THE NEWS IN THE DOMINION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 812, 9 May 1910, Page 5

THE NEWS IN THE DOMINION.

j PROFOUND SORROW. i ..... t j•' , TOKENS OF RESPECT AND SYMPATHY. 1 OFFICIAL ARRANGEMENTS.

news of the King's death hecame known to the general public between 12.40 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Satur-j day, just as the crowds wore trooping! homeward to onjoy the week-end suspension of labour. There is no question that the entire community received a severe shook. It seemed to take some time for the hurrying crowds to realise that Edward tho Peacemaker had passed away. It was hard to realise that this great man among kings had gone. It was all so sudden. In Thursday morning's cables there was no mention of the King's condition at all, and on Friday it was.recorded that he "kissed hands" with . Baron Islington, New Zealand's new Governor. Then on Satnrday came the news that the King was dead. Tho announcement at once made an impression on the people in the street. The crowds moved along less hurriedly, and it was with grave,.serious faces that knots gathered along the sidewalks to discuss the crisis in our national. life. . Soon, after the news was announced the Mayor of Wellington.issued, a public request that .all business should be suspended between 2 p.m. and- 6 p.m., as far as possible, and it was to the credit of our business community that most of those who heard of this request at once closed their doors. The hotels suspended business between the hours mentioned, and sports of all kinds were entirely suspended. : , On confirmation of. the news being received the great hour bell of the General Post Office clock tolled a knell, and most of the church bells did likewise. ! As the result of the suspension of the usual Saturday afternoon sports and business tho streets of the city proper were thronged with sober, grave-faced men, discussing the situation as they waited for further particulars. Flags were flown at half-mast from most of the public and many private buildings in mid-city, and the shipping in port put on nautical mourning. In a number of instances the shop windows were dressed in mourning, purple, the mourning colour for Royalty, predominating in the drapings. . THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. CABLEGRAM FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE. ' . NEW ZEALAND'S PROFOUND •GRIEF. (By TeleEnaph— Press Association.) Dunedin, May 8. ; The message to the Prime Minister announcing the King's death reached him from his Excellency the Governor in these terms:— N "It is with deep sorrow that the . Government transmits the follow- ; ing telegram received to-day from the Secretary of State for the Col- ; onies:—'May 6.—Profoundly re:;;gret to-inform you that. his Maj- ; esty the King passed'away at 11:45 p.m. to-day.'—(Signed) Plunket." The Prime Minister's reply was as follows:—. "His Excellency tho Governor, Palmerston North.—The Prime Minister presents his' compliments and desires his .Excellency. to request the Secretary of State for the Colonies to convey to Queen Alexandra ' and the members of the Royal Family the profound grief of tho Government and people of New Zealand at the death of his late Majesty—J. G. Ward." : Tho Prime Minister had intended to spend part of the week-end at the! 31nff, but on learning of the sad intel-l ligenee he cancelled : this arrangement,! as well as other engagements, including his visit to Central Otago and the 'West Coast, and at once made preparations! for departure to Wellington, whero he will arrive on Monday morning. In view of the numerous anxious inquiries from telegraph offices throughout the Dominion on Saturday afternoon, Sir Joseph Ward sent the following telegram to all officers in charge:— "In consequence of the reported illness of the King, the public throughout the Dominion will be anxious for further. information, and I desire you to intimate to ' them the sad news of his Majesty's death. The loss to the world at large is one that cannot be' estimated, as King Edward throughout his reign has been recognised as one . of the greatest factors; in helping to preserve the peaco of nations. Our great monarch stood out as one of the greatest in the world's history, and it is something to remember that his reign was characterised by the uniquo and gratifying distinction that throughout that period Great Britain has been at peace with all other nations.— > (Signed) J. G. Ward." Many of the local bodies throughout the Dominion having inquired during the afternoon as to the proper steps to take consequent on tho King's death, Sir Joseph Ward on Saturday evening dispatched the following telegrams to the Mayors and Chairmen of all local bodies: — \ "As a number of inquiries were made as to what cerynonial is required in connection with the King's death, I desire to advise you that I will telegraph' you fully on Monday from Wellington as to the proper procedure to follow." ACTION BY GOVERNMENT. MEETING OF CABINET. TELEGRAM FROM THE PREMIER On Saturday afternoon the Primt Minister (Sir Josepli Ward), who wai then at Invercargill, received an official message from his Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket) confirming th( sad news of his Majesty's death, and She forthwith seht out tho following \ urgent telegram: 'j I regret to announce that 1 havn % just (2.45 p.m.) received an official $ cablo through his Excellency tho U Governor confirming th'e sad , news r | of tho death of his Majesty tho ;| King. ' .|. A meoting of Cabinet had proviouslj Igbeen called for 2.30 p.m. on Saturday -if There were present: The Hons. J. Car i|roll, J. A. Millar, R. M'Konzio, and A As no official announcomom >;?■ -if his Majesty's death had at that timi ■Sbpcn received it was decided to adjoun !K until tho evening. ;| When Ministers in town again as -Kiembled in tho.evening a telegram wai kg received from the Prime Minister inti 1| mating that he had postponed his visi *kto Otago Central and the West Coast lfe.iiid was returning immediately to Wcl plington. Sir Joseph added that he wa

