THE CORONATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1111, 26 April 1911, Page 8

THE CORONATION.

RUSH TO THE HOMELAND, CREAT INFLUX OF OVERSEAVISITORS. A GOLDEN YEAR FOR LONDON. The population of a great city will lx added to London for tho Coronation period (says tho "Dnily Mail" of March 18). .There will be nearly 100,000 visitors fiom, the United States, according to HiV estimate of an official at lh< American Embassy; Australia is sending 10,000 guests, Canada 8000, and the other States of tho Empiro many moro thousands. From all countries of the Continent hundreds of visitors will come, whilo tho influx of pcoplo from the provinces is sure to bo enormous.

Lvery ocean liner that arrives in an English port upon any day until the third week in June, no matter from wiat corner o f the globe she comes, will be failed to ihe utmost of her passen-ger-carrying capacity with visitors anxious to take a part in tho festivities and functions of tho. Royal month. More than twenty great ships will, when tho great rush commences in .May, said each week from Americaa and Canadian ports crowded with passengers bound for England. Bach week from that date some 8000 Coronation visitors from the other side of tho Atlantic will step ashore in this country. "The advance, bookings have been enormous," said a Cunard official. "Soon it will not bo possible for love or money to get a berth in a liner reaching this sice, in time for the Coronation." The \\ Into Star Lino is running- tho Adriatic as a special Coronation ship for those who have to postpone their departuro from New York until a lato date. Iho Adriatic will sail from Now York on Juno 12, and land licr 800 Coronation passengers early on the morning of Juno 20, with ono clear day to before the day—June 22— when the King and Queen will bo crowned at Westminster. Record Booking, For Americans who must remain in. States until the last, possiblo moment the Mauretania is timed to make ono of her record-breaking runs. She will drop out of New York Harbour 'on, Wednesday, June l<l, and by her wonder-' lul speed reach Fishguard ou Juno 20. Accounts of record bookings are givcui by the officials of the lines running to India, tho Far East, Australia, and New Zealand. Every ship of tho Orient Lme which sails from Australia and reaches London before tho Coronation will have every berth taken. Tho 1 , . and O. Company states officially that their bookings are "unusually heavy." Tho New Zealand Shipping Company ia running an extra ship, so great is 'the number of New Zealand people who want to bo "Home" for the Coronation. . Coronation year will be literally a golden year. Even now, though Coronation Day is not until Juno 22, there are indications that a harvest of wealth will be garnoi'cd in London. All purse strings will be loosened; money will bo spent in millions. The Royal and Government expenditure on tho Coronation ceremonies and festivities will probably reach £300,000. Power to spend £135,000 is taken under the current Estimates, and Earl Beauchanip, who is tho national host, in succession to Mr. Harcourt, has a balance in hand from last year. The Imperial Conference will absorb a considerable amount, and a largo pronor'ion,,°f,. the,,.sum,, gran ted the, .Chief,, Commissioner of Works will be spent in fitting up Westminster Abbey. Tho expenditure from his Majesty's Privy Purse.will; be, it is estimated, not less' than £100,000. : "Boom In Trado." "Wo know of many American multimillionaires who are coming to sec the Coronation," said tho head of an American agency, "and they will spend money lavishly. Fifty pounds a head will, I think, bo a very fair average of tho amount spent in London by the Americans who are hero just for Coronation timo."_ Upon this basis the 100,000 Americans , may spend in London no less a sum than £5,000,000. Hotels arc asking high prices for their accommodation, but despite this many arc now fully booked up. "Several hotels," said one manager, "will have a turnover considerably in excess of £10,000 during tho term of Coronation rejoicing." Tho restaurants aiid caterers are expecting enormous business. Theatre proprietors look for record takings. Business houses in the West End are already experiencing a "boom" in trade, whilo tho motor-cab and omnibus companies anticipate that the total takings of previous soasom will be small in proportion to the re ceipts of this historic year. Prloe of Seats. An army of workmen will bo em! ployed during the next'three month! in preparing for the several royal processions. Stands are to bo put up in hundreds of places, but it is only for the Coronation procession on Juno 22 from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey that very high prices are probable. Tho route taken on tho way to the Abbey is not only short, but the available space is small owing to the streets through which their Majesties are to pass being chiefly devoted to Government offices and clubs. Windows in such places as the Horse. Guards, the War Office, Gwydyr House, the Treasury, Home Office, and Local Government Board Offices will bo reserved for people connected with tho Government service. There are very few private houses on tho route, and for theso competition is now becoming keen. An agent stated that a price of £300 per window holding from six to ten persons is being asked in Whitehall. Tho only space available for stands is also Crown, ground, and will be occupied by structures put up by tlio Office of Works. Stands are to be erected by Earl Beauchamp's Department on the Horse Guards' Parade, but the'y will be reserved for tho Admiralty and the War Office. Westminster Hospital is building a stand which will occupy the whole front of the institution; The hospital faces tho western entrnnco to tho Abbey, and overlooks the place where the annexe is to bo built. There the King and Queen and tho Peers and Peeresses will alight) on their way to the ceremony. Tho money obtained is to bo devoted to tho funds of tho hospital. There will be about 2000 seats, two rows being reserved for the governors and couiniktee. The price arranged at present is fivo guineas to twenty guineas per sent, including breakfast and luncheon. There are to ho from seven to ten seats in eiicli row. Prices arc not to be cheap fot- tho return procession, whicii is by way of the Mall, St. James's Street, Piccadilly, and Constitution Hill. Five guinea's a seat is tho lowest sum demanded at present. The Royal progress on the following day traverses a route seven miles long, and prices for windows and places on stands will bo much lower than on Coronation Day.