GENERAL CABLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 471

GENERAL CABLES.

THE KING. The King, in a letter to Mr. Balfour, dated Coronation Day, which is practically a message to the nation, recalls the fact that under the ■will of his' much-beJoved mother, Osborne, on the Isle of Wight, became his private estate. Having spent a considerable part of the year in London and Windsor, and having also strong home ties in the county of Norfolk, which have existed for nearly 40 years, he feels unable to make adequate use of Osborne as a Boyal residence, and offers it as a gift to the nation. As Osborne House is sacred to Queen Victoria’s memory, he wishes that, with the exception of the apartments which were in her personal occupation, the people should always have access to the house ever associated with her beloved name. As regards the rest of the building, he hopes that it will be devoted to national purposes or converted into a convalescent home for officers of the navy and army whose health has been impaired in the service of their country. If necessary. Parliament should be asked to give loyal effect to his wishes. He trusts Hr. Balfour will apply to Parliament in due course. Unanimous goodwill is manifested in the Continental papers. The King specially allowed Mr Bramwell Booth to wear his Salvationist Uniform in the Abbey after the Duke of Norfolk had declared that he was not empowered to recognise it. The newspapers are unanimous in their comments respecting the gift by the King to the nation of O'sborne. They say that no gift would have commended itself more warmly to the King’s mother. Great Coronation rejoicings took place at St. Helena, where the Boers who have sworn allegiance joined in a message to the Sovereign. The King is highly gratified at all the circumstances attending the Coronation, the excellence of the arrangements and the demeanour of the people. The King, in replying to the Portsmouth Corporation’s address, said: On behalf of the Queen and myself, I thank you cordially for your congratulations on our Coronation, my recovery from illness, and the conclusion of peace. I am unfeignedly thankful for the mercies which it has pleased Almighty God to vouchsafe us as a people. I trust that now, happily at peace again with all the world, the recent rejoicings wherein the whole Empire shared may send us forward, each in our station of work, with renewed earnestness for the maintenance and improvement of our noble heritage, and the accomplishment of the ends that become a great people. The “Standard” states that the King will cruise in his yacht round the coasts of Britain, and will visit Cork within the next four weeks. It is His Majesty’s intention to make a two months’.tour of the districts whereof so much has recently been heard in Parliament, and to take every opportunity of studying the state of the Irish peasantry. The “Telegraph” states that the general feeling in Dublin over the King’s visit is one of extreme satisfaction, the conviction being that his sojourn in Ireland will be entirely successful. The Marquis of Lansdowne will entertain the King and Queen at Derreen House, Kenmare, County Kerry. THE NAVAL REVIEW. There was an immense inrush of visitors to the Isle of Wight for the Coronation naval review, and the cliffs were crowded with spectators. Mr Chamberlain, Lord Kitchener, Lord Roberts, Sir E. and Lady Barton, and Mr, Mrs and Miss Seddon, on board the steamer Nigeria, and the other colonials on board the Arcadia and La Plata, arrived at Spithead early and steamed through the fleet.

Admiral C- F. Hotham, on board the Royal Sovereign, commanded 20 battleships, 24 cruisers, 15 gunboats, 10 training ships, 32 torpedo destroyers, and seven torpedo-boats. These formed into four lines, each three and a-half miles long. The arrival of the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, with the King and Queen and Royal party on board at half-past two, was greeted by the manning of the ships, the ships at the same time firing salutes of 21 guns.

