CORONATION PRICES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 3 May 1911, Page 45

CORONATION PRICES.

LONDON, March 17. THANKS to the Coronation, this will be a golden year for London. An army of visitors amounting in numbers to the population of a great city, will descend on the metropolis in May and June from all quarters of the globe. They will all have money to spend, and they will spend it freely. It is estimated that the Royal and Government expenditure on the Coronation ceremonies and festivities will probably reach £3,000,000. The expenditure from the King's Privy Purse is likely to be no less than £lOO,OOO. Many American multi-millionaires are coming, and they will spend money lavishly. Hotels are asking high prices for their accommodation, but despite this many are now fully booked up. “Several hotels,” said one manager,‘"will

have a turnover considerably in excess o: i£lo,ooo during the term of Coronation rejoicing.” The restaurants and caterers are expecting enormous business. Theatre proprietors look for record takings. Business houses in the West End are already experiencing a ''boom” iu trade.

The highest prices asked for window seats are for the Coronation procession on June 22 from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey. The route is very short, and the available space is small owing to the buildings en route being chiefly Government offices and clubs. For the few private houses overlooking the route, competition is becoming keen. An agent stated yesterday that a price of £3OO per window holding from six to ten persons is being asked in Whitehall. Westminster Hospital, which faces the 'Abbey, is putting up a stand of about 2000 seats, and the price arranged at present is five guineas to twenty guineas per seat, including breakfast and luncheon. Five guineas a seat is about the lowest sum demanded for any of the places to view the Coronation procession. But for the following day. when the Royal progress will traverse a route ■even miles long, the priee for seats at windows and on stands will be much lawer than on toronation Day. Two guineas a seat are asked for windows on the fourth floor in laidgate Hill. Front seats at a first floor window in the Strand are priced at about £4 4/ to £7 7/ each.