to Christchurch via specials .-Strain, and from Lytteltqn to Welling-E ..5 ton on the s_,s. Tutanekai. He will ar-s „ !J rive in town early this morning. ■ ° sj In the absence of the Prime Ministei \ ' j the business transacted by Cabinet re- [ Slated solely to putting the necessary;; "J official arrangements in.train. Instruct e ij cions were ordered to be given for tho i *f suitable draping -of the a (J buildings, tlib Post Offico, Parliaments s I House, and other public buildings. ThisS 11 work will be completed at an early hom I .-ato-day. f J ■ Upon the return of Sir Joseph Ward tl jand other absent Ministers to town toil i day. a special meeting of Cabinet is to v I be. held. Among .tho various matters j (j to be dealt' with is the issuing of a y i Gazette Extraordinary announcing his s j Majesty's death, and the form which e pfche national mourning is to take.3 i' It is. expected that, as a mark o( s j respect, a day will be set apart as a ■;i Jay of national mourning.; that a naBjtional memorial service will be held; that all Government offices will be closed i for at least three days, and that blackJ^ edged stationery .will'be issued imme- . jj iiately to the various Government ofijjfioes. ■ , S According to custom, orders will bo j§ issued for all volunteer corps to go j into mourning. Corps will, during tho l ;, period fixed, not be allowed to take gpart in any ceremony, nor march with j! fixed bayonets. It will also be an inMstruction that there shall be no band s jjmusio on parade.' i Upon the death of Her Majesty Queen ■ I Victoria, the Government, it will be -I j recalled, made the following sugges--1 * tions : — ~..■■'■ s ■ "The public to be respectfully ini \ vited .to observe a close day of mourn- ] jj ing on the occasion ■ of the funeral. rji - "A general holiday will be proclaimed ] I throughout the colony on that, day for , 5 that purpose. S 3 "Women'and girls are to- wear a j 1 band of black ribbon on the right arm, I above the elbow, and men to wear a ,3 strip of ribbon on the lapel of the coat |un.til after the day of the funeral. " A "Flags on public buildings, in addi;|bion to being at half-mast, to have a "»black streamer a foot above each flag, 3 S and business places to arrange their 5 flags accordingtv." \ It is expected that somewhat similar I arrangements will-be made on the pre- ■ 5 sent occasion. ■ ; SYMPATHY AND CONDOL- §.;.'■; ENCE. jj melsaces to the premier. I NUMEROUS EXPRESSIONS OF r|. LOYALTY. ■"I (By Teleeraph—Press Association.) r j ■ Dunedin, May>B. s The following are some of the messages ■ of condolence received by , the I Prime Minister on Saturday evening:— % "I beg to convey to.you, on behalf Jof the American residents in Now Zealand, and the officers of this Consusjlate, their sincere condolences on the death of his Majesty King Edward.— £ Leonard A. Batchelor, American. Vices I Consul-General, Auckland." \ "Kindly accept and convey assur- ■ ance of grief of prioste. people, and !j bishop of our diocese in the world-wide gloss of our great and good King.— i Bishop Grimes, of Christchurch." I "The sudden death of our beloved King came as a great shock. Board 3 deeply mourns with the members of I the Royal Family, and the Empire as Ja whole, the great loss sustained. — I! Hugo Friedlander, chairman Lyttelton 'i Harbour Board." jj "Deeply shocked and grieved on 0 S hearing of great calamity of the passfU ing away of our great King. His I memory ' will ever live enshrined in '• i the hearts of .his subjects. May God 5 Ssustain the Royal. Family and all in t authority in . this hour of our great s |aeed.—Chas. M. Liiko, M.L.C." e "The newe which you wire me of the King's death has been. received. here " with profound sorrow. 'No event of l ~ riodern times has produced in this community a more sorrowful feeling. J There are signs of mourning everywhere.—A. W. Hogg, M.P., Masterton." ■ ■'.■.'"■.-, "Tho Mayor, councillors; and citizens 5 of Dunedin. deeply mourn.'the death of their beloved King, and join with the Dominion in universal sorrow for the '{ great loss, the Empire has snstained. They desire to express the deepest sympathy with the Royal Family in their bereavement, and the : loss the Empire I is now mourning.—Thos. Cole, Mayoi I of Dunedin." I "On behalf of the citizens of Inver»cargill I beg you .to extend to his Exl oellency the Governor the heartfelt sympathy of every resident here , at tho lamented and unexpected death, of our j beloved , . Sovereign King Edward, ,for wham wo entertained theprofoundest ■j loyalty, and -.'esteem. I ■ trust that. her E Majesty the 1 Queen and the members of ?the Royal Family may be sustained in it I this their . hour of trial. —William A. g|Ott, Mayor of Invercargill." ■ ;o • ; : "Appalled by your wire,.. The whole 1, J community is deeply grieved at such an g| irreparable loss to the . Empire on the ;og death of our beloved, just, and noble iljlKing.—E. H. Taylor, M.P., ; Thames." S ■ "On behalf of the Auckland Hebrew \ congregation we offer our sincere symI patny and condolence on the demise of ! our illustrious and beloved King.—-I. 5 Ziman, president; S. A. Goldstein, £ minister." i "The unexpected death of his .Ma- [ jesty has created profound sorrow j amongst all classes in this city. Our }, Empire has lost a good fatter and noble 1 jj ruler, and the world has lost its most 5 honoured peacemaker.—G. W. Russell, §M.P., Avon." J "The sudden news of tbe death of oui j I beloved King nt this critical perit/d 111 *• I the history of the Eriipire will cause le 5 universal regret throughout the Dorain--ISlion.—Thos: Kelly, M.L.C, New Plya] B mouth." o_! "On behaff of the City Council and le citizens of Christchurcb I desire to ex,ij r.ress their feeling of deep sorrow at [gßithe death of our beloved King, and I their heartfelt sympathy with the Queen and Royal Family in their great 5 bereavement. Can you arrange to havo this forwarded, to her Majesty?— Cbas. Allison, Mayor of Christehurch." "Our Empire has sustained a loss which, through , the suddenness of the blow, wo can but faintly realise, and] ly the world its great peacemaker.—T. y. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, r- Rotorua." i. poAiooD.i uaaq oe[b babii so3Bssap[ ni from Messrs. J. H. Blacjtwoll (Mayor aegof Kaiapoi), F. J. Dargavillo (Mayor ofj rn Dargavillc), T. Connor (Mayor of Arrowtown),' John Fisher (town clerk s- Otautau), F. Lawry, AI.P. (Auckland), 1 as R. A. Jonos (Judge, Wairoa), — Pettitt ii- (Mayor of Nelson), A. W. Blackett lit (Mayor of Rangiora), J. Rhodes (Mayor it, of North East Valley, Dunedin), J. P :1- Luke, M.P. (Wellington),, the Hon. W. as Bcehan (Auckland), Macgregor Wright