The Victoria and Albert, accompanied by the yachts Albert, Osborne and Enchantress steamed east between the gunboats, battleships and cruisers, returning past the few foreign warships, including two Japanese vessels, the Asama and Tokosajo, whose reception was markedly enthusiastic. They then steamed east again past the merchant steamers, including the Ophir, which was crowded with visitors, who had paid 15 guineas per head. Cffieers were given as the Royal yacht passed, the King, with the Queen and Prince of Wales, standing on the bridge in Admiral’s uniform, and saluting each vessel, the whole fleet cheering when the Victoria and Albert anchored near the Royal Sovereign. Later the King received the British and foreign flag officers, while the review ground had been opened for visitors’ inspection, pending the illuminations at night. The illuminations were,' unfortunately, completely spolt by a violent thunderstorm and torrents of Tain. The King and Queen visited Osborne. and on returning to the yacht the King held a naval investiture. THE BOER LEADERS. The steamer Saxon, with Generals Botha, De Wet and De la Rey aboard, reached Porte,mouth from South Africa at ten o’clock on Saturday morning. They were met by Miss Emily Hobhouse, Mr. Abraham Fischer and Dr. Clark (formerly Consul-General for Englanl in the South African Republic). There was a tremendous concourse of people, who cheered lustily. Upon landing all three accepted the invitation to witness the Coronation naval review, but later on, after they had consulted with Fischer, they refused the invitation. The Boer visitors went on board the steamer Nigeria, where Viscount Kitchener introduced them to Lord Roberts and Mr. Chamberlain. The Boer leaders afterwards entrained for London, and were received with wild enthusiasm at Waterloo station. The crowd mobbed the Boer generals’ saloon carriage at the Waterloo station, crying out, “Good old De Wet!” “Brave soldiers!” “We’re all united!” THE PREMIERS IN ENGLAND. On Wednesday morning last the King, accompanied by Sir F. Treves, in the morning drove in a closed carriage to the Royal College of Surgeons, and in the afternoon presented the colonial Premiers and their wives with gold Coronation medals. Mr. Seddon congratulated His Majesty on his recovery, and presented the New Zealand Executive’s illuminated , address, a greenstone gold casket from his (the Premier’s) constituents in Westland, also a model in ornamental wood and greenstone of a Maori carved pataka (storehouse), the illuminated address of the Maori tribes of New Zealand, and also an address in Maori from Mahuta (on behalf of the Waikato natives). The King admired the gifts, and expressed his pleasure at receiving such acceptable reminders from New Zealand. He considered the model of the pataka unique, and said replies would be sent to the donors of the addresses. His Majesty had a long conversation with Mr. Seddon, and complimented him on the appearance of the New Zealand soldiers, remarking that they had fought very well in South

Africa. He admired the physique of the Maoris.

The King and Queen and the Prince of Wales expressed their pleasure at Mrs. Seddou’s recovery. The Prince of Wales made many inquiries with regard to New Zealand, which, he said, was the most unique and interesting of the colonies, and he was always speaking about it. After receiving the colonial Premiers the King, attired in uniform and looking well, in the presence of the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Indian princes, colonial Premiers, Mr. Chamberlain, Lord Carrington, Lord Roberts and Viscount Kitchener, reviewed 1900 colonial troopers, including 16 Atistralian officers and 219 men, six New Zealand officers and 127 men, one Fijian officer and 20 men.

His Majesty allowed the recipients on retiming to the ranks to lounge and sit on the grass and light their pipes as if “off-saddle” on the veldt. When the parade was resumed a Royal selute was given, and cheers for the King. His Majesty then briefly addressed the troops.

Ho said it gave him great pleasure to see the members of contingents from his dominions beyond the sea, and to have an opportunity of expressing his high appreciation of their patriotism, and of the way they had distinguished themselves in South Africa. The service they had rendered to the Motherland would never be forgotten by liim. It would cement more firmly than ever the union of the distant colonies and the other parts of the Empire. Owing to his illness their stay had been prolonged, but he hoped they had derived pleasure from their visits to various parts of the land of their ancestors. He added, “God bless you all.”

At the conclusion of the parade the colonials gave hearty cheers for the King, who testified his satisfaction -t the parade.

The King showed no sign of lassitude, and went lightly up the steps of the Palace.

Mr Seddon presented General Ba-dan-Poweß’s mother, at the general’s

request, with a magnificent solid gold salver, subscribed for by the publie service of New Zealand, in recognition of the defence of Mafeking. He eulogised the general, and said he was confident he would preserve law and order in South Africa.

Sir E. Barton, in a speeoii, said the more the Empire’s self-governing units understood each other the less frequent would the prospect be of their aiming too high. Tbe conferences must ascertain to what extent the opinion of the units coincided, and follow the lines of agreement. Mr Seddon said he did not agree with Sir E. Barton’s remark th t it would be unwise to quicken th pace of the units. The colonies hud shown the Motherland that she was going too slowly. English farmers and the colonies were equally interested in retaining England as their market, and in seeing that the additional supplies needed were secured from within the Empire rather than from outside.

The Imperil Trade Defence League has presented Mr Seddon with an illuminated address expressive of its admiration of his patriotic efforts. Mr Seddon, in his reply, said he thought fair trade and preferential treatment between the colonies and the Motherland the right lines to go upon. Although he was not pessimistic he anticipated there would shortly bo trade depression, and then the advantages o f trade preference would d'asised.