TO-NIGHT'S PAGEANT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11685, 29 April 1916, Page 9

TO-NIGHT'S PAGEANT.

~~ ' lli A. GREAT CEREMONY, '.fr', A very elaborate ceremony has been prepared for to-night, in the wrni of an allegorical pageant. The musical portion o 1 tla6 programme is und«r the directum of JJr .tkadshaw, whe has a grand choir from the Musical Society and many oth.er vocalists under his baton. The orchestral work is entrusted to ths Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, undqr the conductorship of Mr" J. A. Worsley, and the band music is by the Lyttelton Marine Band, under Captain AY. S. King.- The order of the pageant is as follows:—. / CEREMONY FOB ENTHRONING. THE QUEEN OF GRATITUDE. Symbolising Canterbury's Gratitude to the men. who are fighting for the Eainirc. ■ Preliminary.—Announcement of winner of competition, pl-apes of other Queehs, and total amount raised, i s made by the chairman of the Queens' Executive. Overture. Choir. National Anthems and Eongg of the Allies. Gathering of the Forces.—This will be represented by small bodies of Territorials representing each section of Arms:--Army Service Corps, Ambulance, etc. Each section will carry arms or eqnipinc-at. colours, After short evolution as each section enters, ft tableau will ile formed whiie thd choir sings " March of the Men of Harlech." On the departure of the troops the choir will sing " The Minstrel Boy." Entrance oi Returned Soldiers. Entiance of Queens' Procession a3 follows: —Trumpet call, followed immediately by orchestra.. i Procession.—Herald, Trumpeter. Country Princesses, Regalia, Bearer. Theu will como th-i Queen Elect, followed by Princosfeei, thfc Chancellor and the Treasurer. On reaching tho stage the Chancellor and Treasurer will take up positions allotted to them. The Herald and Trumpeters will proceed }o places on the stage, and the Queen, followed by Princesses, will mount to the front of ihe stage, where she will remain while the- Princesses take up positions flanking the throne. Presentation of Queen by Mistress of tho ■Robes, who will say:—"To you as ihe appointed chief representative of the people of thi? fair land, I present the lady of 'their choice, and Q3k you to enthrone her as Queen.'' ENTHRONING SPEECH. Th& Chancellor will say:—" Most Gracious Lady,—ln time cf "'national Btreßs the finer feelings of humanity oft rise in greater force, and brins; to us. not merely the call to duty, but the aesire to rise'to higher flight and to do for the cause everything winch is within the compass of our abilty. To-day the Empire and its Allies stand face to face with the most brutal despotism the world has ever known. Hiding its purpose behind the fair name _ of culture, making ths perfection of organisation, of science, and of the Arts of War its weapons; binding itself as boon companion with murder, brutality and rapine, it is attempting to force its horrible and devastatingl power on the other European nations. Biutg Force and Selfish Greed are tho gods before whom th&- Germanic - races bow down arid worship. But other nations differ from these. To them the cause of Honour, of Justice and of Right stands forth as a beacon light ever leading; them on and ever liftingthem up to higher pianos of action. Of such as these <ire Britain end her Allies, who have banded themselves together to defeat this terrible menace. Frojn every portion of the Realm the people have rallied to the call. In this Dominion tbV flower of our youth and strength have volunteered in their thousands and gone forth to fisrht the foe. We who from various disabilities cannot go, our womanhood, our children, all of whom are being protected in this great fight. for Honour and Justice; we are one and all filled with deep gratitude to those who are fighting on our side. Within us has grown an overpowering desire to do some small service for those, who are doing so much for us. Tliitf'is the motive- which has banded us together to raise a Patriotic. Fund worthy of the occasion. It is the cause of the Queens' Competition, of which to-night's ceremony is the culmination. "" I Hsk you now to grace the throne os our Emblem of Gratitude to the noble men who have fought for us. To be to them, to their wives and to their little ones a symbol of our intense appreciation, an earnest of our determination that should, as most unfortunatol,- must bo the esse, some- of them suffer grie'vous injury, they or those dopendent on | them shall have sufficient means to provide j comfort during the long ami trying years." The Queen is seated on the Throne, the j Insignia cf Office is lwnded to her, a trumpet j call sounds, and the TTera'.d makes the Pro- I c'rmation" By virtue of my office as Herald of this noble Court of North Canterbury. I now proclaim and make known that our Most Gracious Ladv . . . has been duly enthroned and now reigns throughout the Realm as Qu*en of Gratitude. I call on every lovpl subject here present to rise and shout willi loud and joyous voice, "Long Live the Queen." Choir.—" Here's a Health unto her Majesty " APPOINTMENT OP PRINCESSES. The 'Country Princesses will now advance and kneel betore the Queen, and the Hernjd will make Proclamation" From East, fi\am West, from North, from South, wherever ra.:c cloth live, have rallied men to fisht -Ihe cause. Without tho city's bound the of th-.! land have poured forth the bounteous harvests of the earth. The wool to cloth/e, tho food to sustain, the coal and metal /wherewith to fMii. In honour of each ofifjtrict's achievement her Majesty doth now create _ Princess of . The will lightly .touch .■each one with a. sword, saying, " Rise, V/rincess of The City Queens will then «v#>roach and kneel. Trumpet calls and the Hero)'/"£ Procl-nnia-Men can fight, but th</ cannotr liaht '-•ith success without the proper equipment. To that great body of workirs who toil to provide the necessaries of is honour due but little below that of, those wh» fight. To th© thousands in our jhdustries, to our scientists, professional an'/ commercial citizens to the great body of ,s>ublic Servants, to the 'important community of tho wholesale and retail trade is houcnur paid by creating ___j— Princess of ——l" Th© Returned Soldiers 'are here formed up

