THE CORONATION CEREMONIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9452, 27 February 1911, Page 7

THE CORONATION CEREMONIES.

INVITATION TO THE DOMINION PARLIAMENT. (PEB PnGSa ABIWOUTION.) WELLINGTON Feb. 26. The .Prime Ministor has received the following cablegram through the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated London, February 24th;—"Tho Committee of both Houses of Parliament, representative of all parties, wish to convey to you a formal invitation'to eight members of the Dominion Parliament to bo their guesto at the Coronation celebrations, Applications have been raado for the Earl Marshal to assign thorn places in Westminster Abbey. The Committee hope, later, to extend the invitation for ono week, in order to enable visits to be paid to the more important English towns. It is not possible to speak with certainty'on this point at present. Owing to the exigencies of space, it is not possible to include in the formal invitation to the Coronation and subsequent festivities, tho wives and daughters of the members invited. At the same time, the Committee will be glad to provide hotel accommodation for one lady, being wife or daughter, and in respect of each member information' is to be sent, to reach hero by the ,4th March, giving full particulars as to the expected numbers of ladies coming, and whether wife or daughter in each case, In order to avoid any misunderstanding and disappointment, the Committee wish .to state clearly, that though they can only recognise members themselves as their formal guests, they will do their utmost to make the visit, not only of members, but also of tho ladies accompanying thorn, as pleasant and agreeable as possible. Interviewed by a Times reporter in regard lo the invitation Sir Joseph Ward said:—"l am sending a cany of tli'is message to all the members ol tho House of Representatives, and asking them to telegraph their replies. I recognise that the time in.-which the replies have to be in London is short, and that it docs not give much time for consideration by those to whom the message is being sent. It is proposed, in the evjnt of acceptance by members of the House, to extend it to five Government members au\ three. Opposition ■ members. It-will bo noticed from tho cable that! this invitation extends to tho time named during the visit to London, and docs not,_ of course, include the cost of passage either way,, Persnally, I shall be exceedingly glad to sec members of tho House avail themselves of tho mutation, and tho full number invited may be able to go to London."

FAREWELL SOCIAL.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE PREMIER,

CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 26.

The Right Hon. tho Prime Minister was entertained at a farewell social last night in tho Art Gallery, where there was a large gathering, despite the heavy rain. The following motion was agreed to by acclamation:—"Sir Joseph Ward, on the eve .of. the departure of yourself and Lady Ward for the Old Land this meeting of representatives of tho people of the city of Christcliurch and surrounding districts desire to extend to you a most sincere welcome, and wo furtter trust that as Prime Minister of this Dominion your mission to Britain will result in materially advancing the best and truest interests, not only of the people you so ably represent, but of the whole Empire." Sir Joseph Ward received an ovation on rising to reply, the audience cheering and singing "He's a Jolly Good Follow." In the course of a lengthy speech, tho Prime Minister dealt with matters tp be discussed at the. Imperial Conference, emphasising principally defence matters. He stated that that day, through his Excellency the Governor he had at last received the invitations to tho Cnronatio'i that had been so much talked about. The invitation was to eight members of the New Zealand Parliament, who were to be the guests of the members of tho British House of Lords and Commons. Sir Joseph indicated that some members on both sides of the House would receive invitations (applause). At tho conclusion the audience sang "Auld Lang'Syne" and "He's a Jolly .Good■ Fellow,'"; and gave cheers for Sir' Joseph and Lady Ward, who afterwards left for Wellington.

CHRISTCHURCH BUSINESS MEN. BID THE PREMIER GOOD-BYE. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 26. A deputation consisting of Messrs F. E. Jones, President of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, A. Kaye, W. D. Mearcs, 11. P. Marriner, W. Wood, J. G. Moore, and Royds waited on the Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, to-day. Mr Jones said that the deputation, as representing the busiress community, wished to say "Good-bye" to Sir Joseph Ward on the eve of his departure for the- Imperial Conference. Members of the deputation hoped that the Conference would have a. aiccossful issue, and that Sir Joseph would have a safe return, There might be differences of opinion as to how the Dominion and Empiro could best be pushed along,but all people were of oho opinion that it was for the good of the world that the great British Empiro shuld bo brought closer and closer together. Sir Joseph Ward said that ho thoroughly appreciated tho kindness shown to him, and he realised the high value of the Conference and also the difficulty of ono generation seeing far ahead .into the life of another generation. It was easy to look back at history and to judge how easy it might have been to avoid mistakes, but it was hard to anticipate things as Mr Jones had suggested. It was an excellent' thing:' to bring representatives of the outlying parts of tho Empiro together to protect the interests of nil. He thanked them again for their good wishes to himsslf.