CORONATION CHATTER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7383, 8 February 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

CORONATION CHATTER.

When in doubt, lead the King, seems to be the motto for London editors. Although the coronation is seven months off, yet every paragraph touching the ceremony or the King's intentions — even though founded on idle gossip — finds a prominent place in the papers. The Church papers are much concerned at the rumours that the coronation office is to be much curtailed, that the celebration of the Holy Communion, the anointing of the Sovereign, and the Homage of the Nobles is to be "cut." The omission of the King's sacring and of his unction Avould, they consider, be the missing of the Avhole meaning of the rites. The anointing is the one distinctiA-e-ly sacred act by which the King is set apart for his holy office. As, hoAvever, other papers declare that the coronation ceremony AA'ill be an almost exact reproduction of that of IS3B, it AA'ill be time enough to discuss the question Avhen Aye have something- more than rumour to go upon.

Another rumour, probably based merely on the fancy of the chronicler, is to the effect that the lity-of-the-valley, the Queen's favourite flo Aver, AA'ill be the most prominent in the coronation decorations, especially'as in June the bloom is at its best out of doors. OAving to the system of forcing, first practised in England on the King's estate at tificial heat the lfly-of-the-valley can be had to any extent and at any time of .year. By the importation of "croAvns" and the utilisation of artifiicial heat the lily-of-the-valley maj' be made to bloom to order, and the initiated knoAv the hour Avhen the process Avill be completed. By means of cold storage the stock of crowns can be kept in an undeA'eloped state for a long while, so as to be ahvays ready for drawing upon as circumstances arise. This custom, in vogue in nurseries, makes the production of the lily-of-the A-alley in large quantities during the period of the coronation a simple matter, especially Avhen the possibility of an enormous yield from outdoor cultivation may also be assured. The result of forcing is foliage of a A'erv pale green, but exposure of the leaA-es soon remedies that, and the aroma of the blooms is as perfect as in 'the case of those grown in the Open.

The coronation medal, designed by Mr Emil Fuchs, is not the State medal but a private commission for Messrs Elkington and Co., AA-ho Avill have it struck in -three sizes and" manufactured in gold, silver, and bronze. The obverse bears likenesses in profile of the King and Queen, with the inscription "King Edward VII.; Queen Alexandra." The reverse bears a poetic conception of Britannia, seated, haA-ing- at her side a shield emblazoned Avith the Royal Arms, and" inscribed Avith the date. In the background is the historic Cathedral of Westminster, whilst the Imperial Crown of Greater Britain sheds rajs of light over all.

The coronation State medal Avill be designed and struck in the royal mint in accordance Avith long custom. Its execution has been entrusted to Mr G. W. de Saulles, engraver to the mint. As in the case of the medal issued in 1897, to commemorate the sixtieth year of her late Majesty's reign, it Avill be struck in tAvo sizes, in gold, sih^r and bronze.