IN NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 23 June 1911, Page 3

IN NEW ZEALAND.

■CELEBRATIONS AT CHRISTCHUIiiCH. A WET DAY. OHRISTCHUvRIOH, Thursday. Signs were not wanting to show that Christchurch to-day was celebrating- worthily .the groat Imperial event of the Coronation of the King. Flags fluttered from all staffs, and business premises and private house? were arrayed in gay decorations of patriotic design and- colouring. The -sou'nd of 101 guns of the> R.oyal saIrtte boomed through the city, and oc all hands were to be found evidences of a great festival. School children on the way to their parade marched through the city proud in possession of Coronation medals and small flags Many of the adults bore testimony to their patriotism by a display of Coronation ribbons and favours. Even taxi-tcabs were made participa. tors in-the day's rejoicings, these appearing flying Royal standards, tTnion. Jacks, and other national emblems. Smaller functions, such as the laying of foundation stones, olanting of Coronation oaks, and the turning of first sods of Coronation baths took place in various suburbs in the morning, while later on were held in the main city churches united services of rejoicing and thanksgiving. At noon E Battery at ITagley Park -fired a Royal salute of 101 guns,, and later in the day various processions formed up and march. to Hagley Park, where short were given. The day broke fine and it appeared that the prime essential for the success of the great outdoor function, a sunny day, was to be granted. This, however, was not to be. Almost simultaneously with the booming of the 'first gun a piercing wind from the frigid south-west struck the city, black cloud banks massed up and drifted overhead, and the scene of sunshine was quickly transformed into one of gloom. The rain poured over I lip city and did ils woisi. Thi- Coronation procession was shorn of much of its glory and made its dismal progress through the cily. spectators along .the line of ; route witnessing the pageant i" I gloom and' silence. | The only animated feature of 'the j dnv was the automobile "arade, some • hundreds r f decorated cars taking • oart. Thc'c was a. large turn.out. of i Territorial-, but .the military display I had to bo abandoned on account of I

the rain For this reason' also the proposed speeches were cut down to short remarks, the daylight celebrations closing very early in the afternoon. On account of the wet weather the -torchlight procession »"d -water display were abandoned. The streets weae thronged with people puddling about in the rain and slush. Perhaps the finest effort in the way of decorative illuminations was .earned out bv the Tramway Board staff in respect of one of the breakdown waggons Thi s was brilliantly illuminated with myriads of coloured lio-hts arranged) most beautifully to represent the Crown and other Royal devices. AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Thursday The Coronation celebrations took place in splendid weather, though rain «et in this evening. The iGovernor attended a State service at St Paul's pro-Cathedral, conducted' by the Bishop of Wellington, at 10 o'clock A procession of th e military forces (about 3000 V friendly so- ' cieties, e*c. then marched to Newtown Park, where a military review took place. The attendance of the public numbered 25,000 to 30,000. Speeches were -made by the Governor, the acting- Premier, and the actingMayor. (Four thousand children were entertained at a free picture shew in the Town Hall .this afternoon. Friday. The Governor gave a State dinner last night. AT DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, Thursday. The -Coronation was celebrated here in an enthusiastic manner. The weather wa s wretchedly cold, and heavy rain showers fell at frequent intervals throughout the day and evening. Services were held in several churches and were largely attended Subsequently a procession formed' at the Octagon and proceeded to the Oval in the presence of a verv large crowd. At the conclusion of the procession a salute wa s fired by the military. In the evening the streets were crowded . with people viewing the illuminations on a large number of nublic buildings and business pre:.nises. Press Association telegrams _ show that loyal demonstrations were also made at Masterton, Palmerston N., New Plymouth. Wanganui, Hastings, Hawera, 'G-reymoutb, Invereargill, and elsewhere.