FOR THE COMMON CAUSE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 5

FOR THE COMMON CAUSE

AUSTRALIA’S LOYAL PART. SPEECH BY THE KING. COMMONWEALTH OFFICES > OPENED. [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION-COPY K4HT.) LONDON, July 24. The King laid the foundation stone of the new Commonwealth building amid a fanfare of Shate trumpets, cheers and cooeea. He used a gold trowel presented by Sir George Reid. The handle of the trowel was made of Australian blackwood. It was ornamented with waratahs and wattle, also the arms of the various States. Queen Mary and Princess Mary, escorted by the Household Cavalry, drove along the Strand, which was beflagged and decorated. Sir George Reia, accompanied bv. his wife and daughter, the Archbishop of Melbourne, and the Agents-Genoral, welcomed the King in a marquee erected over the site. There were twelve hundred guests, including the Austrian, Japanese, and American Ambassadors, Argentine, Norwegian, Greek, and Servian Ministers, Lords Strathcona, Salisbury, Rosebery, Lincolnshire, Crewe, Roberts, and Kitchener, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Mayor, tho Countess of Jersey, the Countess of Dudley. The Marquis of Linlithgow. Earl Grey, Hon. T. Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand), Lord Chelmsford, Sir Rufus Isaacs, and a great number of Australians. On the arrival of the King, Sir George Reid presented an address on behalf of the Australian Government, tendering,grateful thanks to the King and Queen for gracefully performing the ceremony. The address reminded his Majesty that the new building would proclaim more than the industrial growth of Australia and would also testify to tho increasing intimacy and harmony of the political relationship between the Motherland and her daughter. Some ties had gone, but the ties which really unite Britain and the Dominions beyond the seas, such as the ties of mutual betterment, pride of race, grandeur and radiation of the glory of achievements, loyalty to the throne, and a resolve to standi shoulder to shoulder when tho King calls, those remain, and are strengthened by the flight cl time. His Majesty, m a speech, after declaring he had well and truly laid tho stone, expressed pleasure that the Queen and himself were present on this interesting occasion. He congratulated the Commonwealth on securing the site for a noble structure, which would take its place as a worthy and welcome addition to the buildings adorning the centre of the Empire and would call to the minds of pnss-crs-l>y the immense opportunities and limitless resources of the great continent under the Southern Cross. He cherished most happy recollections of his visits and the warmth of the reception accorded him in all the States. “Mv second visit.” said his Majesty, “remains an inspiring memory, when I was instructed bv my dear father to inaugurate the first Parliament of the Commonwealth. It gratifies me more than I can state to receive the testimony you offer to the growing sense of kinship and unity which pervades the self-governing communities of the Empire, and those indissoluble tics which knit them to one another ardi my throne will assure that in any national emergency Australia is ready to plav her part for the common cause, ami that the loyalty of her sons will not be appealed to in vain. After llis Majesty’s speech, Mr Harcourt read a cablegram from Lord Denman. The function was a great success, and the sun shone brightly. The Strand was crowded. Their majesties, the King "and Queen, were cheered along the route. The Victoria office was decorated and beflagged. The King wore an Admiral’s uniform. Sir George Reid andi the Agents-General were in levee dress. Many .guests wore Australian uniforms. . During the inspection of the guard of honor the Irish Guards’ Band played “Land of Hope and Glory.” Ada Cvosslcy, in beautiful voice, sang two verses of the National Anthem, the audience joining in the chorus. The ceremony ended by Sir George Reid calling for cheers for the King and Queen. The Archbishop of Melbourne offered a prayer:— “O Christ, the One Foundation, the Chief Cornerstone, the laying of this stone to Thy Name, arid be the beginning andi increase the consummation of this Thine Own work, which is undertaken to the glory of Thy Name.”

IN HEART OF BUSH AND HEART OF EMPIRE.

“A MAJESTIC TOKEN OF FIDELITY.” (Received July 25, 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 25The Guard of Honor of King Edward’s Horse was composed of 23 Australians, 24 Canadians, 11 Now Zea- 1 landers, 21 South Africans, 15 AngloIndians, two West Indians, four representatives of other Crown Colonies. The “Times” says the Kings speech touched the very chords which those present would have wished. He conveyed a message full of sincere affection and trust for his distant subjects beneath the Southern Cross. The “Telegraph” says the one thing needed to raise the Empire above all danger is full naval co-operation in the strategic sense, but the Commonwealth house in the heart of London stands as a majestic token of the fidelity of the Empire. The “Daily News” says Australia is the most typically British portion of the Empire. It is more English than England in blood, speech anil habit. No Dominion is richer in promise. The King’s references to Australia s loyalty were punctuated with applause, and if this was contrary to Court etiquette, it was none the less welcome. (Received July 25, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. The “Times” vividly contrasts the foundation of Australia’s capital at Canberra in the heai't of the bush and the foundation of tlic Commonwealth offices in the heart of the Kmp within the same year.

THE COST OF THE BUILDINC. WILL TAKE TWO YEARS! TO BUILD. (Received July 26, 12.25 a.m.) MELBOURNE, July 25. The erection of Commonwealth House in London is to cost £207,000. It will take two years to build.