TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 28 January 1936, Page 2

TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE

funeral of late king RECOGNITION IN NELSON Al 11 o’clock this morning all traffic and business in the city was suspended at 11 a.m. and two minutes’ silence was recognised to mark the day of the. funeral of His late Majesty King George \ . It was a short but impressive silence. The Post Office clock did not chime the Four but commenced 70 tolls at minute intervals, the bell used being muffled. Flags will be taken down at sunset today, after which all drapings will be removed from Government and other buildings. WHY 11 A.M. WAS CHOSEN Some curiosity lias been expressed as to why 11 a.m. should bo. the hour at which the two minutes’ silence was observed in New Zealand as 1.30 p.m. was the hour fixed in Great Britain. It is explained that the ceremony of observing two minutes’ silence at that time is one”to which the community has become accustomed as a result of the Armistice Day practice, and, moreover, it is an hour' at which the majority of people are able to honour the short period of silence adequately. Australia also observed the two minutes at 11 a.m. FUNERAL REBROADCAST The four main stations of the Broadcasting Board will rebroadcast Empii'o station’s description of the Kings funeral to-night. From 9.30 p.m. until 10.45 p.m., New Zealand time, the stations will rebroadcast a description of the funeral through London. The time between 10.45 p.m. and 1 a.m. will be occupied with appropriate music. Then there will be broadcast a description of the arrival of the cortege at Windsor and the service there. These rebroadcasts will be heard in New Zealand at the same time as they are being transmitted to English listeners, and will not be from records. DEEP REVERENT HUSH WELLINGTON, This Day. Following booming of a gun Wellington fell into a deep reverent hush that conveyed as nothing else could have the city’s deep sorrow at the passing of a loved monarch. The only sounds were of animals and birds and here and there the ticking of a clock.

At the end of the silence there sounded the dec]) note of the live-ton Carillon hell, which continued to strike at one minute intervals for 70 minutes - the toll of the late King’s life. People generally stood to attention in a tribute real and marked with deep feeling. IMPRESSIVE SCENES AT AUCKLAND (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day. Silence was observed impressively in the city and suburbs. Large numbers of people from shops and offices swelled the throngs in the principal city streets, notably Queen street, and Karangahape road, .so that an air of expectancy prevailed. The chiming of all clocks was stopped, but at the stroke of eleven a gun boomed loudly, from Albert Park, whereupon tramcars, vehicles' and pedestrians stopped as though by a magic touch, men removing their hats and all standing respectfully to attention. Hero and there a motor engine was left running longer than necessary, hut prompt intervention of the traffic officials stationed at the principal streets resulted in cessation. On the termination of the period a second gun boomed, whereupon buglers stationed at points throughout the city sounded the “Last Post.”

During the ensuing seventy minutes, the bellringer struck the beil attached to the Town Hall clock at minute intervals, thus tolling the years of the King’s life, ordinary chimes having been suspended till 12.30, On the warships Dunedin, Leith and Philomel, services were conducted by chaplains before eleven, and thereafter silence was observed with naval ceremony; meanwhile the ferry boats had stopped in various parts of the harbour so that a pall of silence enveloped the city and environs. SERVICE AT DUNEDIN [By Telegraph—Press Association] DUNEDIN, This Day. Thousands attended the commemorative service hold in bright sunshine at the Cenotaph at the Queen’s Gardens from 10.50 to 11, when two minutes’ silence was observed, followed by an artillery salute of seventy guns. In addition to military sections there were present detachments of returned soldiers, Imperial ex-servicemen, South African veterans, Legion of Frontiersmen, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and the St. John Ambulance Association. Members and representatives of the City Council and local bodies made up the official party. All business premises and factories closed during the service.

OBSERVANCE AT WANGANUI (Bv Telegraph—Press Association) WANGANUI, This Day. An impressive two minutes’ silence marked the Wanganui observance for the King’s funeral. A large muster of returned men paraded in front of the Post Office, the “Last Post” and “Reveille’’ sounded, and the fire bell tolled.