THE FINAL HOURS.

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

THE FINAL HOURS.

EXCITEMENT RUNS HIGH. * A high frequency current of hope and iear traced itself across the five thousand' faces that turned towards the empty /coronation chair in the King Edward Barracks. A thousand lamps 'Scintillated through a kaleidoscope of candidates' colours on to the upturned feces, vrliite the candidates, all gorgeions in--their-robes and trains, awaited the fateful fiat'.that would elevate one their number to the regal succession. fThe same decree was to transform the multitude from sturdy partisanship to •loyal subjection, and the eight rejected candidates from potential royalty to >positions of allegiance. Few members of. the community 'lac&ed - interest in the contest. For nearly four months all other concerns, even, to the business of wage-earning, had been set aside for the nobler claims of the fighting men, and the humblest worker in the cause could not avoid a feeling of. strong loyalty to his socalfed Queen. Therefore, as far as the coronation crowd was concerned, the suspension of the result from 4 pm. till , the last moment was a masterly. and j emotiopal climax. ! For this event, this spectacular ceremony, hundreds of pounds had been g&en for front seats, and the favoured oocupants found themselves facing a long raised platform, which was in ample enjoyment of that fierce light . which beats upon a throne. Courtiers •and high; "tffieials. ushers, secret service agen# and others flitted among iihe- expectant princesses, while the loyal subjects, «xren to the distant proletariat, wftd perforce stood on the outskirts of the assemblage, discussed the matter or" {succession. It was consoling to kaow that the coronation had been w£i. staged and that, ©ven the remotest subjects were to enjov a clear • Tiew of tbe ceremony.