1 (Mayor of Woolston, Christchurch), J. JIB. Jenkinson, , M.L.C. (Wellington), J. '•Nichol (Mayor of Bluff), M. 1.-Millci i (Mayor of Lyttelton), J. Millar (chair*man of the Town Board, Wyndham), B. I Hewitt (chairman of the Raglan County \ Council), F. Mander, M.P. (Whangarei), IJ. Duncan, M.P. (Picfcoii), Fitzgibbon, s (Limestone Island), Fleming (Mayor f Tapauui), H. Mnrsland (chairman'of the I Ngaruawahia Town Board), C. Louisson »(for 'the Governors of Christchurch! jj Technical College), J. B. Hine, M.P. j (Stratford), Chas. Hiorris (Wanganui), IJ. Bull (Mayor of Tauranga), T. W. I Adams (chairman of the Works Board, IGreendale), W. Bellamy (Mayor of New ißrighton), C. Yates (Mayor of Kaitaangata), Walter E. Parnham (chairman jof the Waimakariri Harbour Board), E. IH. Lowe (Mayor of Thames), Poppolwcll (i (Mayor of Gore), and the residents of I the Hannier Springs, p The Prime Minister also Tecoived a % message from 400 representatives of the JKahungua and other tribes assembled atf 8 a Native land meeting at Wairoa, ex-! their grief ar.d sorrow and; j their condolences with the Royal* <j Family. I MASONIC GATHERING. \ CEREMONIAL TO BE REDUCED. I SOCIAL FUNCTIONS TO BE ABAN- | ' DONED. 1 'The King has always been a great I man in Freemasonary. He was mitigated in Sweden in 1868, and the fql-g flowing year aseumed Grand Office in| 5 England. On the resignation of thel i Marquis of Ripon the late King (then| I Prince of Wales) was elected Grands SMaster of the Royal Alpha Lodge^whichj t consists of 32 Grand Officers, generally? of noble birth: On October 12, 1870, he? |was installed patron of the Scottish? i Constitution of Freemasons, and up toj jjthe time of his death was a patron oit Jthe New Zealand Constitution. . s 5 A particularly brilliant and important* J Communication of Grand Lodge was > Ito have been held in 'Wellington thiss I week, and it' was expected that 5005 1 delegates from all parts of the Domin-5 lion would attend: At this Communica-| Spion the M.W. Bro. the Grand Masterp Meet,: Bro. C..J..W, Griffiths, was tog Ibe installed as Grand Master : by Lord| I Plunket, the retiring Grand Master, on| S which occasion his Excellency was [to bc| I presented with tho handsome service of| I silver gilt plate now- on exhibition in| I Messrs. Stewart Dawson and Co.'s win-s |dow.. The social functions, were to in-; Kcludo a grand ball in the' Town Hall| fja harbour-excursion, and a car tour i ground the city and suburbs. Owing, to; I* he King's death the function will beg % robbed of a good deal ofl I its promised brilliance, and all; She social ■ functions have been aban-5 Idoned. The Communication will now| I take the form of an ordinary installa-i H tion . ceremony and ■ business lodges.f I The presentation, to the retiring Grand| I Master, Lord Plunket, will take place ) I about three weeks later. ■ : [ I NO MATINEES. -, j I MEETING OF THEATRE MANAGERS, j '! A meeting of theatre managers wasl I held early on Saturday afternoon toj P discuss in what manner they should! \ ibintly pay tribute of respect to thc| plate King. It was arranged that no* I matinees should take place that aftcr-i % noon, but owing to inadequacy of the? p notice to the public, it was decided toj p open the theatres in the evening, and| sjfco close them on the night of thoj* I King's funeral. | I Mr. Hugo Gorlitz, manager of thel I Ellwood-Nixon concerts, abandoned thej I oncerts arranged for Saturday and I last evenings. }> ————. I - THE DEFENCE FORCES. OFFICIAL HOBRNING. Colonel A. W. Robin, C.8., Chief of the General Staff, has decided that, pending further instructions, .Officers Commanding the various nfilitary district) will arrange that flags shall bo? down at half-mast, and ■ tlie military! forces will go into mourning. No mili-s lary entertainments are to be proceeded! with. Military bands are not to playj in the streets, b nt should practise funeral marches. Only those drills or parades absolutely necessary are to bo held. All ranks of the Permanent Staff and Permanent Force will appear in uniform during office hours or on other duty. Kogarding the duration of mourning, that, it is stated, is determined by the Royal Court. The usual period is for six months. The , official mourning for officers is a black band, 3J inches wide, to bo worn above the elbow, on tho left arm. No other sign of mourning is to he used, unless under special instructions. Official mourning ' for warrant officers is tlie same as for commissioned officers, but thero is no prescribed mournng for the ranks, although in some regiments the custom.has been followed of having, the second button of the tunic draped. This, however, is not official. Another observance, followed when in attendance at the funeral, is that of draping the "aoorn" of the sword-knot. THE SCHOOLS. WILL NOT CLOSE TO-DAY; Mr. G. L. Stewart, secretary of the Wellington Education Board, states that after consultation with other members jof the board, it has been' decided that, as-it would bo utterly impossible to comI mnnicato at once with ; all, the schools will not close for the official period of si mourning till the Government has deSoided upon the observances to be followed. As soon as the decision of the Government has been announced, the school authorities will be notified. The schools will, therefore, remain open to-day. ~ SPECIAL MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL. The Mayor has called a special meeting of the City Council for 10.30 o'clock ] this morning in connection with the .death of the King. jj BUSINESS OF THE COURTS. (j The Chief Justice (Sir-Robert Stout) j will take_ the Bench at 11 o'clock this! morning in the Supreme Court, but the business of the criminal sessions may uot be gone on with to-day. Jurors summoned will be required to attend, however. It is likely that reference having been made to the death of the I King, the criminal work of the court \ will be postponed. \ NOTES. i The Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stont, will address a few remarks to members h of the legal profession about the death 1 I of the King in the Supreme Court this I morning. ■ \ The Working Men(s Clnb "social" has \ been postponed for'a week—till May ; 18—out of respect for the memory of 'his late Majesty. I Tho social for the young people, arj! ranged by the Theosophical Society, to |t take place on Saturday evening, was j postponed on account of the death.' lof the King. \ . The organ recital to have been given lin ' tho Town Hall on Saturday night il was postponed on accouut of the death Jj af the King. i The Victoria College Debating Society did not hold a mooting on SaturS day evening, owing to the King's death. On hearing tho news of tho death i? of the King, the Miramar Borough !i Council postponed the tour of the { borough which was to have been made Jon Saturday afternoon. jj All Grand Officers and members ol j lodges under Grand Lodge are directed j to go into mourning for the late King.

