Hawea Flat.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1797, 26 August 1902, Page 5

Hawea Flat.

Owing to the inclemency of the weather on Coronation day the celebrations were not proceeded with until Monday. In a small district like this, when people have to come trom a distance, carrying out the celebrations on a boisterous day like Saturday would have meant partial failure. Coronation celebrations here could not be expected to be on the same scale and carried out with the same method as they would be in a town. Nevertheless, the occasion was taken advantage of to the fullest extent by ihe residents to show their loyalty. Our scattered population gathered at the centrally situated seboolhouse to the numbei ot 150—young and old. What was remarkable was the number of children present —nearly 100, This augurs wail for Hawea from a population point ut view, the school will soon require an extra teacher. Oue could see at a glance Hawea is no factor in contiibuting to the low birthrate of the Colony. The first ceremony was the hoisting of the flag, and the saluting ot it by the children. The National Anthem was then sung, after that all joined in giving three hearty cheers for Tie King and Queen, other members of the Royal Family ; our soldiers; and last, but xa many aspects not least, our own Premier. Mr Duncan M'Lenoan as Chairman of the School Committee, addressed the children in a lew appropriate words and presented them with souvenir cards of the Coronation. The next speaker was Mr Ferguason, who after referring to i he King’s recent illness and Germany’s attitude towards the British, said ;—lt is iccogniaed on all hands that on this day there will be an outburst of loyalty such as .-he world has never before witnessed. That this should be so is very natural and laudable. One reason for this great rejoicing may be found in the fact that the great majority of those taking part in the celebrations of to-day have never before had an opportunity of witnessing a Coronation celebration and I am sure that we all hope that it may be a long time oefore we are called upon to take part m another such celebration. lam sure I am expressing ‘he feelings of all present in wishing the King a long ana prosperous reign. Again if we take a cursory glance at the characters of former feovereigna and the records of Uieir reigns and compare them with that of the late Queen we shall see lurcher reason for this great national outburst of enthusiasm. Why thould we in New Zealand be rejoicing over the great event that is taking place to Jay 1 it is simply because by showing ooi loyalty to our Sovereign, we can do much to uphold the honor and piestige of the British Empire. Indeed we already have done something in this direction by sending so many of our brave men to assist in the war in which our Empire has lately been engaged. Five or six years ago if any one had spoken about tha Motherland to which we belong, the majority of our boys and girls would have been found to know very little about it and oven older people in the Colonies thought very little about the Mother Country, while the great majority ot the people at Home were unaware that New Zealand was a place of much cCiount a groat many of them thinking it was only some grease soot in the Pacific Ocean, inhabited by a few Maoris, it is different to-day, people can no longer forget that they belong to the old country and to the old flag, to the largest and most glorious Empire on Tie face of the (globe. Cur soldieis, .ni many of them have gone to Africa to uphold ihe honor of the British fi tg have done so nobl} 7 . Even from ihis district a good many have ventured, so that it has been brought home to us that we are an integral pan of the great, British E upire, This war has proved to o her nations that in their disputes with Bii aiu they will also have to reckon with that nation’s and these Colonies have proved ihernseives no meau factor, in the contest just ended. The object of the njoiciug hero to-Jay is to remind us ah that we should be loyal to our King aud country and that cur King requites uot only our loyalty but our best efforts in every ditecuou to uphold the prestige and further the interests of the gieat nation to which wo belong. Ami 1 would remind you that we can only fulfil these demands by being true to ourselves, that is by living such a life as will enable us to till to the best advantage the various positions in which we are placed.

Mr Murdoch McLennan said : I have been asked on the spur of the moment to say a few words in connection with the Coronation but I fear the moment bus come without the. spur. There is oie suggestion which strikes me >a being worthy of mention ou this occasion. As we thmk of our duty to King and iimpire, the fact may never have struck you that it is possiole to serve both better by living than by dying for them. The path of the one who dares to die for his country is more frequently strewn about by ease and self gratification than that of the per-mu who live-t for it, Take for instauco tne death of uany a soldier, He hears of his country'a need and by patriotic speeches is told of the fame that a soldier nuy win for himself, thus he volunteers in hope of winning world wide praise, One day whilst in act o i the unexpected happens an 1 nuny retnara ‘ a 'rue patriot.' I venture to say that if that man’s life was governed by the vices that have ruined nation-, he \yas no, patriot. Ou the other hind the that endeavors to live for his country has a strong current of opposition to fight against. He has no public applauto, no hand to air his oiuoUjus and too f'cqueatlyj|aa apparently fruitless mission. A man who truly loves his country will raise his voice with no uncertain sound against the many evils that threaten its downfall. Foes from withip are the moat treacherous and work the greatest havoc, Any map who his au eye to see cionqt bat observe the many forces against the cause of rght, In the political world self is too often m the seat of power, Wh dst in the social world the trinity of evils, (impurity, gambling and intemperance have many ardent followers. The true patriot, whilst opposing all these and qthqr evils meets vvitb no encouragement aqd too frequently gives up in despair. Our Empire is worth living for and is worth dying for. Beneath this fl ig there is liberty such as is found under po other. It is impossible to form an opinion as to the Slace likely tq be qccupied in the aunals of ritiah history by the personality and reign o£ &in§ Edward the Seventh, in ths

absence of any more worthy claimant to the mantle of Elijah, the editor of the ‘Edinburgh News’ has claimed a plice among the prophets and writes :— ‘ History shows that every epoch of reform is followed by an epoch of lapse. Is history about to repeat itself ? Are we to have, after the Victorian Era, dignity swallowed up in vulgar amusement and high effort forgotten in gross materialism.” Few will be as pessimistic as the editor of the 1 Edinburgh News.’ The King’s subjects fo-day are persuadedthat a Godly mother's influence has not been in vain; the King’s lengthy experience is an indispensable gift and his knowledge of his peoples need and appreciation of a ‘ river of life proceeding from the Throne,’ are among the reasons why we are optimistic of the future. In conclusion I will mention tint the crown in a circle is an emblem of universal} empire. Thatddea of world wide dominion has been the dream of the agss. ft fired the imagination of Alexander aud of Csesar, of Charlemagne and of Napoleon. But m each case the dream proved a delusion. The crown is also an emblem of eternal empire. Thus the universal will be reserved for the eternal, both will be suoject to the King of Kings. After this the afternoon was pleasantly spent in sports for the children which were well contested, games, etc, A cricket match was played between picked sides. Tea and eatables in profusion were supplied throughout the afternoon.