EVENTS TO-NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22726, 12 May 1937, Page 13

EVENTS TO-NIGHT

CIVIC AT HOME ELABORATE DECORATIONS CROWDS EXPECTED IN STREETS Large crowds are expected in the city to-night to view the illuminations. Bands will play at the intersection of Queen Street and Karangahape Road, outside the Town Hall, at the intersection of Queen and Victoria Streets, opposite the Chief Post Office and at the junction of Pitt Street and Karangahape Road. At 9.30 p.m., the hour at which the King and Queen are to enter Westminster Abbey, all the bands will play the National Anthem, which, it is hoped, will be heartily sung by the people. Over 2000 invitations have been issued by the Mayor and Mayoress, Sir Ernest and Lady Davis, for a civic At Home in the Town Hall at 8.30 to-night. The hall has been elaborately decorated with flowers, greenery and bunting. A programme of music will be given from 9 to 9.30 p.m., and at the latter hour the National Anthem will be sung. TRAFFIC SUSPENSION MORNING AND EVENING RESTRICTIONS IN THE CITY All-vehicular traffic, including tramoars, will be excluded from Queen Street to-day between 10.15 a.m. and 11.45 a.m. and between 7.30 and 10.30 p.m. This restriction applies from Quay Street to Karangahape Road. Traffic will also be excluded from Karangahape Road, between Svmonds and Pitt Streets, during the night hours mentioned. Tramway services usually traversing Queen Street will be diverted through Hobson Street and Anzac Avenue during the two periods of restriction, and will run from temporary termini in Customs Street. NAVAL OBSERVANCE SHIPS TO BE DRESSED CHURCH SERVICE AND SALUTES Special ceremonial observances will mark the occasion of the Coronation to-day in ships of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. All tlio ships will be dressed between eight o'clock this morning and sunset and in the evening H.M.S. Achilles, flagship of Pear-Admiral the Hon. E. P. Drummond, will illuminate ship. Electric lights, picking out the lines of the cruiser as she lies at her berth at the Devonport Naval Pase, will form another feature of the Corouation illuminations. As far as possible, this morning will bo observed as a Sunday in the Navy. Divine services will bo held and special prayers will be offered for the King's Majesty. A guard from tho Achilles will take part in the ceremonial parade at the Town Hall this morning, but will return to the flagship before noon. At 12.20 o'clock divisions will be fallen in on the quarter-deck of the Achilles, where a church party from the training ship, H.M.S. Philomel, will also assemble. A short service will be conducted by the chaplain of the Philomel, the Pev. G. T. Robson, and, at its conclusion at 12.30 o'clock, a Poval salute of 21 guns will ,he fired by the Achilles and by the hhore battery of the Philomel. After tho salute, three cheers will be given for the King and Queen. If the weather this morning is unsuitable for tho ceremonial parade at. the Town Hall, the monjing's programme for the Navy will be adjusted to allow the Poyal salute to be fired at noon.

Probably the most popular paragraph in the official orders for Cornnation J)ay is that which states: "Extra grog or the authorised equivalent is to be served out to each ship's company." Naval ratings who do not elect to share in the service rum issue are allowed the equivalent value in cash. .In addition to the observances t'o-day, a "make and mend" —the naval equivalent of a half-holiday—is to be given to-morrow afternoon. OVERSEAS LEAGUE CORONATION DINNER KING AND HIS PEOPLE "The Monarch himself standing above all criticism has become the embodiment and symbol of that unity and continuity of the national life which transcends all differences of party and links the nation's present with its past and with its future." Quoting these words, the president of the Overseas League, the Hon. John Alexander, M.L.C., drew the attention of the large gathering at the league's Coronation dinner last night to the vital importance of the Sovereign in the life of his people. It had been said of the father^ of the King on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his accession to the Throne that lie was more than a Sovereign, said Mr. Alexander. He was head of a family, and of a nation and an Empire. "Knowing the father and mother of the man who is to be crowned to-morrow and knowing that their lives have been lives of sacrifice and devotion, we may hope that the same may bo said of'our new King," Mr. Alexander concluded. The historical and legal significance of the Coronation was traced by Mr. Julius Hogben. who said the nation had been fortunate that its recent Kings were men who had been abreast of modern thought, who realised the social needs of their people and who were internationally minded. The Rev. R. G. Coats said the inlluence which had made the British people what they were was that up to the present they had had a higher ideal of the family than the other nations of the earth. If the present King maintained the standard set by the late King George and Queen Mary all would be well with the Empire. The dinner was attended by over 80 people. AUCKLAND INDIANS LOYALTY TO THE THRONE The following message to the Gov-ernor-General, Viscount Gal way, was agreed upon at a meeting of the local branch of the New Zealand Indian Association this week:— "The Auckland branch of the New Zealand Indian Association requests you to convey our loyal greetings to Their Majesties the King and Queen on the day of their Coronation. May God bless them with long life."