THE CORONATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 7

THE CORONATION.

INVASION OF LONDON. HOUSING THE GUESTS. THE NEW ZEALAND ARCH. , (From Our Own Cob respondent.) LONDON, March 24. In somis quarters reports are being spread about the difficulty of obtaining accommodation during June in London. The Daily Telegraph has been making inquiries, and it declares these statements to be without foundation. It says there are hundreds of excellent private and family hotels and boarding-houses situated mainly in the west-central and western districts of the metropolis, and over and above these there are thousands of good private homes, scattered north, south, each, and west, where boarders or "paying guests" are taken. Among the areas where investigation was made were Pembridge square, Cromwell road, Leinster Cate, Harrington Gardens, Leinster Gardens, Linden Gardens, Leinster square, Lexham Gardens, Westbourne terrace, Torrington square, Upper Bedford place, Russell square, and Inverness terrace. In almost every "instance it was found that private hotels and boarding establishments in those neighbourhoods were open to receive visitors during Coronation week, and the month oi June generally. One of the largest private hotel proprietors in London affirms that there .is plenty of room yet at quite reasonable though necessarily slightly increased, rates. Most of the big hotels are increasing their charges, but' one notable exception is the popular Strand Palace Hotel. Messrs Lyons have decided not to take advantage of the greater public demand for " board and bed " daring the Coronation, festivities, and not to increase their tariff in any way.

<JB JO SSOipnQ pUB &TJI 'siiirared aqi jo ffisanS <Hri oq \l}M. uapaAig jo e93oui.i<£ pun oouiaj uavojq empire uojSutsuag; %-e SjoquawtJg; jo itruajj ssooutij qijAY &?%& Another "bogey" that requires to be laid is that concerning transit facilities. London nowadays is so well supplied with means of inter-communication that there is no part of the metropolis that is not accession within half a.n hour's travel in comfortable conditions, and, with many districts, in much less time. So that, in whatever part of London visitors may take up their temporary abode during the coming festival month* they need enter T tain no fear of being out of close touch with the interesting events of the Coronation period. Inquiry shows that all the railway companies having termini in London, and the various "tube" and omnibus companies are making special arrangements for increased, and, where necessary, accelerated traffic facilities. THE CORONATION GUESTS. In addition to the Royal palaces, between 30 and 40 West-end houses will be required for the accomMjdation of their Majesties' guests who will be in London for the Coronation. The Crown Princes of Denmark and Germany, the Duke of Sparta, and the Grand Duke Michael ,Alexandrovitch (who will represent the "Czar, his brother), will stay at Buckingham Palace, while York HcJuse, St. James's, it is believed, will be reserved for Prince" Fushimi and Prince Oyama 'of Japan. Spain's representatives will QUESTION OF TRANSIT. Clarence House. The Prince Consort of the Netherlands, the Duke of Aosta, the Crown Prince and Princess of Roumania, and the Austrian and Chinese representatives, with their suites, will all require special accommodation o_utside the Royal palaces. Marlborough House lis to be utilised by the King for Royal personages, and among those who are likely to stay there are -King Haakon and Queen Maud of Norway, and the Crown Prince oi Greece.

RESIDENCES LENT TO THE KING. Brook House, Pao-k lane, the splendid residence of Sir Earnest Cassell, is mentioned as one of the large mansions offered to- the King during June. At the last Coronation, Brook House was rented from the late Lord Tweedmouth for the American representatives, and at Dorchester House were installed the Duke and Duchess of Aosta. Fewer large houses are now available than nine years ago. Gloucester House and Harcourt House have since been demolished to make room for blocks of flats, and Wimborne House, which was lent to the Crown in 1902, is to be retained by its owner this season. Vacant mansions in Grosvenor Gardens will be rented by the Crown, and furnished for the use of minor Royalties and diplomats, and it is said that the King is considering proposals for acquiring the temporary use oi palatial residences m Carlton House terrace and Richmond terraC6THE ABBEY CEREMONIAL. The King having approved the Order of Divine Service, the Order of Musical Service, and the Order of Ceremonial to be observed at Westminster Abbey at the Coronation, the details have been committed to the King's printers for immediate reproduction and early publication. It is expected that the printing will occupy about a fortnight, and when the book is ready it will be placed on public sale. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been responsible for the Order of Divine Service. The general direction given to his Grace was to make the service as reasonably short as was consistent with the dignity and solemnity of the occasion, and while these considerations will be found to have been observed, various and considerable changes will be noticed when the full order is published. The Earl Marshal's ceremonial will be found to follow very much the lines of the former ceremony. Sir Frederick Bridge has carried out the musical arrangements.

