Imperial Parliament.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 71465, 16 February 1901, Page 3

Imperial Parliament.

(Press Association.—Copyright.) London, February 15. The opening of Parliament was ft pageant. There was a great military display. The King and Queen wore their crowns, and the Princesses and Princes were grouped on efther side of the throne.

The Commons, on being summoned, came with a rush, but few could be accommodated in the Chamber.

The Speaker, in hia State robes, and Lord Halsbury' (the Lord Chancellor) administered the oath of adjuration to the Kuag, who signed the declaratiou against transubstantiation. Then, donning his hat, he, while all were standing, :n a clear, firm voice, read the speech.

The King and Queen resumed their seats amid complete.'silence, and then left. A .slight . chill prevented the presence/of the Duke of York and the Princess Victoria at the openidg.

The ceremony was. brilliant and picturesque. Immense crowds gathered in Pall Mall. Lord Strathcona's Horse guarded the route near Buckingham Palace. Invalided colonials from South Africa were assigned a place on the route.

The King and Queen rode yin the great State coach, which had been unused for forty years, and was drawn by eight cream horses. The King wore a Field-Marshal's uniform, the Kibarid of the Garter, and a plumed hat. The' Queen was clad in an ermine cloak, with a small diamond crown, the Eiband of the Garter, and veil.

Immense enthusiasm was shown, aad the Eoyal couple bowed continually. There was a stately procession from the robrng room to the House of Lords, the K'ng, in a magnificent ermine and cJmson robe, lead'ng the Queen by the hand.

Every fnch of the House of Lords was crowded. There was an immense concourse of black-clad, black-featbered peeresses, including the Couatess of Eanfurly.

The centre of the Chamber was a mass of ermine and scarlet.

The Agents-General occupied the Eoyal gallery. The.Queen's throne was a little lower than the King's.

DISCUSSION ON THE WAR. ' London, February 15. Speaking :':i the House of Commons, the Right Hon feir H Campbell-Bannerman. leader of the Opposition, blamed the remisr.ness of the Government ri the manner ii which it sent reinfoicements to South Africa. He implored tbo Government to offer more generous te;ms $0 the Boers than one of unconditional surrender,

The Right Hon A. J. Balfor? stated that the reiuforcements sent to South Africa exceeded L^rd Kitchener's de. inanda. Tbe struggle must end ::i fj absolute and complete conquest. In the House of Lords, Lord Kimberley, leader of the Opposition, expressed dissatisfaction at the conduct of tbe war.

Lord Salisbury, in reply, said guerilla bands were always difficult to quell when backed by great enthusiasm. There was no hope of an abiding peace unless tb.9 British were masters and conquerors. Anything shoiu of a complete triumph would be a danger to the colonial Empire. The Addres3-h>Reply was agreed to.