The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 1903. THE DELHI DURBAR.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIX, Issue 1583, 6 January 1903, Page 2

The Clutha Leader. BALCLUTHA: TUESDAY, JAN. 6, 1903. THE DELHI DURBAR.

The cables during the past day or two have given us some interesting particulars of the great State function being he'd in India in connection with the proclamation of King Edward VII. as ?mperor of India. The Durbar it l a termed, and it is held at Delhi. The word Durbar is of Persian origin, signifies ' Court,' ' Audiencs and means a state reception of th? governor-general or one of the native princes. The most important Durbor, from a British point of view, that has taken place previong\y to the present one, was held by Lord Lytton in 1877, when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empresg of India. Lord Ourzon was the central figure in the present Durbar. Th« | scene is described as one of magnificent pplendour. Fifteen thousand people occupied the rast amphitheatre ind 40,000 troops were present The highest British officials were grouped right and left of the dias where Lord and Lady Ourzon and the Duke and Duchess of Connaught sat on golden tbrouea. The magnificence and splendour of the vast assemblage is beyond Inscription. Lord and Lady Ourzon rode the gigantic tusker used at the proclamation of the Queen in 1877, being seated in a glittering howdah of solid silver under a golden umbrella shaped like a canopy. The elephant was covered with an embroidered saddle-cloth which was a blaze of gold. The Duko of Connaught rode immediataty behind on a similar mighty ole* phant, gorgeously cjparisioned. Fifty Indian princes followed on elephants, their display of pomp, splendout and wealth eclipsing that of the vice-regal par y, their jewelled robes and turbans being described as marvellous. The (?/-and Duke of Hess", Lord Kitchener, Che Governors of the dependencies and provinces, and many Pathan and A«6am chiefs, with brill'ant bodyguards, and hy 150 superb elephants hearing gorgeoußly-garbed retainers and ruling chiefs followed. When 600 survivors of the Mutiny—one a centenerian—marched in, the bands playing the " Conquering Hero" and "Auld Ling Syne," the whole assembly rose and saluted. After the proclamation the massed bands played Stamford's " Coronation March." A feu de joie outside was followed by a ro*r of cheers from 40,000 troops and an immense multitude of spectators The effect was almost overwhelming. Lord Oarzon, in an impressive and eloquent speech, emphasised the grandeur and advantages of British rule. He dwelt on the significance of one-fifth of the human race through their representatives being assembled to testify their allegiance and faithful attachment to a common Sovereign, The pageant was a wonderful combination of Oriental exuberance, wealth, and splendour, combined with Western precision of organisation. As Lord Uurzin said later, the Durbar must have convinced everyone present that India was not a mere dead weight tied to the heels of the Empire, but in itself was an empire eelf-conSdent of its own strength and aglow with abundant potentialities.