I IN- THE CHURCHES. I

«1 i y| SOLEMN SERVICES. \ n | MANY PULPIT REFERENCES. \ I I m "ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF 5 jj| ' PEACE." I 'I It was inevitable that the news oi | >'§ the King's death should occupy a very 5 ' I prominent placo in tho minds of clergj * f aud congregations when the peoplo as-g B soinbled for public . worship in tho ~& nous churches yesterday. In severals' ||churches purple or black drapings were | 'inconspicuous and there were other re-| jil minders of the nation's great loss. The § I services were of a very solemn and§ |iinpressive character. There were spe-j< ejcial hymns and prayers of an , I priate nature, and tho preachers re- i Mferred in suitable terms to the Em-8 gpire's great loss. As far as the An-S ,| glican service was concerned it was gnot found necessary to select special | I Psalms, as the ordinary Psalms forjs pthe day were in many respects pecu-j| $ liarly appropriate. They included tlie ijj j well-known Psalm, xsxis: "I said lii 5 will take heed to my ways," which, as k S Bishop Barry says, owing to its "ex-| jlquisite beauty and pathetic, calmness,! _| has been used as .tlie proper Psalm of'j fethe burial service." It contains.thes j following very touching verses (Prayer- S ' I book version): — . | ,|j Lord let me know mine end, and fe ip the number of my days, that I * ,| may be-certified how long I havo | || to live.. ■ • • I |te Behold, Thou has made my days | l fo as it wore a span long, and mine S M is even as nothing in respect. Jj M of _ Thee; and verily every .man J [p living is altogether vanity. i ,| For man walketh in a vain | M shadow, and disquieteth himself in ?, ' I vain: he heapeth up riches and I Jj cannot tell who shall gather tinem. j< !g. And now. Lord what is my *j M. hope? Truly my hope is even in I ,V: ■ Thee. | «■ _. Another feature of the Anglican ser-| ■Kvice was tho necessary alterations ins! I the prayers.for the, King and the Royall i| Family. Similar changes had to beg ramade in the Litany, and ■ the Royalß i| petitions now read as follow: — pi I ■ That it may please Thee" to keep !! ( p ; and. strengthen in the true'wor- Ji i ; shipping of ■ Thee, in ■ righteousness ' 4 p ; and holiness of life, Thy Servant* » j(:; George, our most gracious King and | : Governor. | t 'i That'it may please Thee, to rule | ,«; his heart in Thy faith, fear and | ■M . love, and that he may evermore I l|i have aiSance in Thee, and.ever | ji , seek' Thy honour and glory. : ' k ,| .That, it may please Thee, to be k , % his defender and keeper, giving him ' % i the.victory over all his'.enemies. § j| That it may please Thee to bless I ,6 and preserve our gracious Queen % 'jJ Mary, the Queen Dowager, Edward . | %■ Duke of Cornwall, and all the i |- Royal Family. ... jj a' Some of the tributes paid to the late| aKing by the preachers at differentfe were exceedingly 'impressivej iKspecial stress being very naturally laicjp Mm most cases upon Edward Vll's great| lSwork for tho promotion of the peace of{3 lathe world. . | m A special memorial service will be heldjf 4sjin St. Paul's pro-Cathedral on a date| jSto be fixed by tho Bishop of Welling-! as on (Dr. Wallis), who is at present out! I^- of town. The order of service will be| *on tho same lines as that used oh the K occasion of the death of Queen Victoria. jt ST. PAUL'S PRO-CATHEDRAL. I: There were very large congregations 4j t St. Paul's Anglican Pro-Cathedral I yesterday. x '. . I. Tho preacher in the morning was the jjßov. A. W. Compton, Warden of Hadijield Hostel, who referred to the late :!j liing in tlie following terms: — . !'j. "Death comes to us in such sudden ■p snd unexpected ways. Only yesterdaj only this city, but tho whole Em3|pirc— nay, the whole world—was I plunged into mourning at the news oi f|our great loss. 'God moves in a I mysterious way His wonders to perj 2 form.' From the human point of view s t ; it ia hard, to see why our King should l|bo taken from us at such a crisis in - j the nation's history, when by common i j consent tho British Constitution, and to the views of some ex- ■ g Iremists even tho monarchy itself, is in s J llio melting-pot. Wo' had need of n r f»lrong man at the helm, whose ripened J I'.xperionco and unfailing tact and court|l«sy seemed pre-eminoutly to fit him Difor tho duties .'of his arduous position. .- 1 (Vnd now ho is gono from us just v,\hen I 1 ho could least be snared. This is not Ifi tho time to dwell at length. on those -ii qualities . ill his character which have "{endeared him to millions of his subjects, ' I many of whom have never seen his °gface. But we believe that the lessoiis j a of Easter and the Ascension may throw f j some light upon our darkness. While . G β-o remember in our prayers the be- }! tcaved family, the bereaved nation, the j bereaved Empire, ' ' ' ■ 5 'Oh, yet we trust that somehow good \ Will be the final goal of ill: , sacrifice maybe a necessary step ?I in our national development; that in s I the conflicting claims and jealousies of ." ?reat nations there may be an enduring 1§ memory of ono whose personal inperhaps the greatest in Eurofipoan politics to-day, was always on the !- 'i 'lide of peace; and that in. the smaller '-v arena 1 of party politics, through sym-'-1 pathy for tlie nation's loss—the one II f. touch of nature which makes all the s I world kin —fierce invective and mutual I recrimination may die down, and that i some better solution may be found for fa great constitutional problem than one which can only be snatched by one y * party from another at the point of the k 5 bayonet: and that in the years to come ijhis children and children of this great e I Empire yet unborn shall rise up and call him blessed. 