THE NEWS IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12002, 26 June 1902, Page 6

THE NEWS IN AUCKLAND.

RECEIVED WITH DEEP REGRET. ALE FESTIVITIES POSTPONED. It was with feelings of profound regret ilnd disappointment that the people in the city heard of the sad news that had occasioned the postponement of the Coronation. Coming so suddenly and unexpectedly as at did, it was a terrible shock to know at the eleventh hour that the state of His Majesty's health was such that a postponement of to-day's important ceremony was inecessary. The recent cables about his illness gave so little indication that matters were so serious that people could not at first jgive credence to the news which was quickly .'spread from mouth to mouth, and it was some time before they could realise that the intelligence was only too true. The Herald boards and other places where bulletins were posted up were besieged by large crowds eager to learn the latest details. Throughout the day the sad news was the one topic of conversation everywhere. People were right in the middle of their preparations to fittingly celebrate Coronation Day with every manifestation of joy and loyalty, and suddenly the whole thing had to be abandoned. The work a»d labour of weeks, and in some cases mouths, were j stopped, and what was intended to be a period of national rejoicing has been suddenly turned into one of national regret and anxiety. ■ There was never any doubt as to what course should be pursued with regard to the festivities, but the first intimation being a Press Association cable, people in official positions waited for official news before cancelling the celebrations arranged for to-day. (The Mayor of Auckland telegraphed anxiously to the Acting-Premier, who in turn was waiting for an official intimation through His Excellency the Governor, but after receipt of a cablegram from Mr. Seddon the fActing-Premier despatched ■ a telegram to ail Mayors in the colony, intimating the [postponement of all Coronation celebrations. Prior to receipt of this the Mayor of Auckland had decided to cancel the holiday, and all Coronation festivities. The whole programme of city and suburban events announced in yesterday's issue, including '. volunteer parade "and distribution of war medals, military display in Domain, and 'Mayor's reception in the evening, are therefore postponed, and the suburban celebrations arranged at Devonport, Grey Lynn, and Parnell, are also declared off meantime. Invitations had been issued for a tgrand ball in the Northern Club to-night, <which has also been postponed. The receipt of the news yesterday morndng put shopkeepers in the city in an awkward fix. Yesterday was in ordinaiy circumstances a -holiday, but as a full holiday had been announced for to-day shopkeepers had arranged to remain open yesterday afternoon. The Mayor and town clerk were appealed to from all quarters during the morning, and in the circumstances the Mayor advised all shopkeepers to observe the usual half-holiday, and this course .was generally followed, the general holiday for to-day having been declared off. GIFTS TO THE POOR. Though all festive gatherings have been postponed the distribution of gifts to the '.poor arranged for the Coronation, either (have been made or will be made as originally announced. The Auckland City Council has already distributed £157 5s for this purpose, the money having been handed to various city ministers in sums rp££- * up to £10, for distribution araong^ e ° r in their congregations and pansr eg> The ministers have been instructed' to distribute the money placed in their V~ nds ing to the circumstances or| he cases com . ing under their notice, keying blankets, food. clothmg-,ro.aJhv^ monev M they may "consider best"' The distribution of luxuries among the recipients of charitable aid has also taken place, the Charitable Aid Board having sent butter, cheese, ham, eggs, etc., -to all the poor on their list, on the basis of Is extra for each ration ordinarily distributed, and as some receive up to six rations they have received luxuries to the value of '6s. A special Coronation feast had also been arranged for the inmates of the Costley Home and \ other public institutions, and these will be given as arranged. "SCHOOL HOLIDAYS POSTPONED. " . At yesterday's meeting of the Auckland Education Board, the secretary (Mr. Vra•cent Rice) read the Heeai.d extra announcing the news of the postponement of the Coronation. • ~ , -r. :. m ' ~ i The Chairman (Mr. L. J. Bagnall) said 'that the information thus received was .very unfortunate and regrettable, and must cause the postponement of the local celebrations. It seemed to be unwise to let the special school holidays this week go on. They should, he thought, let the usual r work go on until next week, when the ordinary holidays would commence. The secretary had prepared a circular to school committees and head-teachers, embodying this

