DEATH OF KING EDWARD VII.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10451, 10 May 1910, Page 6

DEATH OF KING EDWARD VII.

THE LATE

£llv Er.Firrrnir Tn.K;:::.u'ir —CorYRIGHT.j j (I'kr I'i:t::-s Association.) fSca; Tr.!' i'r-z End. Received 3!:;..' at n;:on. 1.-uidon. May 0. Tin? first evidence rl a erisis was when the Princess <>i Wales was hurriedly recalled at 7 o'clock to bid farewell to the King. A special messenger was sent to Mr Churchill and the Bishop of Rip r ::K Til'.- Clerk of the Closet loft at 8.20, _and.' on being question. said the King's condition was very critical. Sir Francis Laking and Sir .James Reid ::t 10 o'clock informed the royalties v.v.iiing irt the adjoining room that the end was only a matter ot time. Snd Queen Alexandra and the Prince of.JVidesi returned to the sick room, i The Prince:,s Beatrice learnt of iiie critical state of the King on Friday evening at Biarritz and left for London at midnight-. - - - . The King was able to recognise his wife and the Prince of Wales. At 11 o'clock, when the rest of the family gathered at the bedside, he was rapidly sinking, but free from pain. The Archbishop of Canterbury said special prayers and conducted a short- service at the bedside. Received Slay 10, at 9.30 a.m.

London, May 9. The Bishop of London, preaching at St. Paul's yesterday, said: Those present toll''tis tiir.t nothing could have been more christian than the passing of thoVKing. 'He who had faced, death twice, faced it for a third time undismayed. Tluro war. a quiet family gathering at the bedside, and the committf.l prayer war; uttered by the Archbishop, a ininiu:- before his majesty died. The !>l.-s-sing wan pronounced when r.H v.-as over in the hushed room. AH • was'christian there." The Daily Mail reportst that in re-ply-'to: the doctor who tried to dissuade hi'm from exercising his dutiese as sovereign. Eedard's last words uttered at 1 o'clock on Friday, just before he became comatose were: "No, I shall shall work to the end." Received May 9, at 9.1-5 p.m. London, May 9.

The details of his illness show that King Edward displayed to the full those qualities of personal courage and devotion to duty characterising his career. It was said of him more than once in the past week that he did not know the meaning of fear. He realised the serious nature of his illness, but faced the position with the utmost fortitude, and displayed a determination not _to surrender which could not fail to inspire admiration and respect. On Friday he rose as usual, and in the early part of the day moved about the apartments, but only cautiously.

for even slight movements were apt to cause a recurrence of heart failure attacks. He also suffered from fits of coughing. Therefore he remained seated in a chair* and retained control of his senses until noon. Then he lost consciousness for a time. Received May 10, at 0.10 a.m. London, May 9. Despite the constant administrations of oxygen fainting fits occurred at intervals, and the periods of unconsciousness were more prolonged. It was not until a late hour on Friday, however, that the King left his chair for his bed.

It was not only on account of his reluctance to retire that Kins Edward was previously permitted to remain in his seat. It was realised that it was better for him to occupy an upright position, because he was able to breathe more easily than recumbent. He died simply of bronchitis and heart failure. He had been susceptible for a long time to chills, and caught a cold easily. He had recently suffered from throaty cough. causing him much inconvenience. The fatal illness began 011 Monday, and only on Wednesday was there a really serious development. King Edward was cheerful, courageous, and patient, and although he became gradually much weaker, his vitality- was remarkable.

The King was unconscious when he died, and had not suffered pain. His end was perfectly peaceful. The Deatft Service. London, May 9. The family entered the death chamber and gazed at the features of the late King. Queen Alexandra chose two of her favorite hymns for the service, "Oil the Resurrection Morning" and '"Peace, Perfect Peace."

Queen Alexandra had graciously accorded General Booth permission for the Salvationists to enter the courtyard and play and sing, as cabled previously. Later she sent to thank thein. Ths Funcrtl. London, May 9. The funeral will possibly take place on the ISth. Ths details and route will be similar to -ia-. e c? his mother's. The Sult-.-n •■' Z:':;ribar, now at Naples, will :>tt;_.d the- funeral. Berlin, May 9. The mtirl"'!. ' of 3?ar:enha-;l will send a Sir Edvra ■ ..icrrls. Premier of foundland, ...!i attend the fur:r.-;i. New York, ?»iay The Nor/ York P-rac 1 -.:: _> K::.-■ au-u the Chicago Board of Trade at ncca oil the day of'thi Constantiv.'r.'!2. -»: ay ■>. The Sultan's heir and -Rsiaat Pus ha wfli attend the funeral. London, May 0.

