A BRILLIANT GATHERING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 February 1921, Page 5

A BRILLIANT GATHERING.

APPEAL BY DUKE OF CON-

NAUGHT.

(Reuter.)

DELHI, Fe*b. 9

vZThe Duke of Connaught performed "She ceremony of inaugurating the Council of State and the Legislative Assembly. It was another' most imposing ceremoney, and there wa<s a brii"liant gathering, including ruling princes and chiefs. The Duke's reception was marked fey the greatest warmth.

The Viceroy (Lord Chelmsford), in a outlined the .inception and progress of the reforms up to the present. He said there were those who believed that the real object bf the British •"Government had always been to retain all genuine power in their own hands, only grudgingly and tardily yielding when .- unable to ' refuse them. He was confident that history would reveal that throughout British rule pur unceasing purpose had been to, extend to India the .benefits and privi-' leges of Britain's own institutions. In face of formidable difficulties we had been content to advance step by step, •and build the edifice of constitutional government on the foundations laid in the preceding generation, and the pre?eent developments representetf an honest effort to give' the fullest and .most complete effect to -the Montagu'Chelmsford reform schemfe.

The Duke of Connaught read the "King's message, which contained the phrase: "To-day you hav e the beginning of Swaraj within my Empire." Tine reference to the Royal JHbuse ■evoked continued, applause. The DuTee, speaking with deep earnestness and emotion, made a personal appeal 'for a cessation of bitterness and a mutual obliteration of past mistakes. Then he declared the Houee open.

The Viceroy, J n his etosing -speech, ' repeated the Duke's appeal, and asked all to join hands and work together for the common good.

The crowds in the vicinity off "the Chambers were almost entirely official. Shops in the main streets were ciosed as a mark of tibe non-co-operators' disapproval of the proceedings. --.'."..