'Blessed are the jj Dftace-makers; for they shall be called ) tho children of God.' " \ j At the evening service, the Rev. T. S |H. Sprott preached from the verses in e jjj the last chapter of I Chronicles, ->and yjjthe first chapter of II Chronicles, recording tho death of King David, [J"full of days, riches, and honour," the el accession of Solomon, and the young e s king's prayer for "wisdom and knowtSledge, that I may go out and come in I before this people: for who can judge «this people that is so great?" The I preacher said it was safe to prophesy 5 that two characteristics of the late ; >|jKintr's all too brief'reign would remain Hon the nape of history. The first was n | the way in which he maintained and . s |oaTried on the transformation of the S monarchy, whereby it was becoming acsScommodated, as no other monarchy in yithe world had been accommodated, to if;the age of democracy. . The second \ characteristic of the late reign was .J indicated in the epithet and title so '" s eenerally bestowpd—"King Edward,' the , g : Peacemaker." They knew of his earn-ij-iost efforts to end tho war in South \ Africa, and how in other directions also \ ho had labomed successfully for peace, n t Not, probably, since the time of the had any English ruler ascended b i the throne at a moro critical moment Sithan tho present. Ono could have ). \ wished that at such a crisis in its hisrJtory, the Empire could havo had the lr ; advantage of tho largo outlook, the , \ wisdom, the marvellous tact, the bal'P \ kneo,- sensibility, and moderation, that I characterised the lat« King. They i e % might be sure that if the new Kinn 1 were standing there, and were to tell I tho congregation what he most needed )f \ and craved at their . hands, he would dsisk that they should ntter for him, as ;• t ho had no doubt already uttered hon_P '■"''-'

festly for himself —clothed, as he was, S with new and awful responsibilities, and 5 facing an untried and unknown, future I —that ancient prayer of Solomon, that |yfbd would give him a wise and understanding heart. it At tho moruing- service the organist, i (Mr. Robert Parker) played the Dead I March in "Saul," and at tho evening 5 service Beethoven's Funeral March. I The anthem in the evening was Spohr's I "Blest are the Departed." \ ST. PETER'S. I There were unusually large congrega- | tions at the services at St. Peter's I Anglican Church yesterday. Preaching lin the morning, the Ilev. G. P. Davys p spoke on the subject of the Crown oi ?j Righteousness. After alluding to the S particular 'application of the words in I connection with St. Paul himself, he h passed on to refer to the late King, ft He said it was strange that such a s sorrow should have, come at a time gof joy in the Church. Sorrow and joy jjn-ere so closely intertwined that tht % sunlight of joy was always accompanied fay the shadow of sorrow. The word* ijof his text were originally spoken by si St. Paul when he was face to face with jjdeath. Instead of being depressed, St. ■jPaul looked forward with buoyant hope £ like a conqueror going to his trial. The j grief of the peoplo over, the death of »i King Edward would not be merely con|ventional. Very often the professions lof grief when a great personage in the ?3tate or political lifo or world of letJters or art died were largely on the gsurface. But not so in the present.in- | stance, because. his Majesty had so himself to all sons and daugh-S |ters of thb Empire by his general tact.l J his unfailing courtesy, his wise and| j broad outlook, his labour for the peopli- 1 ?iof the world, that though he was per-) I sonally known to few of his subjects, cs- ■ |pecially 6n this side of the world, there; ii ivere few right-minded people who did! jiiiot feel a lump, rising in their throaty J; when the news of his demise came. In j g conclusion, the preacher alluded to I suddenness of the event. ■ Only the I j previous Sunday, he said,- the people \ I were offering up the usual prayers of{ I the Church for King Edward, little! I thinking that it would bo for tho last; ft Umo ; Although our reason would not i I admit such, our imagination threw s\ w»lamour over such an exalted life, and; »tended to blind one to the fact that; pi oven the King was human and mortal.; fUt reminded us forcibly of a truism | i that was in danger of being forgotten.. | I f.hat wealth and position- and a great I could not raise one above the' i. condition of frail mortality, or enable i I man to dispense with grace and strengths a from on High, Appropriate hymns of 1 sorrow were sung, and at the close of I the evening service the Dead March j was played. The pulpit and lectern gwere draped in violet, the Church's I mourning colour. ■ • • ' % ■ ■ I ; ST. JOHN'S PRESBYTERIAN. i ' At St. John's Church yesterday rela fcren.ee was made both morning and Movening to the death of the King. '•). Neither 6ervico was, however, entirely k commemorative of this event, Dr. Gibb S intimating that ho would devote next I Sunday evening to this object. The Inform which the partial commemora- !| tion took last night was as follows.:— I Mr. J. Maugliau Barnett,-.. who prei'; sided at the organ, played a solemn P improvisation as the congregation asI sembled. After the usual call to worKship, sanctus, and invocation the hymn Cbeginning "When the day,of toil is p done" was sung. . I : At the close of tho hymn Dr. Gibb, }ij addressing tho congregation, which !' crowded every, corner of the building, jjssaid: "The King is dead. With scarce |ia breathing space after the ' message I which told us of his sickness, the tidfegs flashed round the world that Ed|iward VII was numbered with his I fathers. And round the world the tid*ings have been received with profound i regret. Let us not indeed exaggerate. I Tho death of tho most honoured mouJ t arch is much less to you than the death sof a member of your family, even of I the tiniest child. Yet I- shall be strict|ly within the limits of .truth if I say S that throughout the British Empire the g death of the King will be most deeply regretted. Since he camo to the ithrone he has been held in universal j| esteem, not only for the grace and digjjtiity wherewith he has invested his high • office, and the personal courtesy and {kindliness which he has.shown to all jj classes of his subjects, but especially for ithe tactful wisdom with which he has discharged tho functions, neither tew |in number nor insignificant in scope, I which according to the constitution of |the Empire are still vested in tlie jj Grown. Above- all, he has earned the (gratitude of his own subjects and tlie civilised world for the mingled wisdom I and strenuousness of his efforts to proi mote tho peace of' tho. world. ? 