QUEEN OPENS NEW MARKET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 13

QUEEN OPENS NEW MARKET

CEREMONY IN LONDON.

STRIKING SCENE WITNESSED.

CROWDS GATHER IN THE RAIN. Australian Preps Association—United Service (IteceivO'l November 23, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, Nov 22. Tho r;iin which fell nil day did not prevent thousands of peoplo from tho East End of London from lining tho busy thoroughfares leading to SpitalHelds, where the Queen, acting as tho King's deputy, motored to conduct the ceremonial opening of tho market extension, which has been erected at a cost of £2.000.000.

The Lord Mayor, Sir Kynaston Studd, and civil dignatorics, who rodo to tho market in gilded carriages, assembled in a vast pavilion in which were gathered 1000 guests. Mr. T. Trumble, secretary to tho High Commissioner, represented Australia, and Sir James Parr represented New Zealand.

Tho Lord Mayor presented tho Queen with a gold key with which she opened tho market to tho accompaniment ot cheers. An official inspection was then made.

In tho centre of the market, which is 10 acres in extent, was a largo fruitladen ship made of market baskets, and named tho Sailor King. This stood amid tiers of fruit and was presented to tho Queen by the stallholders. Tho gift contained a selection of fruit from all parts of tho world, but most ot it was grown within tho Empire. A caso of Australian navol oranges was included. Tho Queen expressed a wish that the fruit bo given to tho London hospitals. Although there were many exhibits of Empire fruit thero was no Australian ex hibit.

A British official wireless message says the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Cromer, read a speech which tho King was to have made. In tho speech tho King expressed the opinion that if tho new market established London as tho chief British centre for tho distribution of imported fruit and vegetables it would be of more than national importance. It would do servico to tho causo of interImperial trade and to tho wholo Empire.

This is the first function of its kind that tho Queen has been called upon to perforin without tho presence of the King. Proceeding afterwards to Lincoln's Inn Her Majesty formally reopened the Old Hall, which was built in Tudor days and has recently been restored. The Queen signed the Golden Book, being tho first member of tho Royal House to do since Charles 11. wrote his name in it.