The Times' St. Petersburg correspondent says, when presented with the usual order for Court mourning for a month as a tribute to a foreign Sovereign, the Czar inscribed three months. Received May 10, at 5.5-5 a.m. London, May 9. King Edward lies in state Westminster Ha'l on tho l.'th, ISch, and 19th. The funeral will take place iw the 20th. Loosi Msirona! Service. Yesterday afternoon the Committee of the Borough Council and the Ministors' Association met in conference for the consideration of the question of holding a combined memorial service to his late Majesty King Edward VII. The Mavor presided and there Ave re present: Councillors Jl'Adain, Mitchell, and Frith, and the Revs. F. G. Buckingham (President oi tiic Ministers' Association), J. G. £. Bartlett, R. J. Porter, W. J.- Wil-ianis, W . Wright, and T. Roseveare. The Mayor briefly explained the purpose of the meeting, and, after discussion, it was resolved that a memorial service to his late Majesty King Edward VII. be held in the Opera House on the day of the royal funeral. It was decided to leave the order of service and the details as to those taking part in the hands of the Ministers' Association. ... It was also Tesolved to invite the various church choirs to combine oil the occasion, and to ask the Garrison Band to be present and play the dead in arch. " Details as to draping the building, llie appointments of choirmaster and ortranist. and other matters were left ii? the hands of the Council's Committee. In connection with til? memorial service. we understand that Mr F. C. Burry will supervise the musical arrangements and Mr preside at the orgsn. PUBLIC OBSFRVANCP AS TO j MOITRXIXG. ■ His Excellency the Governor of the ! -Dominion of Xev\" Zealand, having been , advised bv the Secretary of State for J the Colon?*.* of the lamented death of j his Most Gracious Majesty King Edward t the Seventh.. :hkl acting by and with j the advice and consent of the Exeou- : tive Council the c.'.d Dominion, dot:: j hereby enjoin as follows upon h;s late Majesty's loving and lamenting subject:; : in the said Dominion in token of their j grief and sorrow for the great loss the j Empire has sustained: 1. All ministers of religion and all congregations are invited on Sunday next, the 15th inst.,

and also on the day appointed for the funeral of his late Majesty, to hold solemn services of public worship and mourning on behalf of the people of the Dominion: (2) the New Zealand Knsign with a scarf of crape attached in the flagstaff one ioot above the flag -kali be displayed at half-mast on all public buildings in the Dominion till -uuM-i each day and until sunset- of till! day appointed for the funeral; (3) ail ships in the various harbors of the Dr::>!;:i;<hi are invited to display their • ign at lialf-ma.st each day until and including the day of the funeral; (4) all of the Government are enjoined ■m wear mourning until further notified and all. other subjects of his late .Maje-rv are requested to do the same In such manner as their loyalty and feelings direct: (o> and generally until after tii" day of the funeral it is enjdined that all festivities of a public nature be suspended and that on that flay all places of business and publie entertainment be closed.^ —J. 1* • AxihikuS; Clerk of the. Executive Council.

The following urgent telegram was sent by Sir .Joseph Ward to the IMayor (Mr R. MiUigan): —"In order to secure uniformity of action in connection with the lamented death of our late beloved Sovereign, the following public observances are respectfully suggested : That a close day of mourning be observed on the occasion of the funeral of his late Majesty (a general holiday on that day will be proclaimed later)." "Women and girls to be asked to wear a black ribbon on the right arm above the elbow, and men to wear a strip of black ribbon on the lapel of the coat until after the funeral of the King. Flags on public buildings, -in addition to being half-mast, will have a black streamer a foot above each flag, and it is desired that this also be done on business places. It is a further suggestion that all . ministers of religion and all congregations on Sunday -next, the fifteenth inst., and on the day appointed for the funeral of ihis late Majesty hold solemn services of public worship and mourning on behalf of the people of the Dominion." . .-

