THE CORONATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1077, 16 March 1911, Page 5

THE CORONATION.

fr MR. FISHER WANTS NO TITLE. (By TelcKi aph-Pross Association Copyrieht) Brisbane, March 15. At Toowoomba a Mayoral reception was fceld in honour of Mr. Fisher, Federal Prime Minister. Mr. Fisher, responding to the Mayor's hope that ho (Mr. Fisher) would return from the. Coronation us "Sir Andrew," declared that he would not accept a title of any kind. It was time me.n refused tho titles and honours offered to them. MR. M'GOWEN'S FAREWELL. Sydney, March 15. The Governor of New South Wales, Lord Chelmsford, presided at a farewell banquet tendered to Mr. M'Gowen, State Premier, on the eve of his departure for the Coronation. In replying to the toast of his health. Mr. M'Gowen declared that the safety of the Empire rested on the self-governing power given its people. It was safer and surer than any Republican form of government. They could best help the Mother Countjy by helping themselves. The public men of Australia were to-day facing this , question in all earnestness, and with determination. (Rec. March 15, 7.45 p.m.) Later. Mr. M'Gowen was given a most enthusiastic send-off on his departure for the Coronation. Crowded launches followed the steamer to tho Heads. HEAVY BOOKINGS. Sydney, March 15. The rush for the Coronation has aU ready set in. Steamer bookings' at the various ports are very heavy. AUSTRALIAN CELEBRATIONS. Melbourne, March 15. The Federal Government will co-operate in military Coronation reviews in tho State capitals, and also provide t -E2OOO towards a fireworks display, the capitals of each State receiving ,£338. FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE. ■ -* : ELABORATE PREPARATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association Copyrieht) London, March 14. . There are GOOO men working night and day erecting 300 buildings for the Festival of Empire. There will be 600 exhibitors at the allBritish Exhibition to be held within the Crystal Palace. Clubs for colonial visitors. are being opened at Sydenham, Knightsbridge, and the Crystal Palace. Four hundred thousand school children are to attend sixteen full-dress rehearsals for the pageant. ■ . Ten acres of space will be devoted to a sheep, cattle, poultry, butter, and fruit exhibition in connection with the Agricultural Congress. THE EMPIRE IN MINIATURE. The Festival of Empire scheme provides for the erection in the grounds of the Crystal Palace of a series of build.ingsi.some two-third .sof the actual .size, of the Parliament buildings,or seat of Government of each of the self-governing; Dominions. These buildings, which will •serve as. en. illustration of the vast scope of the British Empire, will each be filled ,with a series of exhibits showing, • by means of living iabloiius, : working Models; pictures' and kihematograph lectures, as ttell 'as riroductsj the extenti resources, industries,- life scenery ■ and- development of the various overseas Dominions. In order more fully to bring the cohesion, of the Empire, before the minds of the pub-' lie, a railway, for which α-thrdugh ticket may be purchased, will be constructed found' the grounds, flanked on either sido by scenery representing the country and, its industries through which it is passing,, which will suggest, as nearly fts possible, the progress of an "All red" route. At various points along the line, which' will bo about 11 miles in. length, there will be stations for each of the great countries of the Enlpjrp, where the travellcr may alight to view the buildings of the, country arid their exhibitions contained in them. The hospitality committee, under the presidency of the Duke of Norfolk, has arranged a varied series of entertainments and receptions for visitors from overseas. The weekly concerts, at which the musicians and music of all parts of the Empire will be heard, will take place under'the committee of nrominelit English musicians, with the Earl of Shaftesbury as chairman. Lectures and debates will-take P.lace in the various Parliament buildings of the overseas Dominions rand in the central hall lectures by well-known men will be given, as arranged by a committee of which Lord Avebury is chairman. Among the entertainments; and, of great interest as showing the history of London from the Roman colonial centre to the centre of the British .Empire, will be the "Pageant of London, on the beautiful amphitheatre S- w U 'SI been <}*&<&*& by Sir Aston Webb. The <rrowth of tho Empire will he, followed, and in the final scene there will be a great gathering of representatives from all parts of the Empire. The palace itself, it is intended, shall be derokl to an All-British Exhibition of Arts and Industries. ■ .