CORONATION DAY IN THE DOMINION.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 26, 28 June 1911, Page 4

CORONATION DAY IN THE DOMINION.

Auckland. The Coronation celebrations in Auckland were favoured with very good weather, considering the time of the year, for, though rain threatened all day, it held off till evening. The formal part of the day’s celebrations included thanksgiving services in the various places of worship, a military church parade, followed by a review and march past in the Domain, and at noon a royal salute of 101 guns was fired from the Albert Park by the “A” Battery. After the military review in the Domain the Mayor and City Council entertained the veterans at luncheon, while the cadets and boy scouts, who participated in the review, were marched to the camping ground, where luncheon was served out to them before the disperse. In the evening the city was brilliantly illuminated.

Onehunga. At Onehunga School on Wednesday the children assembled, and addresses were given by the Mayor, Rev. J. H. MacKenzie, and Mr. R. D. Stewart (Inspector), who impressed on the children the duty of loyalty, and said the watchword of their lives should be duty and service. The cadets paraded, and sang, “God Save the King,” after which Coronation medals were distributed to the children, and the cadets marched to church parade.

Dargaville. Coronation celebrations were fittingly observed at Dargaville, and in the morning a service was held at the Anglican Church, at which Nonconformist ministers and their congregations attended. A procession took place in the afternoon, and the Mayor gave an address. Coronation medals were presented to 300 children, who were afterwards entertained to tea.

Tanranga. At Tanranga a procession of territorials, veterans, school cadets, fire brigade and band took place. The Borough Council has decided to erect a Coronation memorial fire station, and the foundation stone was laid by the Mayor (Rev. Canon Jordan).

Waihi. The territorials and school cadets paraded at Waihi in honour of the Coronation, and attended divine service afi St. John's Anglican Church. Tire post! office was decorated for the occasion, and an illuminated portrait of the King was shown.

Hamilton. A general holiday was observed ini Hamilton on Thursday, and the buildings were gaily decorated in honour of the event. Services were held in the various churches, and the Anglican service was attended by the public school cadets and boy scouts.

Cambridge. At Cambridge the Town Hall, library, and. post ofliil were illuminated with

transparencies of the King and Queen. Special services were held in the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. The children of the district were entertained at a picture show in the town hall.

Pakuranga. 'At the Pakuranga School on Thursday the scholars saluted the flag and heartily sang the stirring Coronation song, “The King,” and the National Anthem. A "Coronation” oak was planted in the playground close to a shapely tree planted in August, 1902, to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward VII.

Huntly. At Huntly the Presbyterians and held a united service in the forenoon, and the Anglicans in the afternoon. The local Freemasons’ Lodge celebrated the occasion with a Masonic ball.

Wkzngarei. There was a liberal display of flags and (bunting here in honour of the Coronation, the Post Office being especially decorated and illuminated. At noon a procession marched from the Drill Hall ito Weaver’s Park to hear the proclamation. The procession was headed by the Municipal Brass Band, and comprised veterans, mounted troops, infantry, senior and junior cadets, Salvation Army, iFire Brigade, Friendly Societies (led by the Druids with a special commemoration banner), the Mayor and Borough Councillors, members of the County Council, Harbour Board, and other local bodies. Lieut.-Colonel Mackesy was in charge of the procession, Major ClarkeWalker acting as marshal. On arrival at the Park a square was formed, and the gathering was addressed by the Mayor (Mr. T. H. Steadman), after which the National Anthem was sung. Mr. F. Mander, M.P., and Mr. E. C. Purdie also addressed those present. The ceremony concluded with the distribution of medals and lollies to school children. In the evening a torchlight procession of the band and Friendly Societies in costume completed the Coronation celebrations, which were favoured With fine weather.

