THE CORONATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10702, 27 February 1911, Page 6

THE CORONATION.

INVITATIONS FoWNEW^^^aSTDf:

(Peb/PkESB; AsSpdAilpN.)

The Triirfiy Minister ;haslreceived;% the following-/cablegram tfoon'gh "the S.eerer taryVof- State fOP=th"S Colonies,:, dated. liondorij February '24th;'?The- Committee of botht'fiouseS of Parliament,* representative of all parties, wish-to convey to you a formal invitation to eight; ; memberjs of the Dominion Parliament to be-th'eir guests in Loh"d6n-aftshe? iWal•dorf'Hotel from Saturday,. 17th,- June, to. Saturday, July 'ls£ Jncluiiv'e. • ■ This period includes the, week in. which the Coronation is fixed to take place. Apr plicatiois have been made for. the Earl Marshall to assign them places in Westminster; Abbey. As it is anticipated that those accepting this invitation may desire to prolong their visit in order, to, see something of this country, the Committee hope to be able later to extend the invitation for one week in order to enable-visits to be paid to the more important English towns. It is "'not possible to speak with certainty on this point at present owing to the exigencies of space. It is.not possible to include in the formal % invitation to the Coronation and subsequent festivities the wives and the daughters of members invited; at the same time the Committee will be glad to provide accommodation for cue lady, being wife or daughter, and in respect-of .each.member that information is to be sent to reach here by the 4th March, ■ giving full particulars as to the number of ladies coming, and whether the wife or daughter m each case. In.order to avoid misunderstanding and disappointment, the Committee wish to state this clearly, that though they can only recognise members themselves as their formal guests, .they will do their utmost to make the visit not only of members but also of the ladies accompanying them as pleasant and agreeable as possible.— Signed for the Committee by the Chairman."

Interviewed to-night by a Times' reporter in regard to the invitation, Sir Joseph Wsird said: "I iirn sending a copy of this message to all the members of the House of Representatives, and asking them to telegraph their replies. I recognise that the time in which the replies have to be in.London is short, and that it does n6t give much time, for consideration by those to whom the message is being sent. It is-pro-posed, in the event of acceptance by members.of the House, to extend it to five Government members and three Opposition raeiulwK.'i It will be noticed from the cable that this invitation extends to the time named during the visit to London, and does not of .course include the cost of passage either way. Persnallv I shall be glad, exceedingly glad, to see members of the House avail themselves of the invitation/ and that the full number invited may be able to go to- London." ' ._ :