VICTORIA MEMORIAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 5

VICTORIA MEMORIAL.

SPEECH BY THE KINO,

LUSTRE AND FAME OF VICTORIAN REIGN.

By Telegraph-Press Associatioa-Coorrlelit London, May IS. The weather was fine and sunny for the unveiling of tho Queen Victoria memorial in the Mall'before tho gates ot 'Buckingham Palace. Crowds surrounded the palace for'a distanco of half a mile. .Mr. Asquith, the Ministers, Ambassadors, distinguished Indians, and_ the Court circle were on the dais. The Kaiser was attired in a British Field-marshal s uniform. Other notables occupied seats facing the memorial. Mr. Fisher, tho Australian Prime Minister, was in civilian costume. Sir Joseph Ward woro his Windsor uniform. Lord Esher, in his address, said tho memorial stood not only as a remembrance of Queen Victoria, but as a conspicuous mark of the bond of brotherhood in the Empire and loyalty to tho Throao. ~ , King George, in replying, delivered a long speech in a clear voice. His Majesty alluded to the late King Edwards interest in the memorial, which, he said, would revive for our descendants the lustre and fame of the Victorian reign, during which the colonies had grown vastly in prosperity and strength, lie memorial represented tributes from races and regions more various in character and circumstances than had ever been [combined before upon a common purpose. His Majesty expressed tho deepest satisfaction at tho presence of the Kaiser and Kaiserin, and said the nation rejoiced that Queen Victoria's oldest grandson shared in the unveiling, for the Kaiser deeply loved and venerated Queen Victoria," while livins ties of kinship and friendship united our Thrones and persons; The King concluded with a noblyphrased panegyric of Queen Victoria's worth and reign. After a brief religious service, King George, who was wearing a fieldmarshal's uniform, pressed the button, arid the veiling dropped to the booming of forty-one guns, tho bands meanwhile playing tho National Anthem. The Kaiser placed a wreath at the foot of Queen Victoria's statue. At tho conclusion of tho ceremony the King conferred the honour of knighthood upon Mr. T. Brock, E.A., tho sculptor who designed the memorial. Detachments of the Naval forces and regiments of regulars associated with Queen Victoria's name participated in tho march past at the unveiling of the Victoria memorial. A delegation of a regiment of German dragoons, of which the late Queen Victoria was colonel, attended; and units of the Territorials bearing the late Queen's name, and King Edward's Horse, were represented. Two officers and two men from each colony were also present.

■NEW ZEALAND REPRESENTATIVES. CR.ec. May 18, 0.5 a.m.) London, May 18. The King's references to Overseas Dominions were in reply to Lord Esher's statoment that every corner of His Majesty's dominions and colonies had contributed to thn fund of received for the erection of the. memorial. Colonel Chaytor and Captain Seddon represented the NewAaland ..forces. Sir William Hall-Jones, Higli Commissioner for New Zealand, was also present. Tho Stato banquet, at Buckingham Palace in the evening was a brilliant function, sixty guests 'attending..