The Sentiment at Home. London, May 9. The quietude and silence of the enormous throngs at the Palace throughout yesterday was truly memorable, and there were some reverent manifestations of respect and condolence when the sovereigns drove from Marlborough House to attend the private service in the chapel before service. Canon Sheppard officiating. : King George, in a message to the people from..the Sandringham Estate, refers to the irreparable loss, ' and adds: "King Edward .dearly. loved his country and home, and was ever mindful of the interest and wellbeing of one and all there, and mv feelings will always be the same as his." Tlie Earl and Countess of Aberdeen's message expressed whole-hearted sorrow and -sympathy, and their great grief was shared deeply by the people of Ireland. Queen Alexandra sincerely thanked him."

Similarly the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen tendered King George a personal share of their lamentation at the loss of : a great and wise sovereign. King George replied thanking tiiem for their kind message and sympathy at his- and the nation's overwhelming loss.

Mr Bruce Joy's cast was .made at Queen Alexandra's special request 011 the model of liis very successful bust of King Edward, now in Manchester University, pll d erl'ibitcd at present in the salon at Paris, wlrrh was largely noticed yesterday, which was the first free day. From the Dominions Oversows. Calcutta, May 9. Largely attended services were held in the cities of India. : A huge mass mooting at Lahore passed a resolution of deep regret at the demise of their beloved sovereign, trulv a father to his poonlo. Louden. May 9. Mr Merriman condoled with Earl Crr-.vo, c:i behalf of Cape Colony. C?p"t( , wn. Mav 9.

Mr Saucr, Minis'"" of Public "Works, referring to Iv in I d-j'-nrd. said he was the greatest diplomatist of Europe, and added in regard to South. Africa, that there was not a circumstance outside its confines that could bo regretted Triore or was more unfortunate. King Edward took brond and statesmanlike views of South African affairs.

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, May 9. Several of the Maori chiefs in the neighborhood of .Rotorua- called to-day upon the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie (who is now at Rotorua), as representing the Government, and expressed tlieir great sorrow at the loss the Empire has sustained by the death of King Edward. They were now, .they said, as orphans without the guiding hand of their father, and as forlorn children the Maoris joined with their pakeha brethren in mourning their great loss. Mr Mackenzie suitably acknowledged the natives' Expressions of sympathy, and promised these would be transmitted to the proper quarter. Christcliurch, May 9.

!Mrs Seddon. who is visiting Christchurch at present, and who was here whan the death of the King was announced. sent a cable message to Queen [ Alexandra conveying her condolences. To-day. Mrs Seddon received the following reply: "My Sincere thanks for '■your sympathy.—Alexandra." The Dowager Queen. " London, May 9. . An official bulletin states that Queen Alexandra's health is good. She remains quiet and calm, bearing up well under her bereavement. Foreign Tributes. Received May 9, at 9.15 p.m. Vienna, May 9. The' Fremdenblatt pays a high tribute to King Edward. He had crowded so much into .his reign that it was r.ot an episode,., but an. era in British history. When he ascended the throne Britain knew not what she had gained; as he goes to the grave she knows not how much she has lost, Received May 9, at 10.10 p.nr;. St. Petersburg, May 9.The Rev. Mr Lombard, of the English Church at St. Petersburg, preach--ing on peacemakers, compared/Britain's loss to Russia's in Alexander 11. All the Riissian newspapers warmly eulogise King Edward, and recognise his great influence in the removal of traditional misunderstandings and the establishment of the triple entente. The Czar, Czaritsa, Grand Dukes, and Duchesses, attend a service in the English Church on the day of the funeral.

