CEREMONY AT OAMARU

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 6

CEREMONY AT OAMARU

Gill GUIDES' CORONATION MESSAGE Continuing its journey through New Zealand, the Coronation Message or Loyalty from the Girl Guides of the Dominion arrived at Camara early last evening, and was received by the mayor (Mr M. F. E. Cooney). . . The message, which is to be forwarded by King’s messenger to King George VI. on the occasion of his Coronation, was officially recognised and accepted in Wellington by the mayor (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) at a unique gathering in the Town Hall, after which it was speeded on its way by messenger to Auckland. . , „ The script is in English and Maori, and bears the seals and emblems of the various boroughs and Girl Guides’. Associations by which it has been received. Wending , its way south, the message was received midway across the Waitaki bridge late yesterday afternoon by Miss J B Wilson (divisional commander ot the North Otago Association) and members of the executive, and was forthwith brought on to Oamaru. A guard of honour was formed by the local Girl Guides for the mayor and mayoress (Mr and Mrs Cooney), and shortly after 5 o’clock a unique function was held m the Council Chambers, when the message was brought to, and accepted by, the mayor. The gathering-was representative of the various Guide sections in North Otago, as well as Brownies and members of the executive.. - After the colour parties had handed their colours to Mr Cooney, the messenger arrived, and all joined in the singing of the National Anthem. . The Mayor received the mesage, ami, opening it, read as follows:

To our illustrious chief across the seas, the Centre-Pole of the Empire the Rare White Crane—our humble salutations. We greet you and-your greenstone ornament, our gracious Queen, and your children. This is but the small voice of your Empire, giving expression to their ioy and gladness on your Coronation Day. We rejoice and are proud to know, that our gracious Sovereigns are intimate with our work as Guides. To-day you sit upon the throne of yopr illustrious ancestors as heads of this great Empire. Very humbly we express our constant loyalty to you both—God bless our King and Queen.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CORONATION. In the course of a brief, but particularly appropriate and patriotic address to the gathering, .the Mayor felt privileged at being able to take part in such a yet auspicious ceremony of loyalty. In sending this address to the King and Queen .it was pleasing to know .that the spirit ot loyalty was manifested in _ the thought that prompted its inception, .. It was unnecessaty to' talk of loyalty in these times—of loyalty to our Empire,, to our Constitution, and to our Kmg—but it was of particular interest to reflect on the fact that wo are- living under a monarchy that gave us our freedom and liberty; m short, almost anything we desired. Therefore it was our duty to give service to that Empire and pay homage to our constitutional Head. He hoped that the significance of the Coronation would be, ; perpetuated and strengthened, in the minds of all as the years rolled on. and that the people under the British Flag would realise the debt they owed to the King and the EmpireTs a whole. “ The Coronation is something more than an historical occasion; it embodies and persomfaes all we owe to our Spvereign, ’said Mr Cooney, “ and I hope you will all become conscious of the importance and significance of this great event; for we are living in a land that enjoys the greatest freedom and happiness —that is our heritage.” , _ The seal of the'Borough of Oamaru was then affixed by the town clerk (Mr J Branthwaite), and the message was handed back to the receiver, for delivery to the next borough. The ihessage left Oamaru this morning for Palmerston, and arrived in Dunedin during the afternoon.