GREAT DISPLAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 112, 13 May 1911, Page 5

GREAT DISPLAY.

FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE. ROYAL PROGRESS. AN ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION. 100,000 PERSONS PRESENT. By Telcgraphi—Press Association.— Copyright. (Received May 13, 1 p.m.) LONDON, 12fh May. The Festival of Empire was opened in fine weather and with a wealth of display. Tiie King and Queen, the Prince ot Wales and Princess Mary of Wales, drove to the Crystal Palace, where the Festival ia being held. One hundred thousand, echool-cbiktrfln and Boy Scoot* lined the rout©. Their Majesties, who wore givon an enthusiastic reception, stopped to listen to 20,000 children at Sonthwark sing the National Anthem. The Royalties passed under many triumphal arches. Several Mayors and borough councils presented them -with addresses. The Duke and Duchies of Fife, the Duke and Duchess of Argyll, and the Duke and Duchess' of Teck joined the King and Queen's party at the Palace, where the Earl of Plymouth, head of the Executive of the Festival of Empire, received the distinguished visitors. A concert followed. Miss Clara Butt was one of the soloists. A choir of 4500 voices, under the dinegtion of Dr. Harms, sang patriotic songs, including Kipling's " Recessional." The Royal party afterwards reviewed the pageant performers. A number of Australians and New Zealandere appeared in costume — Miss "Ward as a Maori princess, and Mies ftabi Seddon. and Mrs. Hislop in Maori drees. Their Majesties then inspected the model of the Imperial Parliament Houses, and did the All Red tour, in the course of which they saw Canada's £70,000 exhibit, and the "Fail- of Fashion." There were over one hundred thousand people present in the Palace grounds. Later tie King and Queen attended the Dominion's reception, at which there were 3000 persons present, including Sir Joseph Ward, Lady Ward, and Miss Ward, Sir George and Lady Bold, Sir WiDiam Hall-Jones and Lady HallJones, the Agents-General and their wives, Lord Roberta, foreign Ambassadors, several Cabinet Ministers, and i many members of the House of Commons. THE KING AND SIR JOSEPH WARD. (Received May 13, 2 pjn.) LONDON, 12th May. The Sovereigns, after the concert at Crystal Palace, invited' Sir Joseph and Lady Ward to tea. King George expressed to Sir Joseph hie appreciation of New Zealand's wreath recently placed by Sir Joeeph and Lady Ward on King Edward's tonflb at Windsor.