Berlin, May 9. ; The Kaiser spent an hour and a-half at the British Embassy on Sunday, and spoke with the deepest sorrow of the death of his uncle, and most affectionately of his English relatives. He was ready to start for England when informed of the arrangements. Berlin, May 9. The Nieue Freie Presse, in a characteristically bitter leading article, speaks of King Edward's animus towards his best beloved sister's son, and declares that the death chants praising him as the prince of peace are perhaps sincere, but they are incapable of proof. Sometimes he gave the impression of a storsnv petrel. Fate awarded him the happiness of departing in peace, and the uncle and nephew were reconciled. It adth that England lost not merely a King, but a statesman not free from serious errors, but who, through his powerful personality, seized the imagination and left behind him an enduring impression. London, May 9. • Th j n..'ri:n and Vienna Courts will go into mourning for a month. Paris. May 9. M. Briand. interviewed, said it was impossible not . to be struck by the people's emotion. The death of France's friend made France's grief sincere and profound. London, May 8. Mr Roosevelt's visit to Berlin will be of the quietest.

received in audience by the late King- 1 London, May 9. King George, in replying to President Fallieries' condolences;, declared that France's sympathy and valued friendship -will contribute- to helping the ; family and nation to bear the measureless grief they are now suffering. THE HEIR APPARENT. PRINCE EDWARD OF WALES Prince Edward of W ales, the oldest son of King George V., who will succeed to the title ot Prince of Wales, was born 011 June 23rd, 18J4. His bringing up has been conducted oil strict icnd practical lines, m which luxury and indulgence have no place. For some time he has been a cadet m the Osborne Naval College—one of fourhundred lads who are being trained there for the Navy. Prince. Edward is not a Prince of the Realm there, he is just an ordinary every-day cadet, entered on-the College books as ' Wales, Edward." He and his fellow cadets share and share alike ill work and play, and in the rough-and-tumble existence peculiar to the massing of hundreds or Jiealthv, happy boys. Although the cadets enter upon their training at cht early age of thirteen, the life is -•o me what spartan, and the discipline .siveiv They begin the day with a i)luii"o bath, followed by physical drill, and then breakfast. After prayers the rlasswork begins, and the College course gives tiiem thorough instruction in English, French, Latin, history (general and naval), geography, mathematics, mechanics, physics and engineering, navigation and seamanship—as welt as good training in the engineering workshops and practical knowledge of the use of tools; so that by the™ time Prince Edward leaves the Navy he will be able to repair with his own hands a motor-boat or automobile, i He will also learn to us© a saw, chisel, i or hammer in a practical manner so as to.become a creditable ship's carpenter, and will spend a certain portion of liis time in the foundry and the smithy. , Prince Edward —who early developed a mechanical turn, and by reason of his trips on his father's vessel had. found out a great deal about ships engines—has (says a writer in an Euglish magazine) proved himself an adept in the marine engineering shops, and seems to enjoy this part of his naval education immensely. Already he has had certain little pieces.of work given to him to do himself, and he> liais,-?too, made small experiments in the College laboratories, and is also taking his turn at the forges, where few would recognise. the Prince's son with the turnedup shirt sleeves and grimy overalls, and face and hands not any too clean. The young cadet had not quite a decent ' tool-chest of his own at Sandringliam, and was tolerably familiar with the use of saw, chisel, and -plane. Now he has tp work at it in real earnest under the instruction of some ot the most skilled carpenters in", the ' Fleet. Some hours are allowed'for recreation! Prince Edward so far has been . more on the cricket, field than elsewhere, and Seems to have shaped into an excellent wicketkeeper. He certainly had already proved himself a capable batsmaii when i taking part in a game with some of the ; Eton boys in Windsor Great Park. ! Attached to Osborne is a second-class cruiser, known as the Eclipse. On this some of the boys are periodically taken for sea runs of a week at a time. Accompanying are capable instructors, who give practical lessons in engineering, seamanship, and navigation. These ' cruises are an immense help to the 1 boys, to say nothing of the fact that tliey find their sea-legs, and at the same time are helping to build up their constitutions with the healthy salt breezes. A very high moral tone is maintained at the College. No opportunity is given for the lads to contract debts,, as ' the surrounding .tradesmen are forbid- ' den to open accounts with them: A school would not be complete, however, ' without a legal tuck-shop, and Osborne lias one dignified by the name ofv " canteen." To this young Prince Edward is a frequent visitor; but even he cannot buy an unlimited number of tar'.-s, for the" same rule applies to him as to ; all —one shilling per week pocketmoney. This -is served out by the Col- . lege authorities, and charged on the accounts rendered to his father. THE NEW, QUEEN. A CHARACTER. SKETCH. .

