PICTON NOTES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 148, 27 June 1902, Page 2

PICTON NOTES.

(from our own correspondent.)

Dire consternation reigned in Picton when the news arrived that all proceedings in regard to Coronation must be stopped. Sorrow was mingled with alarm, and the different Committees, all well started with their work, left things as they were, and beseiged the secretaries, and the Post Office for news. The community had, as it were, received a heavy blow. It only required that to show the loyalty and devotion to King and Throne felt by the people. A meeting of the General Committee was held at 3 p.m.. but as no further news was available, the meeting was adjourned till 8.30 p.m. When the Hon. C. H. Mills arrived, by steamer it was thought that peace celebrations might go on, on account partly of the children's feast and the Sounds visitors, of whom there were many who could not be communicated with. About 9.15 p.m. Mr Mills telegraphed that it would be best fco abandon all proceedings except the children's treat, so it was resolved to hold a united service on the Courthouse grounds and to provide luncheon for the children and all visitors.

Yesterday morning the news that the King was progressing favourably heartened everybody up. There was a short service held in the Anglican Church at 9 o'clock, then the Volunteers and Cadets paraded and marched to the Courthouse, when the Rev. A. Sedgwick (Anglican) and the Rev. B. J. Allsworth (Presbyterian) held a short united service, and the whole community of Picton joined in supplication for our Sovereign.

A munificent luncheon for the children, and everybody present, with afternoon tea fof the Sounds people, finished up a day which everyone had looked forward to as an enjoyable function, and which—had all the preparations not oeen useless on account of the sad news—was intended .to utterly eclipse all other demonstrations ever held in the place. The people had worked heart and soul together for one end, to make the Coronation of King Edward VII. the event ot all our lives. The weather was fine, though cloudy, except for a slight shower at lunchtime ; but the children were taken inside the building for lunch, and then dismissed.

All other proceedings are postponed indefinitely. The people appreciated the action of the proprietor of the Maklborough Expbess in wiring information for the benefit of the public. A copy of the ExntEss extra was up at Mr Young's shop, and was read by numbers of anxious paople.