proposal. Mr Rice read the circular, which was as follows:—"The Board has this day received with regret the news that, owing to the ill-health of His Majesty the King, the Coronation is postponed till a future date not yet announced. The schools will therefore assemble as usual on Thursday and Friday (26th. and 27th inst.). The usual midwinter holiday will be taken during next week, unless otherwise arranged by the committee. The proceedings indicated in the Board's circular of the 11th inst. will be observed on Coronation Day, when the date shall be announced, and the extra week's holiday will be added then, unless it has been previously taken. By order of the Board.—(Signed) Vincent E. Rice, Secretary." Mr. S. Luke said he did not approve of the . circular. He thought they should let the school holidays go on as arranged, and give a single day's holiday later, when the Coronation did take place. Postponement would disturb the arrangements seriously. The Chairman pointed out that it must disturb everything, business included. Mr. Lambe said "it would be a mistake it the Board did not do its utmost to stop the rejoicings. The circular should, be thought, be telegraphed to all the schools at once. The matter was very regrettable, but he thought they could do nothing else. Mr. Rutherford thought a good many schools even near town had made arrange- • ments for picnics, etc., and a postponement • would be very awkward for them. Mr. Lambe said there would no doubt be a lot of confusion, but the present was such a grave circumstance that it could not be avoided. Mr. Mackay concurred. The circular was approved, and steps were thereupon immediately taken to distribute copies of the same to the various head-teachers in . town and country. GOVERNMENT HOLIDAY. The various Government Departments received intimation by telegram from the Acting-Premier last night that all Government oGice3 except the Post and Telegraph offices will be closed to-day. Earlier in the day Mr. Rose (Collector of Customs) had announced that the Customhouse would be open to-day as usual. In view of the • Acting-- remier's telegram, however, the Customs office and other Government offices will be closed.

RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL. Before proceeding with the ordinary business at the City Council meeting last night, the Mayor (Mr. Alfred Kidd) said that perhaps the saddest news that had fallen to anyone to announce had fallen to his lot that- night. No doubt all the councillors had heard of, the most serious illness of the King. * The arrangements made for celebrating in Auckland the Coronation were '~of a description that would, he felt sure,

• have pleased everyone connected with the "city, but unfortunately the news that had been received necessitated the indefinite postponement of all ceremonies. Every hour in the day cables had been received, and he sincerely regretted to say that the last one was of such a character as to intensify the anxiety that they all felt in reference to His 'Majesty's health. He knew he was only expressing the feelings of everyone when he said that the utmost regret was felt at the sad news. From one end of the Empire to the other the deepest sorrow would be experienced. After working for the good of the Empire for many years, the King, who was respected "all the world over, was now laid on a bed of sickness, and the result was very hard to foretell. The Mayer then mjaved:—"The Mayor, councillors and citizens of the City of Auckland desire to express their unfeigned regret at the news received this day of the illness of His Majesty the King, of so serious a nature as to necessitate the postponement of the Coronation, to which His Majesty's subjects throughout the Empire, and especially in this portion of his dominions, had been looking forward with the utmost eagerness, as enabling them to display their heartfelt affection to the throne. The City Council, in voicing the sympathy of the people of Auckland with the King in his illness, prays that the Almightv will speedily restore His Majesty to his full health and strength, to reign over his people for many years to come." Mr. Julian seconded, and the motion was unanimously adopted. It was decided to forward the resolution to His Excellency the Governor, and request him to send it to His Majesty.

POLITICAL MEETINGS ADJOURNED. Mr. J. H. Withcford, M.H.R., had announced that he would address a meeting of his constituents in the Federal Hall last night. There was a large attendance. Mr. Witheford, on making his apppearance on the platform, announced that he had received a copy of a cablegram sent by Mr. Seddon, intimating that there were disquieting rumours in London concerning the King's condition, also a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward. Acting-Premier, suggesting that the meeting should be adjourned. He was proud of the honour so many of his constituents had done him in coming to the meeting, but he asked them to forget that such a man as Witheford exists, remembering only that the King was lying ill. The meeting then adjourned. About 100 residents of Parnell assembled in the Oddfellows' Hall, Parnell, last evening in order to hear Mr. Frank Lawry's political address. Mr. Pitts (Mayor of Parnell) was in the chair. Mr. Lawry explained to the meeting that he had replied to a wire that lie received from the Acting-Premier with reference to the illness of the King, and in doing so had mentioned that he was addressing his constituents that evening, and asked if it was advisable to do so. Sir Joseph Ward had suggested a postponement, and under tho circumstances he would ask the meeting whether he should proceed or not. The Chairman then put the question to the meeting, and it was unanimously resolved to adjourn. A resolution proposed by tho chairman, and seconded by Mr. I. Hill, expressing sympathy with the King in his illness, and hoping that it would please God to restore His Majesty to perfect health, was carried unanimously, and on the motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Nixon, it was decided to forward the resolution to the Acting-Premier as emanating from the people of Parnell.