An English Princess born and bred, British by training and habit, is tlie wife of the heir to the throne, the Princess who, once the new King is crowned. will occupy the place of the first lady in the. British Empire. No other British ivoman .ins become the mother of the' heirs of fin: throne since the- date, a little over two : hundred years ago, when the La iv Ann Hyde, daughter of the Lord Chancellor :of that day, was wedded bv the Prince who fras then heir-apparent, afterwards James 11., and became the mother of tnvo Queens, Mary 11. and Anne. Curiously enough, that Prince was also called the Duke of York, and he, too, Was the Sailor Prince- of his day ; but there the similarity ends, for his wife was not herself Royal, as is the Eng-lish-born Duchess of York of to-day. H.R.H. Princess Victoria Mary Augusta Louisa Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes, Duchess of Cornwall and York, is a great-granddaugliter of King George the Third. Her husband, the heir to the throne, is a generation lower down, for lie is the great-great-grand-son of the same King. The new Queen's grandfather, Prince, Adolplius, Duke of Cambridge, had three children, one of whom was Princess Mary Adelaide, who married the Duke of Teck, and became Cornwall and York.

Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, was so much beloved for her good-humored planners, her gaiety and affability of disposition, and her benevolence and kindness, that the Duchessof Teck rejoiced in the idea of being herself a British Princess. Princess Mary Adelaide was the: only ; young Princess around the Court in the late Queen Victoria's younger days; and hence bore something like the relation of a younger sister towards her. But though thus seen and admired.by-many, it was not till she was thirty-three years old that she met her fate. The young Prince Francis of Teck went to England in 1866 to visit the; Prince of Wales (afterwards King Edward VII.), whom he had met on' the! .Continent, lie proposed to Princess Mar)' Adelaide and was accepted,' the wedding taking place after some 'sixteen weeks' acquaintance. Queen Victoria was present at the wedding in Kew Church. The Duchess .of . Cornwall- and York, the first child of: the. marriage, . was born at Kensington Palace on May 26th, 1867; The baby was baptised the long string of names • given above, Queen Victoria being one of : the- sponsors by prosy, another sponsor being the Prince '-of.- Wades (afterwards King Edward VII.), who was present in person. From .-the first "her name was shortened into May, obviously because she was born in that month, but partly because the number of Victorias in the younger generation of princesses connected with the throne' was causing sorue embarrassment. Princess May remained her mother's only girl; three brothers did not take the place of the one daughter, and the tender relations between th Duchess of Teck and her one girl remained of the closest and fondest. The devoted mother wrote of the baby to a -friend: : —"She is really as sweet and engaging a child as you can wish to ..see; full of ■ life and fun, and as playful as a kitten; with the deepest blue eyes imaginable, quantities of fair hair, and a lovely pink and white complexion,- and a most perfect figure! In a word, a model of a baby! You must- amiably overlook a mother's fond conceit in her child, though I must say May wins all hearti by her bright face and smile and pretty, endearing ways. Her papa -s, in a quiet way, thoroughly devoted ro her, and she quite adores him, though her mother is her pet playfellow!" Soon after her birth, the pretty home in which tlie little Princess grew up, White Lodge, Richmond, was lent to the Duke and Duchess of Teck for life by Queen Victoria, whose property it was by inheritance. There the Teck children grew up in quiet and simplicity. Their mother gave them great personal attention; the "Chicks" she called them, and their bodily and mental progress were her chief "interest. We all know there is no royal road to learning, and princes and princesses who speak several languages, and are intellectually cultivated in every way, do not become so by any other means than close attention to their studies. Hence we find the Duchess of Teck refusing invitations to children's parties for her children, because they had already been out twice that week, and it interfered too much with lessons. Prin- i

