CORONATION NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4740, 23 August 1902, Page 3

CORONATION NOTES.

THE POSTPONEMENT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 4. Thoroughly characteristic of tho British temper has been tho good-humour-ed determination of all classes of society to make tho best of their grievous disappointment in the postponement of tho Coronation and all attendant, festivities. There have been grumbles, of course— i\’u should not be Britons if ivp didn’t lot off steam in this way—and on ’buses and in tubes the opinion has been freely expressed that the procession, naval review and other pageants were somewhat prematurely cancelled, instead of being merely postponed pending tho result of the King’s operation. The Royal progress through London ni ight—said the toilers with pen and 4 pick—havo taken place this week in the shape of a pence procession, and tho Spit head review might also have been held. We could all then have, used onr tickets for stands, railways and steamers. Seat providers would not have lost, ticket-holders would have been satisfied, tho population at largo could bavo scon and welcomed tho troops, and tho nation would have suffered tho minimum of loss and inconvenience. Thcro were, too, other reasons for popular discontent. Tho erection of a largo stand half-way across the pavement in front of tho Law Courts, and tho projection of tho Mansion House stand almost into tho of tho roadway, seriously incommoding tho traffic, and tho difficulties which tho police regulations seemed likely to impose both on sightseers in stands and those on shanks’s pony, caused many maledictions, but nothing more. And when it was known that the King was seriously ill it can fairly bo said—without indulging in any of tho “highfalutin’ ” hysterics into which tho London papers fall on the mention of Royalty—that the people forgot their own little personal grievances and disappointments in their concern for his health and admiration of tho pluck ho > had displayed in endeavouring to hold out at all costs until tho Coronation was over. / The general good taste and good fooling of the nation havo only boon acoeutu ated by tho few disorderly scones caused bv tho rabble in some of the provincial towns. Hero and thcro tho malcontents have prematurely kindled tho Coronation bonfires, tin-kottled tho leading citizens responsible for the postponement of Coronation festivities or broken their windows, but in only one instance has there boon anything like a serious riot. On Thursday night last week Watford was in tho bands of a mob of rowdies. The Coronation was to have boon celebrated there by a procession of trades societies and volunteers, sports, a dinner to, the poor and a. bonfire and fireworks. When the news of the King's illness reached the Coro-

nation Committee. it naturally felt I hat any Jubilation while the K ing was in a critical condition would be nn- ■ eemiv, and postponed its l' r °-

linl all that the Watford Hooligans c.-u-cd about was that I hey had hemi ■■'lone out of their lun.” and they termined to revenge themselves. Ine absence of part of the police at Hemel Jlempscead placed into their hands. Shortly after sunset a gang of Hooligans set lire to the bonfire on the ilaiwootl estate, hauled a watchman out of his box, which, together with parts of the neighbouring fences, they threw on the fire. The surveyor remonstrating. they pursued him into a house near by, all the windows of which they broke with the stones they flung at him. Then repairing to one market place, they made a -wild attack on the shop of Air Fisher, the chairman of the Coronation Committee, pulled down his iron shutters, and smashed every window in tho shop front, A draper’s shop was next taken in hand, the plate-glass windows demolished, and clothes, boots, shoes, umbrellas and lingerie strewn all over tho streets. The local police were powerless for a time, but as- midnight approached they were reinforced by constables from ‘the neighbouring towns and by a detachment from London. In tho meantime a second rush was made on Fisher’s shop, and paper and the looted drapery set alight in the hopes of causing a more serious blaze. When the tiro brigade approached they were hampered in every way, and an attempt made to cut tho hose. When things were at their worst, a, local Magistrate read tho Riot Act, and tho superintendent, enrolled a conplo of hundred peaceable citizens as special constables, and provided them with somewhat ancient but very effective truncheons. The order was then given to clear tho streets, and the special constables “had their whack.” A prolonged struggle look place, anti eventually tho rowdies wore overpowered, and, after a number of pates bad been broken and some fifty roughs of both sexes rim in, tho crowd gradually melted away. Some of those on the casualty list, stole silently away to London medicocs to avoid arrest, and the offenders, after being brought, before tho Magistrates at St. Albans and remanded, were handcuffed in pairs and marched through tho streets to- the Watford gaol. Several constables wore severely hurt by stones, and tho horses of the mounted men were badly cut, but luckily no lives were lost. Tho damage done to tho shops and other premises is estimated at £3OOO. The following day barricades were cr.cctcd in front of tho chief shops,' 500 “specials” were sworn in, and a number of wooden truncheons were turned out by turners. Luckily no further disturbance look place. [By an error in telegraphing this rioting was stated to have taken place at Waterford, a town in Ireland.] There was a pleasing scene outside Buckingham Palace yesterday morning. A brake heavily laden with Fijian soldiers, who were being taken round to soo some of tho sights of Loudon, drew up ontsido tho Palace. With their bare bends, legs and feet, their long, dyed and frizzy hair, and their white cotton skirts anil quaint tunics, they presented a picturesque appearance. Turning towards the Palace, they sang a hymn of intercession for his Majesty, of which tho following is a rough translation; — “Tho King is great and noble and good. May ho find favour in tho sight of the