Christchurch. Christchurch city was gaily decorated. A royal salute was fired, and on all hands were to be found evidences of a great festival. School children, on way to their parade, marched through the City proud in possession of Coronation medals and small flags. Smaller functions, such as the laying of foundation stones, the planting of Coronation oaks, and the turning of the first sod of the Coronation baths, took place. United services of rejoicing were held, and later in the day various processions formed up and marched to Hagley Park, where short speeches were given. Rain then commenced to fall heavily, and the Coronation procession was shorn of much of its glory. There was a large turnout of territorials, but the military display had to be abandoned on account of the rain. A torch-light processlion, which was to have been held in the evening, and a display by the fire brigade in Victoria Square, were also abandoned. Dunedin. At Dunedin the weather was unfavourable, heavy showers falling at frequent intervals. Services were held in

several churches, and were largely attended. Subsequently a procession formed at the Octagon and proceeded to the Ova! in the presence of a very large crow’d. At the conclusion of the procession a salute was fired by the military. Notwithstanding the inclement weather in the evening the streets w’ere crow-ded with people viewing the illuminations on a large number of public buildings and business premises. A patriotic concert was held in the Garrison Hall.

Palmerston North. At Palmerston North the celebrations were somewhat marred by heavy rain. The Territorials marched to the Opera House in the morning, where a patriotic address was delivered by the Mayor and ministers of religion, 'the proceedings being full of enthusiasm. In the evening a bonfire was lit in the Square, and a display of fireworks was made. A big patriotic demonstration, under the aus" pices of the local branch of the Overseas Club and Navy League, was held at the Opera House in the evening, in which 250 children took part. The town was gay with bunting, and illuminated.

Masterton. Fine weather prevailed in Masterton. A procession of military, friendly societies, fire brigades, and the public proceeded to the old show grounds, where the flag was unfurled and saluted. Patriotic speeches were made by Mr. Hogg, M.P., and the Mayor. In the evening there was a torchlight procession. New Plymouth. At New Plymouth, after the usual celebrations, the foundation-stone was laid of King George’s Hall, to be erected for the Agricultural Society. Gisborne. At Gisborne the celebrations consisted of a monster procession and a review of Territorials, patriotic speeches being made by leading citizens. In the evening the whole town was brilliantly illuminated, and tremendous crowds in the streets watched an excellent display of fireworks from the river bank. The weather kept beautifully fine till about 9 p.m., when rain fell in torrents.

A Plea for Abolition of Hanging.

Referring to the execution of Kaka, the “Lyttelton Times” says:— “On the scaffold yesterday morning the young Maori Talii Kaka did all a brave man could do to atone for his terrible crime. The fortitude with which he paid the dread penalty demanded by the law must compel admiration from all of us, even when we remember the circumstances in which he was placed. His pathetic message to the world as he stood on the brink of the grave. “I hope I am the last man to be hanged,” ought to inspire the good people who pleaded up to the last moment for his reprieve to such an agitation for the abolition of capital punishment that the unhappy lad will not have died in vain. Public feeling has long been in revolt against the barbaric doctrine of “a life for a life,” and, now that the sacrifice of this lad has given it shape anil concentration, leaders of the reform must not wait for another tragedy to horrify them into action.”

Our Citizen Army. General Godley wu greatly pleased with the appearance of the cadets at the Coronation review and with the troops generally, who, he told his hearers at a social function, would have done credit to regulars in many countries. By the time of the next review he expected to have a display quite equal to anything at Home. Speaking of what the staff had so far done, he said they had secured the thirty thousand men they required, but there were several thousand still unregistered. He was especially glad that so many of the old volunteers wished to continue in the ranks. After men had done territorial and reserve service, the Department wanted them to join rifle clubs until they were 55 years of age. At firsrt 45 was proposed, but men at that age were so ridiculously young in this country that the limit was extended. Medical examination was the next thing, but it would not be severe, and only what the doctors describe as “gross lesion,” would disqualify, because they wanted to train as many as possible. New up-to-date guns were now leaving Home. Horses had been purchased, and were being trained. The net results would be that, whereas New Zealand had been paying £3IB,(KM) per annum for an indifferent army of 15.000 men, with no equipment worth speaking of, with no army service corps, and with obsolete guns, for £400.000 they would now get an army of thirty thousand men prepared to take the field. In every respect General Godlev expressed great pleasure at the cordial support he had received everywhere in the Dominion. The number of those registered for military training under the Defence Act up to the end of the registration period, June 17, is as follows: — Auckland 14,279 Canterbury 13,377 Otago 12,084 Wellington 17,632 Total 57,372 In addition to these there are 2862 in the Territorial Force desirous of continuing service, of whom 720 are in Auckland.

