Coronation Day at Norfolk island.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 2, 1 August 1911, Page 24

Coronation Day at Norfolk island.

[by a lay wokkeb,.] The morning proved boautifully fine ; we had service as usual at *7 a.m. ; the Litany was read and the Communion Service followed. We sang " Grod Save the King," the last two verses of which had been translated for the occasion. Archdeacon Cowing gave a short address, explaining the significance of the Coronation Service 1o the boys and girls. Later on m the morning there were heavy showers, and so it was too damp for the boys and girls to have their feast of pork and kuinaras m the cricket field. The only public demonstration was the lighting of eight bonfires made on prominent places round the coast and one on the mountain, at 7.30 p.m. The Mission was responsible for one fire, and for several days boys and girls were busy gathering up branches that lay about under the trees. Some pine trees that, were cut down some, months ago furnished fine big logs for the foundation of the fire. Shortly after 7 o'clock we all went out; the fire burnt splendidly ; there was a strong wind blowing that fanned the flames, and they leapt up to a height of 30 feet. . We. could see the bonfire at the Cable Station, and the one on the top of Mount Pitt. The boys had..practised some of their native dances — a Kaga, San (Mstoyal, and Bugotu dance— and these they danced m the light of the fire, ofttimes m: a shower of sparks. The effect was very pretty. -