CPSS Mav was taught several languages from infancy upwards, having a German professor and a .French maid, and already- when she was but nine years old her mother could write of her: "May "is quick and -.clever, 'ant'iiiaet: . stands German, and is very musical. ' The last-reference in the Ducness or Teck's diarv is to one of the greatest of the Duchess of Cornwall and \orks accomplishments. Signor (now sir Francesco) -Tost-i taught her to sirtg. and is very proud of his pupil, who has a beautiful soprano voice, and sings with great expression. Between the Teck children and_tlie children of the then Prince and 1 riilcess of Wales (afterwards King Edward VII. and Queen Alexandra), there was a good deal of intimacy and family visiting. One summer in particular the then Prince of "Wales took a house at Chiswick for his children s summer residence, and then the White Lodge being near, it frequently happened that such entries as the following were made in the Duchess of Teck's diary:— ""Wales' children came hi the afternoon, and I went up to the nursery to keep them all in order." Prmcfc. George (now heir to the throne) was the "pickle" of the family at the time, full of gaiety and pranks. He had not then hanging over him the responsibility of being heir to the throne, but expected to pass his life m the perhaps really more pleasant obscurity of a younger son. Princess May was very gay and lively too'; but perhaps the gentle and more- melancholy elder cousin . v.'as more attractive to lier lively spirit "at that time. In 1883 the Duke and Duchess 01 Teck took their family abroad. The; greater portion of the period of • their absence was spent :: iri ! Florence, _ the home ,of art, and there Princess May, now an intelligent maiden' in her teens, studied art under the guidance of her mother and the willingly-given aid ot authorities on the subject who cluster in Florence. Here, too ; she perfected her knowledge of foreign-' languages, and she returned toiErigland' with her parents after .an absence of some eighteen months, to take lier place m London Court circles, a more accomplished and .cultured.-young lady than she could possibly have been but for the experience. Princess May her Royal drawing-room in 'the spring of. and was ■ present at two -or three other State functions in the year. She wits the constant companion of her mother at all- the private gatherings that the Duchess of Teck honored with her presence, as well as the- theatres and other public places/ arid the bright, self-reliant, almost. audacious countenance of the gay arid happy young Prin- ■ cess became familiar to many people. Constantly together : as' they were, Princess May could not but be inspired with the characteristics' of her " English" mother. Of these, perhaps, the most notable were charity ; ana industry. The Ducliess of Teck was very industrious. All her housekeeping was done by herself; she wrote innumerable letters,- boilr' friendly and charitable, with her own hand, and she always had a piece of soriie needlework ready to take up to fill unconsidered trifles of time. Charity . was- ari t- ever-present duty with the Duchess, and in this respect Princess May was trained to follow her mother's example. It was not merely "patronising" with words or even organising and opening bazaars : and concerts that these Royal ladies gave their time. Once the Duchess of Teck mentions that ' 'May is going to write twenty-six letters," to individuals whom she thought likely to give to the Home for Little Boys. Another time we hear of the Duchess pouring out the tea at a visit to a home, and Princess J lay handing it round. Their picnics were turned to charitable end by everybody present -being expected to gather as many wild flowers as possible, which Princess May would afterwards make up into bunches to despatch to hospitals and missions in the East of London. Nor did they disdain personal efforts of a small kind.' There is one incident recorded of the two Princesses helping an old woman to gather dried sticks, and another : when the' Duchess and Princess May lifted a perambulator over a hedge to oblige a poor girl, who was thus saved a long journey round. Chief amongst their interests, however, was the Needlework Guild. This binds 1 -the members to make at least two garments in the year for the poor. The Duchess of Teck was for a considerable time president for London and Surrey, and the actual labor entailed on her arid her daughter was very great. In response to the vicar of Eew's request, ; that she should contribute something to his new Parish Magazine, the Ducliess of Teck wrote:—"Very favor- , ite lines with my daughter, as well as ' with myself, are these:—