'Blessed,' said our Lord Jesus Christ, j'are the peacemakers,' a beatitude assuredly deserved by the monarch for I whoso passing hence we to-day sorrow. t His youth was full of foolish noise. I jean remember, the time when.no man j would have dreamed that the Prince of ] Wales would ■ prove ono of ' tho most ioopular and sagacious monarchs who rhaye ever occupied the throne of }i Britain.-_ There is tho greater reason |for gratitude to the man who, on hifi * accession to his august position, rose to disabling memories, and for I thankfulness to Almighty God who j gave him grace so wisely and with conijspicuous fidelity to perform the great itask to which he was called. S ; "The passing into eternity of a grett sman, or of a man who has filled a great office, always seems to me to bring the j world beyond very near. The death of i i King on his throne is not in reality 1 more solemn than the death of a begpgar in his straw, yet when a man who I has held an august place;- on earth Ipasses into the eternal light, in which I the pomp and pageantry of earth will $be seen to bo but the veriest tinsel, I somehow £he soul is held by a deep a awe, and ,the solemnities of the judg- } ment and eternity press right home to I the very heart. Into the presence of j the Eternal Judge and Eedeemer of sj Men our earthly Sovereign has passed. I We trust he has heard the Lord's 'Well idone.' • ' i ; "For the Royal lady his consort, and ) the members of her family, we feel a j profound sympathy. Our prayer rises ito God that He may overrule this I grievous dispensation for their highest I welfare, _ and that of the vast Empire jovor which the King reigned.- May this I bereavement help on in ways unknown 5 and undreamed of by us, throughout I the Empire and in all the earth, the ■ cause of that Kingdom which is from I everlasting to everlasting. May it pro|mote the glor.v of Him who is King of |Kings and Lord of. Lords—King by |malienable right and by the" passion of I His cross, even Jesus Christ our Saviour." .■'■■'< a.- At tho conclusion of these remarks, |Mr. 'Barnett played the Dead March jin "Saul," the congregation reverently 3 standing the while. The service thereafter proceeded on tho usual lines, Dr ijGibb delivering the fifth sermon of his (series on the "Signs of the Times," our I report of which is held'over. ' As the dispersed tho organist jiplnyed Mendelssohn's "Funeral March." j ■ ST. ANDREW'S PRESBYTERIAN. j; A large number of., people attended S the memorial services held in St. Anf, drow's Presbyterian- Church. Tho pul•ji pit and the gallery rails had been a draped in black. Tho services were impressive. In tho morning tho I Rev. Gibson Smith took for his tost s?the words; "Give Thy servant an un--sderstanding heart to judge Thy people. j' that I may discern between good and

'bad: for, who is alilo to judge.this. Th>| J so great a people." Mr. Gibson-Smitlip i drew an analogy between Israel in Kingß I Solomon's time and England of the pre-1 X sent day under the rule of the late a I King. The reign of Solomon was the J jinost peaceful and prosperous period in§ ij Jewish history. A good king meant al s. happy and prosperous people, and ap Sbad kind the opposite. We are all oi | I us heirs of the ages, and we enter into i I the heritage earned for us by our an- j* £cestors, with the need to act as wiscij I sons and heirs. As Anglo-Saxons we| jhave a great and glorious ?handed down to us through toil, strug-3 i> gle, and in the characteristics that 'j I have been won by them, and the whole f, 5 world waits to see what we aro going 'i |to do with such a heritage. The leelingi I throughout tho Einpiro is that Kipg| : Edward has proved himself tho wiseg 3 son with the understanding heart, who| t lias carried on worthily and faithfully sthe task left him by Queen .Victoria, a He trained and schooled himself to boij come the man he should be. It seemt ;a great calamity that in the present S political crisis of the country he should joe removed by death, but that is in the I bands of God. He for whom they were was fully worthy to he 'j mourned. I lt> the evening Mr. Gibson Smith took qjfbr his text Revelation xxi, 24: —"And jj the nations of them which are saved jj shall walk in the light of it; and the j kings of the earth do bring their glory F- and honour into it." He spoke of the i duties that the Christian patriot owed Sto his country in peace and war. A j Christian patriot must know or learn j iho political needs of his country, so ! that_ ho may not betray her by being j; carried away by political clap-trap, likejrtisea Christian patriot will fight for | his home and his country when necessity ; somes and the cause demands it. He 'spoke of-the King, the simple English J gentleman called by God to fill the highJest position in the- land, and of tho waj i in which he did his utmost to carry out this stewardship worthily. ! -Both in the morning and evening Services the Dead March in "Sad" (Was played, the congregation standing. : • ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. <i ] At the Basilica of the Sacred Heart I references to the death of his Majesty « ivere made at all the services ; during ; the day. Speaking at the last mass, \ the Rev. Father Hickson, S.M. Adi liiinistrator, said that the nation had r-sustained a great loss by the death ol i the King and one which they all reI gretted by reason of the fact that King 'i Edward possessed such' admirable qual: \ ities as ruler, statesman and peacejP>ma.ker. ' He referred to the friendly [ I feeling that had existed between him I £ and the Catholic . 