THE MUSICAL SERVICE. The following is the official list of the service-music for the Abbey at the time of the Coronation :—"Anthem, " I was glad" (Sir Hubert Parry); Litany (TalJis); "lntroit, "Let my prayer" (Henry Puroall); Creed (Merbecke), arranged for OTgan and brass by Sir George Martin; "hymn, " Veni, Creator," ancient plain song; "anthem; " Zadok the priest '| (Handel); " comfortare, "Bo strong" (Sir Walter Pa-watt); homage anthem, " Rejoice in the Lord " (Sir Frederick Bridge); offiertorium, "0 harken, thou" (Elgar); sanctus (Dr W. G. Alcock); amen (sevenfold), (Sir John Stainer); Gloria in ExceJsis (Sir Charles concluding amen (Orlando Gibbons); Te Deum (Sir Hubert Parry). "Performed at the Coronation of King Edward VII. LONDON AT NIGHT. During the nights of Coronation time London will be a city of dazzling light. The illuminations will be wonderful, and much money is being spent upon them. Since the last Goronation the advance in the use of electric light has been remarkable, and much more can be done with is expected, get aside some £IO,OOO, while the streets, the City Corporation will, it the Westminster City Council has already will be illuminated at night by 5000 amps. For decorating and illuminating West End clubs have already given contracts for most elaborate schemes. One club alone intends to spend £750, and Many business houses are spending £SOO and more upon decoraions and illuminations. The Bank of England will expend between £2OOO and £3OOO. Some of the electric light in the way of beautiful lamps. For decorating and illuminating alocated £7OOO for that purpose.

THE DOMINION TROOPS. When the troops which are to represent the oversea dominions of the Crown arrive in London they will be accommodated in a camp pitched in the West End. Nine years ago most of the colonial soldiers were encamped on the slopes near the Alexandra Palaoe, and the Indian and black troops were under canvas in the beautiful grounds of Hampton Court. So far as the coloured soldiers are concerned, the same provision will be made for them as in 1902, but the colonial detachments will sleep in tent 3on the ground at the front and sides of the Duke of York's School at Chelsea. There is a question whether sufficient room for 200 officers and 1500 men from the colonies can be found in the Duke of York's School ground, and arrangements are being made for a portion of Chelsea Hospital grounds to be set apart for. a second colonial camp. ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE. The Council of the Royal Colonial Institute has decided to make honorary members of the leading representatives of the oversea dominions, and the recentlyenlarged premises in Northumberland avenue will afford a conveniently central official home during their stay in London. The reception to be given at the Natura History Museum a week befora the Coronation will draw together one of the largest gatherings of distinguished visitors and prominent people at Home whose work has been identified with the dominions and Crown colonies. On the 24th May the delegates to the Imperial Conference will be entertained at a dinner, at which the Duke of Connaught will preside. Arrangements have been made lor visits to the ancient halls of some of the cdty companies, to the Bank of England, to Dr Barnardo's Homes at Barkingside, where the children will take part in Old English sports. It is ako most probable that there will be-garden parties at several historic seats, and numerous evening receptions in London. NEW ZEALAND'S ARCH OF TRIUMPH..

Up to the present- there has only been one application ollicially made for a dominion arch, and it is more than probable that New Zealand will have another good advertisement on her own. When the original suggestion was made that the decorative scheme for the Coronation route should be, as far as possible, an epitome of Empire, the idea commended itself to Sir William Hall-Jones as one well worthy of consideration. The Dominion Government, too,. approved the proposal and authorised the spending of £IOOO on the project. After this the Westminster City Council had to be approached, and New Zealand's request to be allowed to erect an arch emblematic of the Dominion's progress was promptly acceded to. Sir William asked for a site in Whitehall, between Trafalgar square and the Duke of Cambridge's statue, which also was granted subject to police and traffic regulations. The site in question is without doubt as central as could be obtained in London. In the course of the Coronation festivities millions of people will have to pass under the New Zealand arch.

The Westminster City Council has accepted the-offer of Sir W. B. Richmond, Mr Frank Brangwyn, A.R.A., Professor Moira and Professor Lanteri to prepare plans for the scheme of decorations in general, and Mr Brangwyn offered the New Zealand Government a design, free of charge, for the Dominion arch so as to ensure harmony with the main scheme. This joffer was gladly accepted, and during the week Mr Brangwyn has been engaged upon the design. "The distinctive features will be the symbols of the Dominion and of its relation to the Empire. The arch will be illuminated at night by electric globes hidden in fruit and flowers.