King Edward

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 6917, 28 January 1901, Page 3

King Edward

PROCLAIMING THE KING. *

| In the early hours of this morning we received a wire from the Acting- ; Premier, the Hon. J. G. Ward, stating that he had received a cablegram asking that King Edward VH should be proclaimed directly it came to hand, and the proclamation would accordingly take place to-day at noon in front of the Government Buildings, Wellington, by His Excellency the Governor. He asked that mourning .be su«uended to-aay from 11.50, the time Lord Ranfurly left Government House, until sunset, all flags during the same period to be flown mast high and the streamers taken aown temporarily; mourning to bo" again resumed until after the funeral of the Queen. It is requested that the schools should observe a holiday to-day and that business places should be closed between 11 a.m. and I p.m Immediately after the Governor lias proclaimed the accession of King Edward TH, the Mayor or Parhamentary representative is requested to read a copy of the proclamation for general information.

. Just before 12.30 the firebell rang out its loud tones, and in accbrdance with the above telegraphic communication received from the Acting- Premier, notWithstanding the short notice, fully 1000 persons assembled in front of the Band Rotunda at 12.30 this afternoon. At tho stated time the Mayor, accompanied by Mr F. Pirani, M.H.R., Mr Greenfield, S.M., and Messrs Park, Webb-John-son and J. Mowlem, members of the Palmerston Borough Council, took up a position in the Band Rotunda, where the Palmerston Band were also assembled. Mr Haydon then read the following : —His Worship the Mayor, Palmerston North.—Following is. the proclamation, read by His Excellency the Governor in "front of the Parliament Buildings at the seat of Government at noon to-day, and is forwarded to you to enable you to read it to the public in .your town.—J. G. Wabd, Acting-Premier.

PEOCLAMATION: Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Laiy Queen Victoria of blessed and glorious memory by whose decease the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and all other of her late' Majesty's Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the high and mighty Prince Edward, we, the Governor and Executive Council of the Colony of New Zealand, Eichard John Seddon, a member of Her Late Majesty's Pnvy Council, Joseph George Ward, acting-Premier of the said colony, assisted by members of both Houses of the General Assembly, judges, magistrates and officers of the Courts, ministers of religion, mayors, chairmen and members of local bodies and numerous other representative European and Maori citizens here present, do now hereby, with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart, publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Prince Albert Edward is now, by the death of our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory, become our only lawful and rightful liege Lord-Edward the Seventh by the grace of God, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Emperor" of India, Supreme Lord in and over the Colony of New Zealand and its depondencies, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless, the Eoyal Prince Edward the Seventh with long and happy years to reign over us. Given at Wellington, in the colony of New Zealand, this twenty-eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and one.

Eanfurly, Governor, E. J. Seddon, a member of Her Late Majesty's Privy Council, J. G. Waed, Acting-Premier, W.C.Walker, ! Wm. Hall-Jones, C.H.Mills. God Save the King. Heads were bared by everyone during the reading of the proclamation, and despite the deep regret which still pervades all classes of the community at the death of the Queen, no heartier response has ever been given than that which greeted the Mayor's request for " Three Cheers for the King." Despite the short notice received, the Band, M.M. Rifles and P.N. Rifles were well represented.

After cheers had been given for the King, the Palmerston Band, under Meyrick, played the opening bars of the National Anthem and then the church bells throughout the town rang out joyous peals in honor of King Edward VII.

Telegrams all parts of the colony to-day* inform us that a similar ceremony to that held here was carried out in each place.

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, January 28. Ministers took the oath of allegiance to King Edward at the Courthouse this morning, and at noon the proclamation of His Majesty's accession was made by the Governor in the presence of a large assemblage in front of the Parliamentary Buildings. The National Anthem was played by the Garrison Band. The troops present presented arms and a salute of 21 guns was fired by the local batteries and by H.M.S. Mildura, cheers being given for the King by both the official assemblage and spectators. The bells of the Post office tower rang out a long peal.