CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue VIII, 23 August 1902, Page 496

CHRISTCHURCH.

Dear Bee, August 13. There has only been one excitement this week, the Coronation, and that has been attended with not a little anxiety; it was almost with an audible sigh of relief the people heard the message of the accomplishment of the ceremony read out in some of our churches. Our rejoicings commenced on Friday with a gigantic gathering of children, some 71)00 assembling at the Canterbury Hall and being refreshed, entertained, and each child carrying oft’ a souvenir box of sweets. To Mr and Mrs George Deans, Miss Olive Lemton and others of Dix’s Company, the children owe a large part of their afternoon’s pleasure, while these artists admit they never enjoyed playing to an audience more. The children were addressed by His Worship the Mayor (Mr F. H. Wigram), Bishops Julius and Grimes, the former almost striking the children aghast by saying that he was once “a naughty little 1 boy at school.” Mr and Mrs Deans have since received from the children’s committee a pleasing remembrance of the part they took in the celebration in the shape of a silver-mounted cane walk-ing-stick for Mr Deans and silvermounted music-case for Mrs Deans, •both suitably inscribed. The Cathedral bells woke us at six

o’clock on the great day to a flue morning, which, unfortunately, did not last out until all the proceedings terminated. The day was crammed full of doings, one of the most enjoyable being the review at Hagley Park and march past, saluting the Royal Standard, the Artillery firing the salute of one hundred and one guns at noon. The Mayor and Mrs Wigram will have cause to remember Coronation Day, for function followed function until they must have been literally worn out. The new Catholic Cathedral was their first care, where Mr Wigram laid the foundation-stone of the Coronation column. After the review a ‘"King Edward Oak"’ was planted by Mrs Wigram in the park, and a “Queen Alexandra Oak’’ by the Mayor for the friendly societies. A great procession took place in the afternoon, when the Mayor, accompanied by Mrs Wigram, addressed the assembled multitude in Victoriasquare from the rotunda. There is one great charm about the speeches from our Mayor—he does not keep you for half-an-hour straining to bear things that do not particularly interest you; he is short and to the point, but speech after speech in one day must be firing even to a veteran. Beside all the public part, Mrs Wigram had kindly provided a tea for poor children, thus giving these little ones a day to remember the crowning of Edward VII. A number of friends assisted Mrs Wigram at the tea, amongst whom were Mrs R. D. Thomas and Miss Thomas, Mrs Reece and her daughter, a"hd others. The Mayor and Mayoress of Sydenham (Mr and Mrs J. B. Sim), had the unveiling of a Coronation lamp and planting an oak for their borough. The Mayor and Mayoress of St. Albans (Mr and Mrs Davey) laid the foundation-stone of the new fire brigade station in their borough, while numbers of trees were planted at schools and churches. And then came a very watery wind up to it all in a sudden storm from the south, drenching those who ventured out in a very short time, and there were

hundreds to whom it is impossible to resist fireworks. —

Coronation services were held in all the churches, and it was announced first at the Cathedral that the great ceremony was really over. All our society doings are to be this week, races, Savage Club Ladies’ Evening, and Coronation Ball. Mrs J. Williams’ dance at the Art Gallery this week has had to be postponed owing to the death of her sister.

DOLLY VALE.