The Auckland total is made up as follows:—Now serving under 21 years, 1643; registered for enrolment (18 to’ 21 years), 5772; senior eadets, ineluding those serving, 68G4. It is estimated that there are 30,000 youths, ages 18 to 21, 29,665: eadets, ages 14 to 18, who have registered, and it is estimated there are aproximatelv 41,000 of those ages. In the Cook Group, According to reports from Rarotonga published by the Dominion, the. Chief Justice (Sir Robert Stout) on arrival, was waited on a denotation from the Federcl Council, and arikis, who extended customary greeting, to which Sir Robert Stout briefly responded. The day after Sir Robert Stout’s arrival Dr. Dawson, Dr. Hosking, and ex-Inspeetor Rev-

muds received notifications from him of his appointment, and askiug them for any further information they might have. Notices were also despatched to other parties interested, and a special Gazette, bearing on the scope of the inquiry, was issued in English and Maori. Drs. Dawson and Husking and ex in- <• - tor Reynolds interviewed Sir Robert Stout. The Chief Justice ref.i-ed a .m.ssion to the press, stating that in accordance with instructions the proceedin'* were to be in camera. Talking witli a reporter later, the complainants stated that tliei nished the inquiry to be public, an I to'have evidence taken on oath, Dr. Masking saying that they had not a veri hi.'h'opi'ni in of the veracity of a few of the white inhabitants of the island. Sir Ito .ert Stout told them that he could get more out of witnesses in private than in publac, and also that he could give no assurance that the report would be published. Dr. Hosking said the natives Ind asked him if Sir Robert Stout would heir their land troubles, and the Chief Justice had

replied that these must be heard by tbe Native Titles Court. Two days later Drs. Dawson and Hosking and ex-inspector Reynolds separately wrote to Sir Robert Stout declining to have anything to do with a private inquiry. Ex-Inspector Reynolds, in his letter, remarked on his dismissal, Which occurred only two. days after the Arrival of the mail with Hansard, containing a discussion of the relations between the Commissioner and himself, lie enclosed also a copy of testimonials signed by the whole of the European population, with one exception. Before the mail left, Reynolds, acting on the advr.e of his friends, had decided to lay his case before Sir Robert .Stout. This ease is purely a Departmental one, and not connected with the complaints of Drs. Ilosking and Dawson. The case Was proceeding when the mail left. Written application by a pressman for admission to the inquiry elicited from Sir Robert Stout a reply confirming the previous refusal, on the'ground that he believed that the inquiry, to be efficient, must be held in private. A petition has been presented to Sir R. Stout, signed by the majority of white residents, asking him to convey to the Government the petitioners' desire that Dr. Dawson be reappointed to the medieal staff. Sir Robert Stout promised to bring the matter under the notice of the Government. A petition is being circulated asking for the removal of” Mr. Ewan Smith, Resident Commissioner, from the various positions he now holds, on the grounds that he is deficient in the necessary qualifications for the position, his lack of legal knowledge, and his not attempting to make himself familiar with the native customs and language. They ask that the offices of Resident Commissioner and magistrate .be held by different individuals, and, finally, that a commission of inquiry, differently empowered and constituted, lx? appointed at an early date to investigate the complaints against the administration. Such sittings of the Commission, they say, should be open to Ahe press and the public. The Wigmore murder trial was set down for hearing on June 16. Some difficulty is anticipated in selecting a jury, as only about 30 whites are available, and of those some are already exempted from service, and others are connected directly or indirectly with the ease. Mr. Met eagli. of Auckland, appears for the accused.

