DELHI DURBAR.

Waikato Times, Issue 12156, 14 December 1911, Page 5

DELHI DURBAR.

FEAST OF COLOUR. IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. IMMENSE ATTENDANCE. WELCOME BY TROOPS. (Per Press Association—Copyright. (.Received Dec. 13, 10.10 p.m.) DELHI, Dec. 13. The Durbar amphitheatre is five-fold the size of the Coliseum at. Rome, forming two semi-circles, th<? larger being uncovired and surrouuded by a semi-circular mound. It was crowded with fifty thousand of the populace, including thousands of school children, each section of which is distinguished by colored head gear. The smaller semi-circle was roofed, with the.Durbar Shamiana, on two fronts and the centre was surrounded by 12,000, chiefly officials in Uniforms The English visitors wore Court dres6. and the ladies brilliant toilettes. Closely latticed enclosures were erected behind for the wives of the princes. Just before the commencement the veterans, including one hundred who participated in the mutiny, marched into the arena, the bands -playing " See the Conquering Hero Comfs." Troops roared a welcome. At eleven o'clock the skirling of jr> e p pes announced the coming of the Watch to guard the Shamlana, the Fifty Third Sikhs occupying a position e-n the other side. KING AND QUEEN ARRIVE. Then Lord and Lady Hardinge and twelve thousand spectators rose and remainod standing until at 11.30 a salute of 101 guns announced the arrival of Their Majesties. A battery of artillery swept round the ring, the Tenth Hussars and the Viceroy's scarlet clad body guard of gigantic Sikhs, and the Lancers followed in procession and circled th e amphitheatre. Their Miajesties alighted at the Shamiana. The King wore his Coronation robe and surcoat similar to the Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Queen wore a< white drees, with purple velvet robe, and was attended by a troop of pages of princely blood, their dresses being white and blue. The salute of guns ended as Their Majesties seated themselves on the Thrones in the Shamiaiia.

durbar opens. The Durbar was opemad with a flourish of trumpets, and the low mutter of the drums swelled like thunder. The King expressed his pleasure at being in India and heartfelt satisfaction at the peoples' love and Imperial devotion for India's welfare! The oeremonv of offering • homage follawtd. Lord Hardinjre and Sir Otto Creagti lead the members of the Viceroy's Council. PROCESSION OF PRINCES. The Nizan of Hyderabad and the Gaekv\';;r of Baroda led the procession of princes. The Mysore, Kashmir, Kaipur and Rajput princ-es, folio wed, most of them wearing roi-es of honor of cloth of gold. There were many rotx's with ; riceless pearls hanging in festoons, and necklets of diamonds.' j Emeralds sparkled in the head dresses and rubies on the sword hilts. The fnassed hands meanwhile played soft music. The Begum of Bhopal wore a dazzling ro<be, richly embroiderer v; fh gold, and was heavily veiled. RECEPTION AND HOMAGE. The great reception and bon :. :e lasted forty minutes, and ended v. ;.h salaams fran the rugged north frontier and Arabian desert chieftains. Their Majesties rose tamid the strains of the Coronation March, and walked hand in hand up the broad raised way, 150 yards, to the lofty dais, placed on marble steps, twenty feet at ove the ground. The princely train bearers followed, also attendants bearing symbols of the Imperial estates, with scarlet um! rellas, fan and mace. A GOLDEN THRONE. Received Dec. 13, 11.30 p.m.) DELHI, Dec. 13. Upon reaching the golden (thrones (beneath a golden dome Their Majesties stood a minute to be crowned and robed, facing 20,000 . troops at the foot of the dais, with their glinting scabbards and fluttering penaons. Fifty thousand of the populace were gathered beyond, extending in a 9weep of half a mile upon a semi-circular mound. Lord Hardinge, Earl Crewe and Their Majesties' suites standing on a lower platform of the dias. Twelve British and twelve Indian trumpeters, on white horses, rode into the central «avenue and blew a stirring fanfare from silver trumpets at the fo 0 t of |the flasstafl, whence the Royal Standard fluttered.

PROCLAMATION READ.. General Peyton, the Delhi Herald, standing in the stirrnps read the Proclamation announcing tihe London Coronation. The assistant herald repeated this in Hindoo. Silver trumpets again sounded ar.d the massed 1-and numbering 1600 played the National Anthem. One hundred and one gams were fired in salvoes, the troops outside firing a feu-de-joi. Lord Hardinge then read the Proclamation except that portion with reference to Bengal ai»d Delhi. CHEERS FOR THE KING. This part of the ceremony ended with the Herald calling three cheers for the King and Emperor, the concourse of 100,000 responding.

Their Majesties then returned to tike Shatniana. DECLARATION OF THE CAPITAL. The King, rising unexpectedly, announced the creation of Delhi as the capital. The suddenness and unexpectedness of the disclosure held all spellbound. There was momentary silence, and then the audience were afire with enthusiasm and Indian cheers. The ceremony closed with tih>e National Anthem and final salutes. The King throughout, was calm and dignified, and displayed an iron resolution fitting the Oriental ceremony. The State banquet was held in the evening to Lord Hardinge, the Governors and princes. Afterwards there was a reception of four thousand. The investiture took place in a tent. FOOD FOR THE HUNGRY. BOMBAY, Dec. 13. Twenty thousand poor congregated at the sea front. Food a ntd clothes were distributed. Many saints and ascetics were present. Similar scenes occurred in many other districts, the distribution of food and clothing being the leading features of the celebrations. KING'S RECEPTION. PRESENTATION TO THE QUEEN. DELHI, Dec. 13. There were 1500 people at the King's reception. While t&o King wa« receiving the officers the Queen held a reception at which. tine re were over 100 leading princesses, who preaanted her with a magnificent emerald 'brooch. The Queem thanked them individually oflid convftfsed with her guests for two hours. The prinneeaes wore dpeases arud jewels. PEOPLE'S FETE. UNPRECEDENTED INCIDENT.

Ths people's fete was unequalled ia the city's history. To-day three great processions of Hindus, Mahommedians aftd Sikhs who offered prayers for long life and happiness for Thedr Majesties, were held. Sixteen ihusodrad leaders of different sects offered combined prayer on the spot whore Theiz Majesties appeared lota*. The I ncwlent is unprecedented in the taostory of India. CHANGEB CRITICISED. CALCUTTA, Dec. 13. Tbo newspaper The Englishman strongly criticises the changes end declares that they recall the extravagances 0 f the Mongul regimel Bengali papers rejoice ia the revocation of the partition af Renayal. BRITISH PRESS OPINcON. LONDON, Dec. 13. Excepting a few Conservative papers the Press generally is favorable to the Indian changes. The Radical Press is enthusiastic and says that the change even surpasses the South African' constitution. AN ASSASSINATION. CALCUTTA, Dec. 13. Monomohun Ghose, a police inspector, was assassinated at Barisa, in Bengal. The assassin escaped. SPECIAL DURBAR AT ADEN. (Received Dec. 13, 10.10 p.m.) ADEN, Dec. 13. A special Durbar was convened for the proclamation of the Coronation. The entire European and native communities were present.