PUBLIC ANXIETY AND GRIEF

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1509, 31 January 1901, Page 38

PUBLIC ANXIETY AND GRIEF

THE DEATH-BED SCENE

CONDOLENCES FROM ABROAD

MOURNING IN GERMANY.

THE NATION’S GREAT LOSS.

GRIEF IN INDIA

SYMPATHY FROM AMERICA

• LONDON, January 23. The German Crown Prince will arrive at Osborne to-day. The Queen had always hoped not to die in her sleep lest sh© should not be surrounded by her beloved ones, Her -wish was gratified. , , •'A few days ago her Majesty thoughtfully told her attendants to go for a walk and take some air. The breathless fears of the people grew tense and still more poignant as each bulletin was published. The telegram of the Prince of Wales to the Lord Mayor of London was the first intimation that th death -of the Queen had ended the suspense. V The general feeling was one of stunned bewilderment, drowning all expressions of grief and knowledge of the real extent of the nation’s loss. The Chairman of the London County Council, - addressing a meeting of the members, referred to the dead Sovereign as the best-loved and most illustrious of all our monarchs.

At the usual Hilary Term dinner at Cray’s Inn, Master Beetham said—“ We must, according to Constitutional usage, recite 'God Save the King.’ ” The chapel bell was then tolled eighty-two times in honour of the eighty-two years of the Queen’s life, and the health of the new King was duly honoured. After the Queen’s death the curfew hell at Windsor Castle pealed a knell, also those of the churches in the provinces, at Balmoral, and along the whole Deeside.

Ail the Government establishments!, ships, colonial agencies, and public buildings hoisted flags at half-mast, and minute guns were fired at various ports. Races and atheletic fixtures were postponed 1 , and- some abandoned altogether. The organ at the Crystal Palace played the '‘Dead March/’ and the entertainintent was, stopped. The bells of the cathedrals and of the churches in. the smallest villages were tolled, and public bodies adopted resolutions of profound sorrow.

Several French papers ascribe the death of her Majesty to anxiety over the. war. - :

At- Quebec the Parliament Buildings wore draped inbl&ck. The Stock Exchange and Baltic Salesrooms aro closed. : ' The nows of the Queen’s death has ,been broken to the Empress Frederick, who ia bearing up bravely. The effect, * however, is still greatly feared. /Noon on Tuesday was the first time «noe Saturday that Queen Victoria was •onecious. She recognised her family, i/auad asked for her favourite Pomeranian dog. When, it was fetched she fondled ib for a moment, then talked a little with Princesses Louise and Beatrice. Almost her last request was for a member of her household. During the day she ’•poke to or recognised all her closest relations.

The ftoeata at the death-bed was impkWMireiir Shapwr William, who wae deeply affected, ministered comfort €fc» v his grief-stricken uncle. The instant. the Queen was dead all the family knelt and kissed the Prince •f "Walds’# hands in token of fealty. There is universal grief throughout the United Kingdom.

/President McKinley has cabled to the / King America’s sincerest sympathy et, loss of the venerable and illustrious p Sovereign, whose noble life and bensfi•eht influence promoted peace and won affection off the world. .The United States House of Repre/jkiutatires passed a unanimous rosoluhuyi expressive of profound sorrow, and adjbnmed «a a sign of respect to the |jWwee*, r « memory.

>■ LONDON, January 24. and 1 tributes on the death of the Queen are world wide, from tho heads of States, Parliaments, Governments, churches, colonies and cities.

_;Thaoiiiperor of Austria has cabled to King Hdward that the Queen was a loyal m&r: gracious>•; friend, and mutual feelings of friendly sympathy were the

consistent basis of the political relations between Austria and Great Britain. The Kaiser has ordered the officers of the German Army into mourning for a fortnight. The Dragoon Guards Regiment, of which the Queen was honorary colonel, will moiurn for three weeks. ' German public buildings and warships will fly their flags at half-mast until after the funeral. All State functions at Berlin and Paris have been postponed. Speeches in foreign Parliaments particularised! the Queen’s relations with their several countries, each claiming some special reason for veneration. : The newspapers on' the Continent showed an equal appreciation of the Queen’s rare qualities as a sovereign. The German qnd Russian press is hopeful of King Edward’s wide sympathies and ripe experience. There are general signs of sincere feeling in Portugal and America. The newspapers appreciate the messages from Canada and Australia as strengthening the bonds of kinship. There have been extraordinary native demonstrations of grief and lovalt.v in India, and general regard has been displayed in Eg vet. THE; SCENE IN THE DEATH CHAMBER. LONDON, January 24. The body of the late Queen reposes in the death, chamber. The features of the corpse are wonderfully placid and beautiful, looking younger than they did in life during recent years. The silvery hair is confined under a white lawn coif and a fair white fabric enwraps the bouy. The hands are crossed on the breast, the left, showing the wedding ring, being uppermost. The. head is slightly inclined to one side. Snowdrops and .lilies from her late Majesty’s own garden strew the bed, and a golden cross gleams in the shadow overhead.

The members of the Royal household, the servants and tenants on the estate, were admitted to the room to-day. The remains will be transferred tc-day to the dining room, which has been transformed into a chapel.

THE CAUSE OF DEATH. LONDON, January 24. Tho “Lancet” states that the Queen’s death was due to cerebral failure. The physicians experienced great uneasiness at her Majesty’s recurring apathy and torpor with aphasic indications, but the heart’s action was maintained throughout. MOURNING ON THE CONTINENT. LONDON, January 24. The Court of Roumania, goes into ten weeks’ mourning;. Saxe-Coburg for six weeks; Berlin, Lisbon and Vienna for four weeks; Madrid, Saxony and Baden for three weeks. THE FUNERAL. LONDON, January 24. The late Queen will be buried in about ten days. There will be a full military funeral at Windsor and Frogmore. SYDNEY, January 27. Thousands visited the Queen’s statue to view the wreaths from public bodies. Lord Hopetoun, on behalf of the Commonwealth, Bas asked Lord Jersey. (a former Governor of New South Wales) to represent the Australian people at the Queen’s funeral. SYDNEY, January 28.