On Quail Island. Tlie suggestion tha t an inquiry -should bo held into the complaints of the lepers stationed on Q-ua.il Island has not yet elicited any reply from the Minister to whom it was addressed, but it is apparent that an inquiry will have to take place as to the degree of liberty that the hqwts should , enjoy in the.ir ,movements on the island. A number of stock owners-have approached Mr.. Laurens.on, member for Lyttelton, in regard to the dangers that may be run by stock quarantined on the island, and he will endeavour to' interview the Hon. T. Mackenzie. Minister of Agriculture, on the subject at the earliest opportunity, ami discuss the matter in all its bearings. Mr. Lhiirenson informed a •'Timos” reportin' recently that no further developments had taken place in the matter. The leper patients, ho Baid, were stationed in huts in a pine wood, on one corner of the island, and the chief objection urged against their presence there whs the fact that they had liberty to roam over the island where the stock was quarantined. Mr. Laurenson remarked that he wished particularly to say that the impression abroad concerning the treatment of the patients was a wrong one. They had their own stores. of tea. sugar, butter, jam, and bread, and were at liberty to get small meals for themselves whenever they liked, in addition to the set meals. The patients themselves were said to have complained that they could not get such delicacies as sardines, but the medieal officer w ho, by the way, was one of the most capable and conscientious in New Zealand, and above all things kind to the patients, had prohibited the supply of canned food of any description, and also prohibited the use of pickles and sauces. He could say from personal knowledge that kinder-hearted people than the caretaker and his wife could not Ire found, and Mrs. Thomas, besides being a capable cook, was a most hospitable woman. The life of the patients was necessarily lonely and monotonous, ftnd they must feel the environment as a severe punishment, but everything possible was being done to mitigate the IkardueM of their lot.

Gaiety and Easy Living. “There was a time,** remarked Mr. Kettle at the S.M. Court last week .luring the hearing of a maintenance case, “when women were willing to go into the baekblocks with their husbands, and that is how the homes were carved out of the bush by the early settlors; but lam sorry to say that nowadays too many of them like to stay in town where there is plenty of gaiety and more easy living. Thank God, there are still some women who will go to the baekblocks with their husbands and that is why the country is progressing; but I am sure that some of the wives who come before me to ask for maintenance do not care to face hard living with husbands in the country. In this particular ease the wife apparently thinks it more comfortable living at home with her mother in town than with her husband in the baekblocks.” The ease which called for these remarks was one in which the wife asked for a maintenance order for herself and one child, and admitted that her husband did not drink, gamble, or speculate, neither did she plead cruelty, but alleged that he had several times left to go to work jn the country. The busband, on his part, said he had a daughter by a former wife whom he was maintaining, and that he was willing to make a home for his wife. The wife, however, declined to live with him again, and finally the magistrate adjourned the case sine die, for the wife’s solicitor to try and arrange for the acceptance by consent of an offer made by the husband of 15/ per week. The wife promptly said that she could not live on that sum. and his Worship suggested that she might also be able to earn something towards keeping her child.

Coronation and Education. * . Industries week in Auckland this year has been much in the -nature of a double event, in that it has been contemporaneous with Coronation week. In the circumstances attention has been directed more widely to Empire celebrations than to local industries, to festive holidays and gala display than to placing the made-in-New-Zealand banner in the forefront” of the commercial campaign; Nevertheless the latter has not been neglected; People who went out merely to coronate have found, on reviewing their overnight sensations, that unconsciously they have also been to some extent educated. Given pause by the Haunting flags, the fystooned bunting and the flashing lights that cried aloud from the illumined buildings and windows’, they have been drawn to inspect the details of the discplays, and, it Was here'that the “industries" week” spetion of the double event got: ill its fine Work. Framed in a brilliant coronation setting, it .occupied the middle of the picture in,many, of the sliop windows, and ,Wgs‘ filled in with tricky, insinuating details which appeal to The universal appetifej for' things which are good. ’ The style, finish,‘quality and price of Hie exhibited products of New Zealand industries, particularly in the boot, -clothing ami woodwork lines, are such as are calculated to commend the goods to public opinion, apart from any prejudice, for. or against, things turned out on the landward side of our tariff protection fence. It is not every day that such goods are put on the front shelves of our commercial emporiums, hence the fact that, shoppers have hitherto been in some part ignorant that New Zealand made goods in many cases possess all the spectacular quality of, say, the American and German manufactures, added to the solidity alleged by tradition to be an integral part of the good old British-made boot. Another eye-opener is the comparatively large growth of New Zealand industries, which is effectively advertised bv a striking diagram on the shop-front of Messrs. Hardie Bros, in Queen-street. That there are in the Dominion 1239 factories, employing 12.528 workers, and paying an anual wages bill of £964.033. is scarcely the sort of mat-ter-of-course information that every man in the street has. on the tip of his tongue, and coming on the top of the excellent displays of the superior class of goods those 12,500 workers turn out in earning their .£960.000, it should help along the argument that New Zealand industries are worth giving a chance to. The business people are to be commended for the manner in which they have assisted industries week to success, and they should find their reward in increased sales which may this year send the paybill of the New Zealand factory wageearners up to the full million. On the whole, the Auckland Industries week, which closes on Saturday, has been a success.