Ruler of Kings; May ho wax strong and stay tho tears of lIS all, for his people arc sad; Mighty is tho King and his people shall bo glad.”

Tho nnisic to which this was sung was that ordinarily associated with tho mission hymn, “Hiding in Thee,” and it was rendered by deep, well-modulated voices. At its conclusion, the Fijians rose to their feet and saluted. The strange-looking warriors then passed on, and were followed soon afterwards by four similar parties of West African and Indian troops. Each conveyance was brought to a momentary standstill opposite tho Palace, and tho occupants raised lusty cheers before pursuing their journey.

During tho day a deputation from the Fiji Contingent attended at the Colonial Office to express gratitude for tho manner in which tho interests of Fiji had been taken care of by his Majesty’s Government, and at the same time to present a couple of whale’s teeth to tho Secretary of State and tho Under-Secretary of State. They wore received by the Earl of Onslow, who expressed to them bis Majesty’s pleasure at knowing that representatives from the forces in. the most distant parts of his Empire had come to assist at tho ceremony of his Coronation. Tho deputation expressed deep regret at his Majesty’s illness, and a lively hope that ho might shortly be restored to health. Lord Onslow, in reply, said his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales bad desired him to express bis gratification at having been able to review them, on behalf of his Majesty, on Tuesday. And, highly gratified, tho “fuzzy-wuzzies” from Fiji departed from Downing street, amid cheers from tho usual crowd, which in London gathers in ton seconds upon the faintest provocation.

Intelligent anticipation of events before they occur is one of tho requisites of a successful journalist. It is possible, however, sometimes to bo a little “too previous.” The description of events which should have, but have not, taken place, makes the journal in which it appears look ridiculous rather than enterprising. In tho July number of tho “Lady’s Realm,” published last week, there appear “Society Notes” by a “Peer’s Daughter,” from which wo learn that “lire Coronation was a wonderful sight—for those inside tho Abbey, at all events. Tho magnificent display of jewels and orders, tho richness of colour of the mass of beautiful crimson robes of tho peers and peeresses, tho glitter of tho hundreds of coronets, and tho kaleidoscope of brilliant tints worn by tho many other spectators, formed a never-to-be forgotten picture. Then the procession next day, not a little increased in impressiveness by tho millions and millions in the streets, on tho stands, and filling every window ”

The prophetic peeress also tells us that tho King’s dinners to the poor, which were not clue until more than a week after the magazine first appeared, almost degenerated into school feasts. But she gives her imagination freest play in dealing with tho performance at the opera which never took place. “Tho gala night at tho opera,” she savs, “was a disappointment to many, no doubt, but certainly not to all.” (Hero she gets nearer to the truth than she imagined.) “Seldom have we had a worse chorus, and even stars of song must shine less brilliantly as years go on. Tho unrivalled Jean has not tho wonderful power lie had once, and if Melba is as delicious as ever, she is no better. As for Caruso, he is a distinct disappointment.” It is really too bad to condemn the poor singers without giving them a chance of being hoard in their own defence. It is also rather amusing—in

tho light of the fact that the house was a record one. and that all the scuts were so eagerly bought up that none were left for the general public;—to learn from tho “daughter of a peer’ that “tho prices fell u> a quarter of what was originally asked.” Ihe moral of it all seems to be. Don’t prophesy, even if you are ‘ a peer's daughter,” aud think you know.