE MARK FAGAN MICHAEL MYERS, C.J F. H. D. BELL A. T. NGATA “GOD SAA’E THE KING.”

Immediately the Proclamation was read the Union Jack was hoisted to the masthead and remains there until sundown to-night. Bandmaster E. Patterson then led the singing of the National Anthem, and at its conclusion three hearty cheers were given for the new King. The only body to parade in uniform was the Turua Boy Scouts. Two Hours’ Holiday. At the request of the Prime Minister the public observed a holiday to-day between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon in honour of the accession of King Edward. Funeral of Late King George The funeral of His late Majesty will take place on Tuesday next, 28th inst. His Majesty then took the oath of accession and also subscribed to the oath securing the freedom of the Church of Scotland. The councillors swore loyalty to the King and. kissed his hand on being presented. The councillors then returned to Westminster, where a special Parliament had been summoned.

Both Houses of Parliament met in silence. The whole scene was dominated by a solitary throne on the' dais in the Lords which, as a symbol of the King’s authority, had been installed to-day, replacing the two thrones which were there yesterday for King George and his Queen, while the gilt chair the Prince of Wales usually occupied had also been removed. The House of Commons was crowded. The Speaker was wearing white “weepers.” Then began the ceremony of taking the oath of allegiance to King Edward, The Speaker led, followed by members of Cabinet. Lord Dawson of Penn, who signed the death bulletin last night, to-day signed the roll of the Lords, acknowledging the new King.