Native Affairs. On Tuesday Mr. F. Waldegrave (Undersecretary for Justice) and Te Heuheu Tukino (of the Taupo district) delivered a message to the natives of the Cook Islands, expressing sympathy with the chiefs and people from his Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. The Government of New Zealand, Mr. Waldegrave said, wished to help them and to do everything in its power- for them, and so preserve their race. The Chief Justice or himself would hear anything they had to say, and would forward their wishes to the Government. When they had gone away the Resident Commissioner would listen to any representations they desired to make. There might be people who would wish to sow dissension between them and the parent government. His advice to them was not to listen to these people for they would do no good. Mr. Waldegrave introduced Te Heuheu Tukiino, an ariki of New Zealand, who conveyed a message from the Maoris of New Zealand. Te Heuheu addressed the gathering in Maori. He exhorted the natives to give up orange beer, and not to part with their land, for if they did how would they be able to feed their children? He knew what he was talking about, for he was a landowner himself;

Several of the Maoris then replied. They expressed their appreciation of the messages sent by- the Governor and Government of New Zealand, and it was a source of pleasure to them to know that they were not forgotten. They were very glad to hear Te Heuheu’s words, for they were good words. They had listened to all that had been said, and intended laying before the representatives of the New Zealand Government their wishes and desires. Terei, one of the speakers, said that Col. Gudgeon had left them in peace, and that they had always had peace during Captain Smith’s time., Just prior to the foregoing the Federal Council held a meeting, at which Sir Robert Stout and Mr. Waldegrave were present, and although the proceedings were private, it is understood that the Arikis. expressed their appreciation of the present visits and their entire satisfaction with the administration. They added that theer were matters they wished to discuss with the representatives of the New Zealand Government, but these were in connection with education and their general welfare only. Mr. Waldegrave, in the course of a short interview, said that he did not think it wise to anticipate, but up to the present there had been no complaints from th natives concerning the administration.

Fire on the Victoria. An outbreak of fire occurred on the s.s. Victoria’s’ No. 1 hold during her passage from Lyttelton to Wellington. The hatches were battened down, and tile fire was subsequently extinguished bv the Harbour Board’s chemical engine. 'The outbreak started in the lower hold against the bulkhead on the port side, amongst some chaff and potatoes. All the- cargo has been discharged. About twenty tons was damaged by heat and smoke, but the steamer suffered no structural injury. The damaged produce was shipped in the South for Auckland.

Sensational Suicide.

The mystery attaching to the disappearance of Mr. J. M. Gibbons, tutor to Mr. A. Sutherland, of Fordell, has been cleared up. Some distance away from the house the police found a quantity of smouldering wood, which proved to have been a funeral pyre, for in the ashes were found the skeleton of a man and the remains of a razor. In a note which the deceased left in the house he had intimated his intention of committing suicide. He indicated that he would set fire to a stack of manuka, throw himself on it, and cut his throat, details being given of the artery he would sever. Deceased added an apology to the owner of the manuka for destroying his wood. The stack referred to contained several cords.