CORONATION FESTIVITIES

Otago Witness, Issue 2522, 16 July 1902, Page 15

CORONATION FESTIVITIES

PRESENTATION" TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES. LONDON, July 8. Lord Onflow entertained the Maori Contingent at luncheon, and then escorted them to Earl's Court. Sir Charles Wyndham (the actorlessee) entertained Sir E. and Lady Barton, -.Mr and Mrs Seddon, and Sir J. Forrest and Lady Forrest at the Criterion Theatre. At the Primrose League dinner in the Hotel Cecil, Sir E. Barton, responding to the toast of " Our Guests," said that they must not expect too much or too little from the Imperial Conference, but the outcome would be to strengthen ' their mutual relations both as regards reason and sentiment. There was not a man in the self-governing colonies who couid, if he would, stem the tide of Imperial feeling. . Six G. Sprigg thanked the colonial Premiers for helping South Africa in the fight wherein they were engaged. There -was no reason to doubt 'that great prosperity was in store for Cape Colony, and that the two races would hereafter In c together in amity. July 9. The .trrmce of Wales, at St. James's Palace, bnnquetted the Right Hon. Mr Seddon, Sir E. Barton, and Sir J. Forrest. The guests included the Countesses of Hopetoun and Onflow, Mrs Chamberlain, ana many others. July 10. A party of 180 Australian troops and the New Zealand Contingent visitetl Windsor at tfio King's invitation, and lunched at thn Castle. The Prince of Wales conversed freely ' with the am t> at yesterday's dinner at St. James's Palace. He and the Duke of Connaught applauded the splecdid valour, military adaptiveness, and value of Australian troops. I Sir E. Barton presented the Princess of Wales with the gold key used in despatching the cable to the King announcing the opening of the Federal Parliament. The Princess of Wale* wa? greatly plea&ed at the presentation. The Morning Post says Mr Chamberlam may bo trusted to give Mr Seddotfs subsidisation scheme full and sympathetic consideration. At the Fishmonger-)' Company's dinner the colonial Premiers were prominent. The Indian visitors and Agentsgeneral were among the guests. Sir John Forrest, replying to the toast of the evening, *aid unless Great Britain remained mivtress of the ocean the dismemberment of the Empire would follow. He emphasised the unequal conditions of international trade relatiousThe Royal Horse Guards gave a variety entertainment before some hundreds of members or the Australasian ami other colonial Coronation Contingents. July 11. The Queen opened the Imperial Coronation Bazaar — the largest ever held in England — at the Botanic Gardens in aid of the hospital for sick children, in Great Ormond street, in the presence of the colonial Premier^, Indian visitors Ambabsadorb, and many elite. The Prince and Princess of Wales gave a reception and supper to meet distinguished colonial visitors. The whole of St. James's Palace was thrown open. There were 800 guests, including royalties, colonial Premiers, their wives and daughters, and all the leading colonials in England. MELBOURNE, July 11. The chief Federal buildings were brilliantly illuminated, otherwise th© display "was very moderate, s. similar condition of affairs prevailing in the other S§£italst

SYDNEY, July U* Some of the State Government buildings were not illuminated owing to 'the high wind preventing the use of gas. The weather was fine to-day,- but it ir> raining, to-night. The ilLuminationa were repeated, when there was a better display, a lull in the wind allowing the gas on Parliament Houses and othvji State buildings to be lit. j BRISBANE, July 11. " j A grandJireworks display and the illuminations will be repeated for the re» maining nights of the week.