on the stage. Trumpet call and Proclamation by Herald :---''■ Yet' <ibav-? all who -von; stand those' who (is lit. Xotbina; we- ee» _ cl?, nothing wo can pay, can express' our feeling.'' to those who have fought, and are-, making ready so to do.- Yen "men f:oin_ Gajlipoli, and your companions stiii at the Front, have set a standard lor Nov.- Zealand for all time. Tho history of Britain is overflowing with records of great deeds. Perhaps the deepest feeling in ua to-day is that wo ecu,- in all humilty, say that our sons in this distant Empire's cut-post havo shown themselves worthy descendants of the heroes of the past. To Mrs Rhodes has fallen the privilege of representing you to-night. In your honour is she now to be appointed Princess of the Soldiers. Surely no mere in.in? representative could be found than one who has worked so ably in this cause." . Princess and Soldiers will return to thenplaces. PRESENTATION OF TREASURE.

The High Treasurer will approach the Queen bearing a casket, containing the re- i cords of the' Treasure, -which he offers to Jier, saying:—"Most Gracious luidy, J-hc officers of the Treasury tender for your acceptance this casket containing the records of 'ii;e treasure which your humble subjects have gathered together. 'Wo pray that you will give -Royal command to the Patriotic Association to dispense the Treasure m accordance with the Articles of that Society. The Queen will Sayl receive with thankfulness .and joy iliis magnificent tribute from my subjects, and forthwith ordain thai, the Patriotic Association shall control and dispense it for the benefit of those lor whom it is raised." A spectacular display by children symbolising the rally of the young Dominion to 'tho call of the Motherland will follow. The followirf; Speech from the Throne will be road by the' Chancellor:-—" To all my loyal and genet bus subjects J give greeting. ' My heart is full to overflowing with the record.! of the noble courage of my .soldiers, tho great and generous gratitude to-night exemplified, and .tho magnificont work done ioi' patriotio purposes: work which shows lovo of humanity, if) a cardinal, principle with you Courage, gratitude, work and love of humanity aro noble qualities with which tlm nation is endowed. Our work which is finished to-night may be sufficient for its particular purpose, but let us not rest contont with this achievement. , Great duties are before us all, and greatest of these all is the duty of our young manhood is to enlist and fight. In" the channel of ordinary life it is not given to many to achieve much, and when in our closing year? we. lcok back on our work it seems to most of us that, through lack of capacity or opportunity, our life on earth has hardly seemed worth while, and we have achieved but little in good works. To-da,y's stirring events place the great opportunity before every man of fitting Years and physique. Seize tho opportunity now! Take your part in this great work. Lot your declining years be brightened by the knowledge that you did a strong- man's part in a task for strong men. Do not let 'those years be dimmed by the knowledge •that when the greftt opportunity came--yen failed. I, vour Queen, call to you. Enlist. Enlist. Help me. Help the nation. Help by enlisting and fighting in our great cause. And all others who cannot fight, I hero and now ask to turn your energies into other channels of good 'work, to persevere witn steadfast hearts until the ■cause of honour and freedom shall triumph." Choir. " Song of Empire," grand procession and National Anthem.