NEW ZEALANDERS ACCLAIMED

Southland Times, Issue 23179, 21 April 1937, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS ACCLAIMED

TROOPS GREETED BY EXCITED CROWDS

SPECIAL WELCOME FOR MAORI MEMBER

(United Press Assn.— Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 20, 6.30 p.m.)

LONDON, April 19. The only Maori member of the New Zealand Coronation contingent had a special welcome at St. Pancras from three Maoris who shouted greetings as he stood in the ranks. Miss Mitchell and Miss Adams, of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service, were surrounded by friends; they will be billeted at the St. Charles Hospital, Ladbroke Grove. The troops had possibly a more demonstrative welcome than the Australians as they proceeded through the city, the excitement reaching its peak when a dense mass of loyal New Zealanders surged on to the road outside New Zealand House, disorganizing the traffic and leaving only a small lane for the marching troops. The appearance of the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) on the balcony brought the enthusiasm to its climax. The troops lunched at Wellington Barracks and then marched to Waterloo Station, where they entrained for Pirbnght. The King has approved of the Coronation silver medal, which has conjoint busts of their Majesties on the obverse and the Royal cypher and the date on the reverse, to be worn with a ribbon of red, white and blue. Nine thousand will be distributed throughout the Empire as a personal souvenir from the King to persons in the Crown services. The Iraq delegation for the Coronation has been cancelled because of internal affairs. The Government will now be represented by the Minister in London. . , King Farouk, of Egypt, accompanied by his four sisters, Princess Fawsia, Princess Faiza, Princess Faika and Princess Faithia, has arrived at Dover for the Coronation. An emergency ration of two lumps of sugar will be supplied to the 32,000 troops engaged in the procession at the Coronation. The men lining the. route will be on duty from 5 a.m. until late in the afternoon, during which time they will be unable to have a square meal; consequently, as sugar acts as a stimulant, they will be permitted to eat a lump if they feel faint or fatigued. The troops lining the streets will also receive a haversack, with a ration consisting of a cheese roll, a bar of chocolate, a rock cake and two apples. The troops marching in the procession will be issued with marching chocolate in addition to a lump of sugar.