THE CORONATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12000, 24 June 1902, Page 6

THE CORONATION.

THE CHURCH SERVICES.

Great preparations are being made by the various churches for the services on Coronation Day. The Maoris are taking the matter up as well as Europeans, and the service issued.by the Archbishop of Canterbury, . at the King's request, for use throughout the Empire in the Anglican Churches, has been translated into the Maori language, and will be used in the native churches. The choirs of the city and suburbaH churches have been carefully practising the music, and making themselves acquainted with the service gener- ! ally for some time, and the music is said to be very beautiful and quite in keeping with the impressive character of the words. At All Saints', Ponsonby, everything will be carried out in a most elaborate and striking form. The surpliced choir will number over 70, and fac-similes of the Royal insignia— the Sword of Justice, the Orb, the Sceptre of the Cross, the Sceptre of the Dove, and the open Bible will be carried in the procession, which will be headed by a processional cross. The sceptres and the handle of the sword have been handsomely carved and gilded, and look very imposing. In the other Anglican Churches the services also promise to be well carried out, with all proper ceremony, and great pains are being taken to make the Presbyterian and other church services as appropriate and impressive as possible. THE SCHOOL GATHERINGS AND • RELIGIOUS SERVICES. Our attention has been drawn to the tact that the school gatherings and the religious services will clash. It was understood at the first that nothing should be done which would interfere with the religious services in the morning. These are indeed a proper part of |£to Coronation celebrations, which event is in great measure a religious service. There was indeed no question at the first meeting held on the subject that the church services should have a claim to the fore part of the day. These services are to commence at ten o'clock. But now it is made part of the proceedings that the children of the public schools are to assemble at half-past nine a.m., when the roll is to "lie called, when the children will salute the flag, and will sing patriotic airs. Wo understand that a number of parents would like to take their children with them to the religious service, in order that that aspect of the Coronation might be impressed on their minds. In the circumstances, the Board of Education might consider whether the school gatherings might not be postponed till after eleven o'clock. MILITARY DISPLAY. Preparations for the military display to be held on Coronation Day in the Domain are well in hand. It is intended that the volunteers shall assemble in Princes-street at half-past one p.m. and march to the Domain. Each company is to make its own provision for supplying its men with luncheon. The Garrison and Newton bands are expected to take part both in the inarch to the Domain and also in the display. Elaborate preparations are being made for the mimic battle. The Display Committee are making arrangements to provide the men from the warships with luncheon at the Masonic Hall. Commander Rolleston, of , H.M.s. Archer, has kindly agreed to land two field guns for use in the mimic battle. The display promises to bo a unique artd instructive exhibition. ENTERTAINMENTS FOR THI CHILDREN. A meeting of the Coronation Committee was held yesterday at the Council Chambers, His Worship the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) presiding. .The manager of Anderson's Dramatic Company, wrote offering to give a free performance at the Opera House to 2000 children. An offer was also received from the manager of Dix's Gaiety Company to provide a free entertainment at the City Hall for 2000 children, and a letter was received from the promoters of the military display in the Domain, stating that all school children bearing a ticket from the committee would be admitted free to the Domain. All these offers were received with thanks. It was decided to vote £10 to provide luncheon for the cadets. The allocation of the £160 for providing the poor with something to remind them of the Coronation, was approved, and the amounts were ordered to be paid over to the ministers and representatives of the various denominations. _ It was agreed to provide the veterans with luncheon at the Strand Cafe at one p.m., after the review of the troops. MOUNT EDEN SCHOOL. The Mount Eden Road Board, after conferring with Mr. Jacka, chairman of the Mount Eden School Committee, has decided to vote £25 to entertain the children on the school ground on Coronation Day. The children will assemble at three p.m. in the school and will be treated to tea. NEWMARKET. At the meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council last night a letter was received from Mr. F. J. Ohlson (headmaster of the Newmarket public school) asking that the Council grant a sum towards providing refreshment for the school cadets in the Domain on Coronation Day. It was asked that the school cadet corps, which consisted of 48 members, be supplied at ninepence per head. Mr. Caston suported the proposal. Mr. Angus protested against the ratepayers' money being used for such purposes, no matter how small the amount was, as the Council was being repeatedly applied to for donations for various purposes. Mr. Caston: -"" Then I will withdraw my motion and plank down five shillings for the children, and I challenge Mr. Angus to do the same." Mr. Bennett supported Mr. Angus. The Mayor said that in this case it was only taking the money out of the pockets of the parents and placing it in the mouths of the children. Eventually it was decided to accede to the request. The Mayor invited the Council to support the cadets' demonstration in the Domain, and lend what assistance they could. On the motion of Mr. Laxon it was resolved to procure a staff and flag for the town hall, and to fly the flag on Coronation Day. A petition was received from a number of Newmarket residents asking that the Council commemorate the accession of King Edward VII. to the throne by erecting a band rotunda on the Newmarket reserve at a cost of £60, half of which sum it was pointed out would lx; provided by the Government subsidy. The Mayor said that the matter was a commendable one and should receive consideration. Mr. Edgerley expressed himself against spending the ratepayers' money in the direction proposed. The matter was then allowed to drop. PARNELL CADETS. At the meeting of the Parnell Borough Council .last evening a letter was read from Mr. C. R. Munro, officer commanding the Parnell school cadets, asking the Council to contribute 9d to the lunch of each cadet who takes part in the celebrations on Coronation Day. It was pointed out that tho Auckland City Council had agreed to provide lunch for "»11 the cadets attending schools in the city and that it would do tho same for cadets attending schools outside the city if the various Borough Councils would guarantee 9d a head. It was expected that between 45 and 55 cadets would turn out in Parnell. The Mayor (Mr. Fitt) said that he had been waited on in connection with the matter, and he had undertaken, on behalf of the Council, to grant what was asked. It was deoided that the action of the Mayor be approved. COUNTRY CELEBRATIONS. A meeting was held on Tuesday, June 17, in the Arapohue school, to consider what should be done in the district to celebrate the Coronation. It was unanimously agreed that something should be done to impress the great event on the minds of the children. It was decided to gather the young folks together for amusements, etc., but there was some diversity of opinion as to the most suitable place, some present being in favour of the school ground, and others preferring the recreation reserve. It was ultimately agreed to meet at the school first, and then to proceed to tho hall in the afternoon and evening. The main question being the funds procurable, a subscription list was opened, and the sum of £8 guaranteed. Arrangements were then made to have the same presented at the Council office in time to obtain the subsidy. It was resolved to present a flag to the Arapohue. school, and to have it unfurled on Coronation Day, during the morning. Mr. J. Paton offered to procure a suitable pole for a flagstaff, but as this could not be got ready in time, it was decided that the flag be unfurled from a finial of the school building. It was also resolved that the children be conveyed to the hall after unfurling the flag, where a substantial lunch' would be provided for all, several gentlemen offering to provide vehicles; that sports be held during the afternoon, and that trees, to commemorate the great event, be planted at the hall grounds; that a bonfire be lit on the highest hill in the recreation ground; that a social be held in the hall during the evening. Messrs. A. J. Webb, G. Sills, and Wm. Chappell were appointed a committee to carry out, all the arraogements.'»-tQwn Correspondent.]