FORTY YEARS AGO

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3156, 12 August 1942, Page 8

FORTY YEARS AGO

CELEBRATIONS IN PAEROA CORONATION DAY HELD PROCESSION FROM THE STATION (From the Ohinemuri Gazette of August 12, 1902.) • This great memorial day, Coronation Day, which will be looked upon as one of the greatest days in the history of the present generation. passed off with great rejoicing. 'The weather was not, however, bright, and during the early part of the day, rain fell heavily, which had 1 the effect of making the roads sloppy and anything but nice to walk about. Despite this fact, the streets were, crowded. Only a few of the business places were decorated with ferns and evergreens.

The first of the celebrations was a special Mass at St. Mary’s Church at 7 o’clock, which was largely attended. At 10 o’clock came the service in St. Paul’s Church. ' The Rev. J. P. Cowie conducted the service and there was a large congregation present to take part. At a quarter past eleven the ■United Service was held in the Drill Hall, where the veterans and volunteers were assembled. Short addresses were here given by the Revs. Fussell and Belton.

At the conclusion of the service the volunteers marched to Victoria 'Square, headed by the Band, and fired a feau de joie and gave three cheers for the King. The procession was timed to start from the railway station at half-past one o’clock, but just at that time a shower came on and it was a quarter of an hour late. The public did not take part in the procession, possibly because it was too wet, but streamed along the road before and after the gathering, and one and all made their way to the top of Primrose Hill where the speechmaking was to take place. The procession was conducted by Lieut.-Colonel Porritt, assisted by Captain McArthur and Lieutenant Hubbard.