THE GOLF CLUB'S "AT HOME." The "At Home" that was to have been held at the Cornwall Park clubhouse to-day by the members of the Auckland Golf Club has been postponed sine die, owing to the illness of the King. I INTERCESSION SERVICES. •' As announced yesterday the majority of the city churches had arranged to hold Coronation services this morning. These have been postponed, but in their place many of the churches have arranged to bold services of intercession to-day for the King's recovery. ONEHUNGA. •wX cV;llcement yesterday by tho Hebald aTnVo?' th * ser'ratis indisposition Hebald agenoj of . \ ,ifnoneof the King and the cSnsequeS*"pJrJ'JP? I®.1®. ment of his Coronation, was received at OW-* hunga with widespread and sincere regret. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. D. A. Sutherland) convened a special meeting of the Borough Council last night, when there were also present: Messrs. Bowe. Rishworih, Vause, Colledge, McL'eod, Kelsall, and Stoupe. The Mayor said the Council had made provision for giving a publio feast to all the children in the town, and he had convened the Council to ascertain what Uiould be done in the matter. He felt that the children would be greatly disappointed if they were deprived of their promised treat, and he also noticed that the Bang had expressed a desire that all functions of this character should be carried out. On the other hand he had been informed that the schools celebrations in the morning had been cancelled. In the discussion which followed the opinion was expressed that, notwithstanding the postponement of the Coronation, the Mayor and Council should entertain all the children of Onehunga in the eld school building at two p.m. to-day, it being a two o'clock day. On the motion of the Mayor, this was unanimously agreed to. The Mayor said everything had been arranged, and he hoped that all those people who had promised to assist in waiting upon the children would be at the school as early as possible, to lay the tables and have everything ready for the children as soon as they leave school. It was unanimously agreed that all the other celebrations, for which great ■ preparations have been made, shall be postponed. The two religious services arranged to be held will, however, take place. The first will be at ten a.m. in St. Peter's Anglican Church, and will be an intercessory service for the recovery of the King. The Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Salvation Army, will hold a united service in the Congregational Church, at halfpast seven o'clock to-night, when special prayers will be offered for the restoration of the King.-

MAORI ADDRESS TO THE KING. The address from the Maoris, which was drawn up for presentation to the King on the occasion of his Coronation, and despatched to London some weeks ago, is as follows: — "To His Most Gracious Majesty Edward the Seventh, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith. May it please Your Majesty: On the occasion of Your Most Gracious Majesty's Coronation we, the Maori tribes of New Zealand herein named, beg to offer our greetings and respect to our King and Sovereign, and to tender to Your Majesty the assurance of our devotion to your person and throne, and of our loyalty to the Empire. We, among the youngest of your children, are moved to address you across the wide space which divides us from you by the love we bore your illustrious mother, Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, and our attachment to the throne which you now ascend in thi3 year of out Lord. We have mourned the dead Queen, whom, we regarded as a mother while she lived. She has gone to rest with the mighty dead, adding to their long roll a name the most noble and revered. Now, by virtue of your succession you are our King and our father. Hear, 0 Sire! This is our word and pledge : To the throne we will ever be true, for did not your children discover long ago, in the reign of the Great Queen, that under hei benign rule all her subjects had equal rights and protection? To the service of the Empire we dedicate ourselves. For would not our best, out of the few we are, now be fighting shoulder to should?, with our white brothers against the nation's foes had Your Majesty permitted. Since, however, the policy of Jtom Majesty's Government prevented our proving by active service the depth of our loyalty, we ask Your Majesty to be assured that our hearts are true to our King, and that his foes are our foes. We cannot see you in person, as we so strongly desire; vet we have seen you in the person of our Prince, your Royal son, whose passing through our midst will ever be treasured as ■the memorable event of our lives. From him we 1 -wire pleased to hear of Your Majesty's message to us, ' your Maori children,' and to him we tendered our special regards for Your Majesty. The occasion which calls the world to do honour to Your Majesty inspires us to repeat those sentiments which your princely son has already borne to you, and mayhap in the universal acclaim of many voices that of your Maori peopl* seems small and weak. Your Majesty will know that our hearts are big with love for you. To us it is enough that we have spoken; it is enough that we have been permitted in this way to approach Your Majesty's throne to tender our earnest wishes that Your Majesty may enjoy a long and prosperous reign over the Empire, the great heritage of a great people. God save the King."-