'people and invited i j> the prayers of the congregation for the i j repose of his soul. Hβ also exhorted ; I them to pray for tho new King that S peace may obtain during his reign. j> At the conclusion, of the sermon the I organist played the "Dead March" (in ? Saul), the congregation .standing, and .Rafter the .mass Chopin's "Funeral I jj March" was rendered. . ■ ■ ; jj ' At. St.. Mary of the Angels, the Rev. I 1 Father Venning at the 11 o'clock mass ,[jmade sympathetic reference to the ■ ? death of the King. During the nine J years of his reign he had proved him- ' J self a, good, King and had earned the . £ affection of his subjects. His efforts .»; towards . promoting peace among the j!nations had gained for him the title oi . fs tho Peacemaker of Europe. By his Jj death, the Catholics had lost a good for, on account of his peaceful . |disposition, he was a real .friend to the 'fe Church. Prayers of the-congregation s were invited for the repose of his soul. ' § At the end of mass the "Dead March" i was played by the organist, the-ebn-£jgregation standing.. ;tij ' The Rev. Fathqr O'Shea, Vicar-Gen- • f eral, referred to the death of his MaJlesty at St. Joseph's Church, Buckle * ji Street, and to the great loss the nas § l-ion had sustained thereby.' The "ijead j I March" was played "at the conclusion I s or tho lasjt ' "' . .'; jE Sympathetic references were made at •J St. Anne's Church, Newtownj at all !| the services .during the day. The Vcn. r is Archdeacon Devoy spoke of his Ma'gjesfc3''s death as a great national loss, jjjl'or the lato King had proved himself U\t\ ruler that would not be easily re'fflplaced. Reference was also made to lathe late King's sympathy for Ireland, '♦ which had endeared, him to the.people • I of ' that country. After the evening j|service, the "Dead March" was played. I At St. Gerard's Church, Hawker 'I Street the Rev. Father Creagh, ■50.5.5.H.., invited the prayers of the s I congregation for his Majesty apd drew ' * attention to the nation's great in- , g debtcdncss to the lato Monarch. The rg congregation stood during tho playing of the "Dead March." ! 3 ■ -' II COURTENAY PLACE CONCRECAi TIONAL. . I The pulpit and organ were tastefully , I draped with crepe and purple folds at -in Ctnttteiay. Place Congregational r t üburch last evening, out of respect to J die memory of the late King. The R«v [gM'Donald Aspland referred to the sad , I cable recording the death of the Kin" fg received on Saturday, and to the gloom 1 1 which had followed it in the community, In the course of his remarks, the fS pastor quoted the words of Harold ,G Begby, written in 1904—"The King is a 5 g man first, and a monarch after," and? , gllso the King's own words of morel r I recent time has come! , I when class can no longer stand aloof . jjj from class." He also dwelt on the [ I King's love of music, and great respect Mnd love he always showed his mother t g tho Lite Queen Victoria.. He ' also [J quoted the remarks made by the King , j when presented oh his coronation with f * a unique Biblo by tho British' and ..'Foreign Bible Society through the . I hands of the ArchbishoD of Canterbury. 3 .sThe Dead March- from "Saul" was j I played as a recessional. l| ! METHODIST CHURCHES. >e ; The anniversary services at the Thorn- ? \ don Methodist Church yesterday niorn'Sing were conducted by the Rev. Mr U Ward,, who included in his address to stho congregation a lengthy, reference 1 1 to the death of the King. After refer:;ring to the'shock which had been exJ J penenced 'by tho unexpected demise of I the Sovereign, Mr. Ward delivered an "Iqulogium of the. deceased monarch's I Personality ami regal, prestige. King s J Edward had bepu u good King, loved ? >, of the nation, for whose - welfare he hac Ua sacred regard. He was a citizen of ■Hche world, and the Empire as well am sjthe nations of Europe, had been' the Jβ better for his' kingly influence during I 1 the nine years of his reign. The nation, e|and the world, were the poorer for his a* death. Her Jate Majesty Queen Victoria -Shad earned the love of the nation. Her Miljustnoue. son-liad earned its respect »|Uie nation would feel great sympathy ! j> for Queen .Alexandra, whose goodness caused her name to be revered The new King would be for the sakp of his father, * I his grand-parents, ;¥or his own sake. ■' f ■. At the evenini; service, tho Rev. - jThos. Fee included a roferehco to the ■ f■ death of his Majesty, in the Drayer, s S and tho Dead. March in "Saul" was rj played at tho close. 3j! At Trinity Methodist Churcb, Newt % town, tho interior of the building Was ' I tastefully draped, and at tho closo of icjicli' servici) tho congregation stood Siwhilo tho organist played the "Dead M March." ...'".. . . ;|VIVIAN STREET BAPTIST CHURCH. i| Tho nation's great loss was referred ;|t.b at yesterday's services in'the Vivian 2JiStreet Baptist Church. ... t| : Tho Rev. J. J.'North, in.the course - \ af his address to the boys and girls Adurhig the morning service, said that 3|the late King bad. been greatly loved

$by tho people because of his great i and because of his careful-i I aess 'to recognise bravery on the part | §jf any of his subjects. On one occasion, \ Ra coastguardsman distinguished himself; gin rescue work in connection with a' I -ihippiug disaster on the English coast \ p \ few days afterwards, the late King, f ,i ivho was on ■ a yachting cruise along | I that part of the coast, was shown I ooastguardsman's station, and tookj 5: aft' his hat as he passed, paying a tri- i I uute to the courage of his subject. ; fij _ In the evening, Mr. North said that I ;?! rorty times in the past thousand years { I the bells of London had tolled to mark \ I the passing away of a British Sovereign, \ I The late' King had ruled over one- ? * third of the population of the world, \ |and his dominion had been one-third of j I tho world's area. ' He had been the jj I head of an empire 52 times as largo i f, is Germany and three times as large pas Europe. King Edward had left the) I whole of his dominions in perfect peace.: |rho late ruler had not been a King; pi of whom panegyrics could be sung, but; Ihe had endeared himself to his people j Iby his patient fidelity to duty-j since; K his . coronation. The Prince of Wales \ k had received his second birth when he! I; touched the throne. When the late I King "had come to the throne he had j