A WAR-TIME CEREMONY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 7

A WAR-TIME CEREMONY

RECOGNITION CM? THE DOMINIONS.

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT.

(Feom Oue Own Cobeespondjint.) LONDON, February 13. Tho opening of Parliament on Wednesday—tho third occasion on'which this ceremony has taken place since the war began— : - * was memorable in more ways than one. la •- tho first place, the King brought tho occa- v sion more severely in touch with the times by deciding that it should be, as far as possible, an undress or service-dress function. "' : Usually tho scene in tho House of Lords is ' ono of great brilliance, for all the Peers' 1 -"' and their wives attend with robes and core- v. nets. On Wednesday the Peers were present for tho most part in morning dress, tho younger ones being in khaki A number of Peeresses sat in tho House of Lords and others in the galleries, and all were in very plain attire. Tho King's procession from Buckingham; Palaco to the Houses of Parliament was also strikingly in accord with tho prevailing conditions. The escort was in khaki, and tho only colour tho procession presented at all was that of tho Royal coaches with their liveried footmen. The advance party in the procession was provided by the Indian army, tho escort being of Indian cavalry officers, led by tho Rajah of Ratlam, Lieutenantcolonel Sir Sajjan Sing. Following them came a contingent of ( Canadian and Australian troops, led by an officer in a cockad'ed Balmoral bonnet. The Royal landau was drawn by six bay horses, driven by postilions, and behind came the following party led by New Zealanders—in this case, as in that of tho contingents from other dominions, all tho members of thoescort were of the rank of major:—Major' T. H. Dawson (Auckland) commanded, and • tho other members of the party were Majors W. Kay, F. G. Hume, P. de B. Brandon, J. Jenkins, J. A. Cameron, J. L. Short, J. T. Watson, H. S. Robinson, S. J.Bolton, J. L. Saunders, J. B. M'Clymont, J. A. Hawkins, W. Stowe, W. Bruce, and T. M'Kibbin. Tho short routo from the palace to the t House of Lords was lined along most of its way by tho special constables, who formed an imposing spectacto. The route was thickly lined, too, by sightseers, of whom a very largo proportion were oversea troops, viewing for the first time a Royal spectacle. .At Westminster the King had specially set apart the Royal gallery for the accommodation of oversea wounded, drawn front hospitals all over England. So far as possible, the representation was in accordance with the strength of the dominion forces at the front. Along both sides of the gallery tho men, with tneir nurses, were seated, and a considerable number of cases had to bo wheeled in. '

The Master of Ceremonies, -who took & special interest in this part of the programme, was the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, better known in Australasia as Lord Carrington. While Governor of New South Wales, 30 years ago he formed the well-known corps .of Light Horse, the > New South Waies Lancers, and it was in virtue of his association with them that he wore the Australian uniform. A band of crepe on has left arm reminded those present of a recent bereavement through the death of a member of 'his family at tbo front Addressing the gathering before the King's arrival, Lord Lincolnshire said: "As Lord Great Chamberlain of England I have it in command from his Majesty the King to express to you brave men who have fought so gallantly for him and for tho Empire his appreciation of your gallant services and his pleasure at" being able to placd at your disposal the Royal Gallery in tta Palace of Westminster on the occa- ' eion of the opening of Parliament. I have ■* it in command from his Majesty to wish all of you a speedy recovery and a safe return to those glorious and great countries which yo'i love so well. As ono»who for five happy years had the honour of being her Majesty's representative in the great colony of New South Wales, - and as Lord Great Chamberlain of England, I bid you hearty welcome, and I congratulate myself that I am able during my term of office to assist at this most interesting ceremony.',' Loud, cheers were then given for tie King and Queen Queen Alexandra, and the Prince of Wales. A few minutes later the doors opened, and their Majesties ap- ' pcared in tho gallery. All tfie oversea soldiers rose and stood at the salute while -\, they passed through, and for them the ceremony was now ended. IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. \ The sceno in the House of Lords befoio tho arrival of their Majesties was not very different from the occasion of ang first-class debate in that Chamber, excepting perhaps that the galleries were fuller., For the first time in history' provision had been made in the Press Gallery for representatives of the overseas press, three of whom were admitted, each representing a- ' dominion. There were also present journalistic representatives of the chief neu- ~- . tral countries and some of our Allies. In the enclosure on the floor of the House, to" the right of the throne,' there was the usual diplomatic gathering, with the notable absence of the Russian Ambassador (the late Count Beckendorff), and there was also tho notable difference that each, of .the representatives wore morning dress instead of uniform. In the back row, close to tho door, sat Mr Massey, with Sir George Perley (High Commissioner for Canada) 'next to him; then Mr Schreiner and Sir Joseph Ward. Lady Ward was in one of < the galleries with Miss Massey and the' , High Commissioner. \ The only touch of colour in the whole Chamber was supplied by the Law Ldids, with the Lord Chief Justice and the Lord Chancellor; close to them was the Bench of Bishops in thoir white robes. The King's arrival was heralded by a trumpet, and his procession appeared at the door quite unostentatiously—indeed, almost unnoticed. His Majesty wore the undress uniform of an admiral, and the Queen was in everyday attire,- with beautiful furs. They were "received by. the Lord Chancellor at the door, and took their seats on the thrones, the Lord Chancellor standing on the dais to their right. Without any ceremony his Majesty, who came in bare-lioaded, put on his hat and commenced to read the short speech. 'It was' quietly worded and direct to the point, and the whole tiling took no more •Jian five minutes. The assembly listened without any demonstration, and when the' speech was over the Lord •Chancellor advanced and received tho scroll, kneeling. Their Majesties then stepped down from tho thrones, bowed thrice, and walked out of tho Chamber. The scene outside in the keen frosty air was a very impressive one. The oversea escorts were drawn up in tho open space, and the band and pipers of the Scots Guards clayed a processional march as tho King's carriage drove off. The reception in v the streets was very much in keeping with that in Parliament. On reaching Buckingham Palace their Majesties received all tho oversea officers of the escort in the courtyard, and shook hands with each of them. The officers then proceeded to the great banqueting hall, where ' they partook »?i light refreshments. <