ST. BATHANS

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 45

ST. BATHANS

August 16. — Coronation celebrations took place here on tho 11th. The weather being all that could bo wished for, Uie street pioceedmgs pßSsed off with great eclat, the town looking gay with its great display of bunting The programme for the clay wp-s an extensive one. ami opened at 8 a.m. with the ringing of bells ai:d the filing of the royal salute, r church parade and religious ceremony taking place from 10 a.m. to 11 30. Midday being tlia hour for the procession, the marshal at the appointed time had the school children drawn up in line thre9 deep at Post Office Square, each boy and girl being the happy possessor of a. British ensign or Union Jack. The children would have m"de an impressive ptoces3ion by themselves, but in their immediate wake the old miners fell in, young miners coming next, business people and visitors filling up the roar. The brass band being in attendance, opened proceedings with a spirited military marching air; the marshal gave the word " March, which brought the procession into motion, the line of rout© being down Main street to All NsUions' Point, diverging at the Point into High street, taking a course along this stiest to where it junctioned with the Main road, then wending their v. ay back to Narrow street, when a halt was called at the Public Hall. The marshal re-formed the procession into semicircles facing the hall, vith the band placed m the centre, playing "Soldiers of the King." At the finish of this favourite air, the whole congregation joined in singing the National Anthem. At the finish oi the singing three cheers were called for ths King and Qne<?n, which, were heartily lesporided to. An adjournment for lunch was announced, with an invitation, to meet in the ha.ll at 2.30. On entering the ha.U, the eye naturally looked forward for a something that hod always taken the vision on previous rejoicings, but not on4y the eye-, but all the other ssr-sep, were doomed to disappointment. On previous gatherings it has always been a gieat pleasure to report the artistic skill of the ladies, but on this occasion silence rr.u3t be obeived, as a mark of disapproval. The school children had full possession until 5 p.m., tho avdience being spectators of their various e\ olutious , but it was apparent that their ttainirg had been somewhat scanty. Cake and tea were served out by the young ladies in abundance during the afternoon. Before disprising tho youngsters, Coronation commelioration cards were distributed to them by the chairman of the School Committee (Mr Todd). An adjournment was then made to pro-pare for the lighting of t-he bonfire, which was observed fully W miles from St. Bathans. The bonfire was closoly followed by a great cipplny of fireworks, under the capable management of Messrs T. and J. Wilkinson. At 8.30 tho hall doors were thrown open to the public, and in a very short time the building was packed with human beings. Mr Wrn. Pyle presided. Ths time limit to each speaker was fixed, so that the chaiiman had to lose no time in mrking his introductory remarks. Spcechesand songs followed by the undermentioned h-dies and gentlemen : Song, Mr Herbert Brown (Is T asebv); addrcs3, Mr It. Todd; duet, Messrs C. and A. Fahey (ertcored) ; address, Mr J. Eagle; songs, Miss Elliott and Mrs C-. Xiaw ; violin duet, Mr E. Mo-gan and Miss Morgan : recitation, Mr J. Eagle, Kipling's Recessional poem, "Lest We Forget " ; address, Mr J. Ewing; song, Mr Cowan; address, Mr King; song, Mr F. Eagle (encored) , address, Mr Cowan. The social closed with thf National Anthem. A fancy dvesa ball followed, at which many handsome and grotesque costu ies shone forth. To enter into details of soc±a,l and dance would occupy too much of >our valuable apaoe. I hope, therefore, that all those who aided in making tho gathering the great success it turned out to be will pardon this meagre leport.