pturned away his former self, and bad; sj ascended the throne in a spirit of con- \ Execration. At his coronation, the latej |a King had used the following remark-; words:—"ln undertaking thej s heavy load which now devolves upon ') t me, I am fully determined to be • a \ I constitutional sovereign in tho .strictest; Ssense.of the word, and, as long as; •■ th«vre is breath in my body, to work jj Sj f«r the good of my people." The LiteE I King had fulfilled that pledge, with the' jS'ionour of an English gentleman. One! jjrf'Jlis last acts had been to give an; I tudience to the new Governor of the J I Dominion. The German Kaiser had; 5 Bxasporated the world with 'his frequent I f speeches, but' th'e ruler of the British ] 'i Empire had been no Kaiser, but a \ • peacemaker. It had been shaijae for; |earlier kings' not to fight,' but' it was> I tho most solemn glory that surrouiKleU s jj the memory- of the late King ' that he i had kept the peace. War was hell, i. ;; and King Edward had been a peace- \ $ maker. Part of King Edward's glory I I had been that he was content to remains I ivithin his limits. He had found that, j! i ivithin ' the limits of constitutional | 5 monarchy, there were enormous oppor- \ »timities for usefulness and power. \ : $ Solemnly, and without flinching, he bad S siaid his service at the feet of the. na-c tion. The long and shrewd' experience! jm the lato King had never been more| jj sorely needed by the nation than at the 3 I present political crisis. The ' people' (would honour the memory of the lateS S albert. Edward, would pray for .. his \ \ widow, and for'his. son now to reign. \ I PrayeTs were offered up,- and the; I Dead March in "Saul" - was played. -\

I IN OTHER CENTRES. |

i THE SAD NEWS RE&EIVED. I %■. - - ' , i I AUCKLAND'S LOYAL MESSAGE. \ i (By Telegraph—Press Association.) . J k Auckland), May 8. i I The news of tho death of the King \ a profound impression in J Flag 6 at once- began to ap- \ jjpear at half-mast on a. number of 5 thusiness places, some of which also had! gtheir windows draped in mourning,!? £ while others closed. The bell of St. 5 j Matthew's-Church was tolled for an i hour, all athletic fixtures were can,j celled, the coursing meeting at Otahuiu; } was postponed, and some of the ainuse- { I ment houses were closed .in the even- \ J ing. References to > the >sad event were i ijmade in the majority of the "churches' £ to-day, but special memorial services! * are being arranged for at a later date. I I .The Mayor has. dispatched tho follow-! j ing message to ' his Excellency the| i Governor: — ■ .. ■'''•! ? : ' "The citizens of Auckland deeply f J .- deplore the loss to the Empire a sustained by the death of his late I . Most Gracious Majesty the King, s j ' and desire yonr Excellency to con- j !j . vey their loyal and most heartfelt f j sympathy to Her Majesty' the i j 'Queen and the Royal Family." .. I $ The Mayor l has convened, an emer- ( Jgency meeting of the City Council-for* afternoon, to decide what \ j action shall be taken by the citizens) lin connection with' the funeral. It. is i (possible that something-will be ar-> S ranged on the lines of the impressive: j ceremony held on the occasion, of the f 1 death, of. Queen Victoria. The session|3f the Supremo Court, which was; to! |haro opened to-morrow, 'will bo ad-1 I'ourned to Tuesday. His Honour, 3lr. I sJustice Edwards, desires, every member; 2of the Bar to be preisent at Court on! I Monday, -when, in adjourning the| joession, ho will make reference to theg J sad event. . '1 ?i. ' " ' I HARDLY COULB REALISE IT. ) i IB J Toleeraph.—Special Corressondeat.l I . Carterton, May 8. 5 h : The news of the death ot His = 'Majesty, King'Edward,. received herei I yesterday afternoon, created some sur- i «prise, and, for a while, it could hardlj* be realised that the end had, come, s |j Business was suspended, and the shops I Sclosed from four to seven. Bells were? M tolled, flags half-masted, and the town! fe was turned from • its ■ ordinary I ■|gay business appearance into ..all ■ £ town of . mourning. 'At the \ churches . to-dey, special rei! was made to tho sad event.; I § The Methodist Church was specially I ii draped in mourning,- while, at ,StJ ; 5 Mark's, the Easter hangings won in I I 1 evidence. ■ ' i i.: AT THE NAPIEE CHURCHES.. t ', I (By Telegraph-Press Association.) \ \ Napier,. May 8. ; 5 ; On receipt of the news of tho lting's \ I death yesterday, bells were tolled, flage? 1 hoisted at half-mast, and buildings; ■ \ draped with crape.: The business-places \ ■ i did not close, but most of the' outdoor I ■ were officially abandoned. The 3 >|feoling of, the people was shown by the !|largo congregations at the churches ■ 5 to-day, where special reference was | • j made to the sad event. ■ s if ' ' PULPITS DRAPED. 1 (By. Telecrach-Press Association.) .' ' ! I Wanganul, May 8. I 1 g The church pulpits were draped to- ' f ;lay, and references made to the King's S I'i death. The' "Dead March" was', also jS : a played. ; ; |I-TRAYERS FOR ROYAL FAMILY. \ (By ,TciCCTaßh-Press Association.) . \ % . . Fellding, May 8. \ I As soon as it became known that Shej I }. King . was dead,, business places wore \ 'ifclosed up'for'the afternoon, and the; j} flags flown at half-mast from the Post-1 I Office and other public and commercial I 'fe buildings. To-day all the churches had I < & their pulpits draped in black, and all s I ministers made feeling reference to the • 4 national loss. Special prayers were I ! |offered for the Dowager Queen and the! |Royal Family, and for the new King a 'i , ;' ' ' ——— '—— —- . \ -J

IIORD PLUNKET'S ARRANGE.! f. MENTS. I

« • ■■ • ■ — 3 J CONSIDERABLY CURTAILED. I :i ■ (By Teletrroph-Prese Association.) \ i 1 Palnierston, May 8. i g _In- consequenco of•tho death of the! ■:j King, the Governor has been obliged * lato cancel, all.engagements until after' i |the. funeral, has taken place. Ho will I asubsequontly continue his farewell tour ' !Ktho,arrangements of which have been? as it will bo impossiblo for' t|the Governor to attend entertainments I lgduring tho period of Court mourningl