UNIQUE CEREMONY

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1937, Page 4

UNIQUE CEREMONY

AT FREE LIBRARY STEPS.

SIGNING AN ADDRESS TO KfNG.

An unique ceremony took place on Sunday morning at ,10.30 o’clock at the steps of the Free Public Library when the signature of tho Mayor (G. A. Perry Esq., 0.8. E.) was affixed, together with the seal of the Hokitika Borough Council to an address to be presented to King George VI. in connection with his Coronation^

The address which is in Maori with an English version underneath, is elaborately decorated. The signatures and seals of the various local bodies of the cities and towns which are affixed, are on a separate series of sheets, and form an interesting collection. In addition there is a goatskin parchment some 3ft by 2ft., on which is delineated a map of New Zealand, and on which is marked the course of the document, as it progressed through the Dominion in charge of Girl Guides to obtain the signatures that have been affixed, ft is interesting to note that, the document travelled by train, motor car, milk cart, horseback, on foot, on ski, by bicycle, by steamer and other modes of travel, an ( ] these modes are delineated on the map, in interesting sequence. The map has an attractive border in which New Zealand fauna and bird life is accurately shown. The whole makes a very attractive anid unique document. The ceremony at the Library steps at which there were present the Mayor and Mayoress, the latter being Commissioner of Girl Guides, some fifteen Girl Guides and a number of the general public. 1 The Girl Guides were formed up and handed over the document, enclosed in a copper urn, to the Commissioner, who opened it and read the address. It was as follows :

To our illustrious Chief acros s 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 hut the small voice of your children of Aoteroa, an outnost of your Empire, giving expression to their joy and gladness in 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 your illustrious ancestors, as head of this .great Empire. Verv hum hi v we express our constant loyalty and love to you both.

God bless our King and Queen. The address being signed and sealed the documents were inspected with interest. hv those assembled • a aot-sp of the National Antlic-m concluded the interesting ceremony.The document Avent. north in the afternoon bv Cir] Guides, AA-ho banded them over at Kumara to sister Guides, and thence after a signing ceremonv n A Kumara were taken to Teremat'au tp'Uo and bonded on to Grevmbuth p:>-1 Onides, aaTo carried on from there. The itinerar-t- of the document is now nearlv completed Tt wifi then be sent on for presentation to His Majesty.