" 'lf eacli mail in his measure ' Would do a brother's part, To cast a ray of sunshine. Into a brother's heart, How changed would be our country—How changed would be our poor! And might Merrie England Deserve her name once more!'" And in their measure she and her ; daughter wrought in this spirit. ? Such work as this is not done so whole-heartedly and kindly without winning recognition, and when it was announced, in December, 1891, that the then heir to the throne, Prince Edward, or, as the .public knew him, Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, was betrothed to his pretty cousin May, public satisfaction - with l the "'-'English Princess," the daughter of the beloved .Priiiqess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck, was very great.' Queen Victoria, who had always felt ■ and shown much kindness to her cousin's family, gave lier I .hearty approval to the riiatch, and preparations for the wedding were begun at once. ' Alas! those happy plans were clouded over almost instantly. Only two or three weeks after the betrothal influenza - broke .out with great violence at Sandringham. Prince "Eddy" was taken ill on January Bth; and passed away on January 14th. i Something more than a year elapsed before it was 1 made' known that the Duke of York had offered'liimself to Ms cousin, < and that' after l all; Princess May was to be the bride of the heir to the throne of England. The reasons that had made the original betrothal to the "heir popular with 'the people' were now added to by the popular sympathy felt for her in the loss she had sustained, and the marriage was generally approved. The wedding was celebrated with great brilliance in the Chapel Ro.yal, St. James' Palace, on Jtily 6th, 1893. The bridal dress was of satin woven in Spitalfields, for one of the charitable efforts in which the bride ■ had taken special interest tva's that for : reviving' English 3ilk-feeavirig; and bringing home manufactures into ufee for the country's. benefit;.-" The ti'eedS'for the trousseau all came froni Scotland, the flannels froni Wales, and the lace' from ' Ireland. " This, marriage has proved " fruitful, tji'e Duke and Duchess being the paireiits of six chij-* dren, their eldest son, Prince Edward of York, being born on June 23rd, 1894.' Oir J. G. Ward's. Eiilagiiuii. Speaking to Pressmen at Christchurch r on ;his way north, the '■ Prune Minister said—. :' 'The ..news of the . death'. of our' illustrious Sovereign came as a grievous shock to his subjects in New Zealand. During his comparatively short reign he showed himself to be 'a far-sighted monarch, a wise and practical ruler. Even apart from the fealty which British people have to the thr6ne, there whs a feeling of glad reverence and deep attachment to the late King personally because of the qualities he' displayed after his succession to the throne. ......

| "During his reign he showed himself tcf be a great factor in promoting peace amongst the nations of the world. No other monarch had ever done so much in this direction. When -the historians come to record the life and work of King Edwa-rd VII., the influence he exercised in the prevention of war and the promotion of peace and goodwill amongst his fellow-men will be recognised as one of the brightest examples know of time humanitarian effort. He achieved his ends because he was possessed of a remarkable fund of com-mon-sense, marvellous tact and ripe judgment. With these attributes and by reason of a wonderful personality he was able at the right time to influence for good somo of the most powerful rulers and most contentious nations on the earth. His reign was free from wars as far as the British Empire was concerned, and this was a unique circumstance in the reign of a British monarch. '"Naturally I feel proud and honored inj that 'I-had the opportunity on several occasions, as the representative of the Dominion of New Zealand, to be

Each time I was impressed by the kindly and courteous way in which he took care at once to make his visitors at ease. He was a fine conversationalist, and when talking to me he showed an absolutely remarkable knowledge of the affairs of New Zealand, public and otherwise. At each audience, he expressed his r regret tliat he had not beeii abje to visit New Zealand before the clays when- "the responsibilities of his high station made it impossible for him to gb so far from the heart of the Empire'. It was almost surprising to find what a keen interest he took in his subjects in this portion of the Empire. He seemed to know 'as much about New Zealand in many respects as I kriew iriyself. ."One left the presence of King Edward feeling the greatest respect for him as a man and as a ruler. His naturail dignity of manner; never in the slightest - degree assumed', and; his urbaliity arid ready wit inarked him as a ruler of strong and influential personality. The people of this country have reason to be proud and gratified that but a few hours before his death the late King received in audience Lord Islington, who has been appointed to succeed Lord Plunket as Governor of New Zealand. This was .yery nearly, if not actually, the'last audierice- granted by King Edward, and the fact that he was willing to receive Lord Islington at a time when his health must have been already a source of grave anxiety to his attendants shows the keenness ,of his interest in the outlying portions of his Empire. "I was most impressed, in the course of conversation-with the-King, by the grasp he displayed of international affairs. His knowledge of foreign politics was excelled by few men even amongst those high in the counsels of the nations.

"Tlie Empire has lost a monarch of wide knowledge, sound judgment, and ripe experience. The loss in incalculable, both to the British race and to the civilised world." Sir Joseph Ward added that he wished, on behalf of the Government, to express very warm appreciation of the loyalty and devotion displayed by the people as a whole in connection with the King's death. The sorrow had been deep-seated and widespread, and he was most gratified at the ready and unhesitating manner in which amusements of "all sorts had ceased, and functions and gatherings of a public nature had been postponed. Many people had accepted considerable financial loss in order to show their sense of the national calamity.