Lord Hopetoun has received a cable message stating that the Queen is to be buried on Saturday next. . The message commands the deepest mourning from to-day till after the funeral.

The Agent-General (Hon W. P. Reeves) has cabled to the Government stating that the funeral will take place on Saturday. The Government has asked the Countess of Ranfurly and Lord Northland, of the Goldstream Guards (son of his Excellency the Governor), to represent New Zealand at her Majesty’s funeral.

COURT MOURNING.

LONDON, January 24

The Court will go into mourning for twelve months. Half-mourning begins on July 24th.

Army officers wilh wear crape- on the left arm of their uniforms and great coats until March' 5 th.;; 1]

A PROPOSED MONUMENT

MELBOURNE, January 28.

A movement is oil foot to erect a group of statuary to commemorate the

reign of Queen Victoria, on lines similar to that to be erected at Lahore, India. It is suggested that the monumentshould represent the Queen seated in a canopied chair, with figures -by her side representative of Britannia and Australia-.

Already several large subscriptions have been offered.

HOBARI, January 24. The Imperial troops paraded in the Domain this afternoon, and held a memorial service. A thousand local troops assisted in the impressive scene. The senior Chaplain conducted the service, and the Highlanders’ Band played a Funeral March. The hymns used were “ Days and moments quickly flying,” and “Peace, perfect-peace.” MELBOURNE, January 24. Mr Carroll has received a cable mes. sage from Tarnahau. Mahupuku expressing the grief of the Maoris at the Queen’s death.

SYDNEY, January 24. The anniversary regatta was to-day postponed. The Government requested the public nofc to observe the day as a holiday.

Royal purple and black are being used as mourning drapings on public buildings. The Federal Premier hopes to arrange for uniform procedure with regard to mourning throughout- the States.

NEW ZEALAND’S MANIFESTATIONS

OF SORROW

AUCKLAND, January 24. The usual festivities for Anniversary Day (January 2-9th) will not he! observed 1 . The Sixth Contingent Send-off Committee has decided that there shall he no ceremony of any kind whatever. The Mayor will proclaim a day of mourning on the funeral day. With, a few exceptions business proceeded as usual to-day. At a meeting of the City Council, the Mayor moved the following motion : “That the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Auckland desire to express the deep sorrow felt by all members of the community in the great loss which has befallen the nation by the death of her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, and to present their respectful and loyal sympathy and the hear Gelt condolence of the citizens of Auckland with their Majesties the Bang and Quelen and the Royal Family in their bereavement ; that the foregoing resolution to recorded in the minutes of the Council, and that his Excellency the Governor be respectfully requested to forward the same to the Secretary of State.” The motion was unanimously adopted, and the Council adjourned.

Sympathetic resolutions were passed by a meeting of Coromandel citizens. THAMES, January Y 4.

The Borough Council passed a resolution of condolence with the Royal Family, and then adjurned. WAIPAWA, January 24. All shops closed on receipt of the news of the Queen’s death. Flags were hoisted at half-mast and bells tolled. In the Evening the band played the “Daad March/’

WANGANUI, January 24. This morning an impressive memorial service was hela at Christ Church (Anglican), and to-night a great united memorial service was held in the Opera House. Addresses were delivered by the Revs G. Bond (Wesleyan), R. M. Ryburn (Presbyterian) and J. M. Marshall (Anglican). Hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung by the assemblage, and at the close of the service the “Dead March” was played by a band.

STRATFORD, January 24. To-day is being observed in the t-own as a day of mourning, the doors of all business places being closed.

FEILDING, January 24. Feilding is in. mourning. All the places of business closed yesterday afternoon, and the function of laying the foundation stone of the new post office was postponed. A special church service was held in the evening. NAPIER, January 24. To-day is being observed as a day of mourning, all business places being closed.

BLENHEIM, January 24. To-day being strictly observed as a day of mourning, places of business were closed and draped, flags flying at halfmast. ‘

NELSON, January 24. To-day was observed by everyone as a day of mourning. Business* places were no sooner opened in the morning than they were closed again, and even the cabs left the stands. The Post Office was draped, and special services were held to-night at the Cathedral and the Presbyterian Church. - CHRISTCHURCH, January 24. The day has been observed in the city as a day of mourning. , All the shops closed, and some of them were draped with black. Tire Cathedral bells rang muffled peals at intervals. The Mayor has received a telegram from the Governor acknowledging the message of sympathy and sorrow sent on behalf of the citizens.

A picture of the Queen in the art gallery of the exhibition, which was sent from the Parliamentary . Buildings at Wellington, has been heavily draped in black and a large number oil floral tributes have been placed underneath it by local bodies and private persons. The picture was shown this evening in a dim liiriit, and was visited by large crowds of. people, some of whom sat before it for hour*. -

DUNEDIN, January 24

Despit© the fact of yesterday being a holiday, the- request of the Acting-Pre-mier be observe as a day of mourning was almost generally observed, and shop* and business Maces were closed. fr» the evening a citizens’" memorial service, sailed by the Mayor, was held in the Agricultural Hall. There was a very large attendance. Hymns were sung and a orief address given by the Rev Mr Fairclough. The proceedings were closed by a band playing the “Dead March.”