THE CORONATION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1159, 21 June 1911, Page 8

THE CORONATION.

_»- ■ 55,000 TROOPS IN LONDON. ALL BRANCHES REPRESENTED. The military arrangements for the Coronation are now ■ complete (fays the "Daily News" of May 8), and an official announcement issued by the Secretary of the W;ar Office states that the Army Council have made the following arrangements in connection with the Coronation procession and the Royal Progress on Juno 22 and 23 next. The total number of troops on duty on June 22 will be about 45,000, and oii June 23 about 55,000. On each day every arm and branch of the Service will be represented on tho lino of route, the basis of representation in the case of the Special Reserve and Territorial Fore? being 26 men of all ranks from each regiment or battalion, with a proportionate representation from other arms and branches. In addition, there will bo contingents representing the Navy. Arrangements have also l>cen made foi the attendance of other, bodies with naval or military connections. There will alfc be present, as privileged spectators, representatives of the in-pensiouers of th« Royal Hospitals at Chelsea and Kilmaiiiham, and inmates of other naval and military charitable institutions. As has already been announced, FieldMarshal Lord Kitchener will bo in eupreme command of the troops, Major General A. E. Codrington, commandinf tho London District, acting as Chief Stall Officer, and the General Officers com manding the Aldershot, Eastern, anc Southern commands will command e«c tions of the route. THE MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS. SIR FREDERICK BRIDGE'S WORK. To few men' concerned in the Corona tion service falls a more exacting tasl than that entrusted to Sir Frederic! Bridge, the director of the music. Th< only feature of tho service that has no , yet taken final- shape is tho orchestra portion, which, however, will includ works by Sir Edward Elgar, Sir Alex ander Mackenzie, Dr. Cowen, and Mr German. Sir Edward Elgar's contribn tion is a grand processional march; to bi played as the newly-crowned King am Queen leave the Abbey. It is also cer tain thai the orchestral part of the eer vice will include Dr. W 7 alford Davics': "Solemn Melody." Generally speaking, the choral musi< selected and composed for the occasion l more ambitious and more in tho moderi style than that sung at the Coronation o King Edward, but Sir Fredorick Bridge it is evident, has been at pains to pre serve the best tradition?. In the solo in the "Homage Anthem,' the voice of Mr. Edward T/!oyd, silent, a far as the public is concerned, for almos ! a decade, will again be heard. Tho 6ol< is not a long one—twenty bars at tb most—but, accompanied by organ am harps, it forms a very pleasing feature 6 the anthem. : The famous tenor will not be the onl; veteran in tho choir. ■ An equally inter esting figure will be Mr. John Foster, retired member of the Abbey Choir, wh sang at the funeral of William th Fourth. Altogether the choir will.be from 40 to 500 strong, and will be chiefly w cruitedfroin the Abbey, St. Paul's, til Chapel Eoyal, and the principal tondo: churches, although there will be reprt sentativ«s of other Cathedral choirs am choral societies. The orchestra will hav as its nucleus the King's Band, of whie Sir Walter Parratt, Master of the King' Music, is conductor. ~ THANKSGIVING. ORDL'E OF THE SERVICE AT ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL. The order of special service to bo use at St. Paul's Cathedral on June- 2! when, the King and Queen will atten the thanksgiving for the Coronation, ho been definitely settled. As the King and Queen arrive.-, at. th westjdoor, and art. being conductecHrt their seats, the National Anthem will b sung. Tho To Deum andVersicles wil follow, all devoutly kneeling, the ministe first pronouncing with a leud voice, "Th Lord bo with you." ■ ' : Follow-ing the sentences ccmes a specia prayer in .the following terms:— Almighty and everlasting God givo ear, we beseech Tline, to our humbl prayers, and multiply Thy blessings upo Thy servant George, now consecrate our King; that being confirmed in Th princely Spirit he may walk steadfastl in the way of righteousness, may nouris and teach, defend and provide for Th Church anl people and please Thee i all things. Next, will come a prayer asking tho tho King may be endued "with knqn ledge and wisdom, with majesty and wit power fro a on and then follow a prayer for the Queen: . 0 I/ord, grant nnto Thy servant Jlar our Queen that.by her piety and goo works she may adorn the high dignit which she hath attained, and establis the glory that Thou hast given her. ABBEY INSURED FOR ,£50,000. Ecplying to a question in the House c Commons last month, Mr. Dudley War (representing tho Office of.W : orks). sta ■cd that the. number, of firemen on dut at Westminster Abbey had been increa: ed. Four were nov'engaged, two by-'dn and two by night. Ho was informal the the Dean and Chapter insured tho Al bey arid its contents for .£50,000, an that tho insurance office being satisfie with tho precautions taken', required n extra premium' in consequence' of th works now.proceeding. As no aniount t insurance" could compensate for the d< struction of tho Abbey, the precautior against fire were the essential point. . CORONATION ITEMS. Queen Alexandra. Tho English Press . Association unde; stands that Queen Alexandra wi|l not 1: iu London for any of the Coronation fei tivities, but will go away on or aboi: Saturday next to .Sandringham or Wim sor—probably the. former—and will not 1: back again at -Mnrlborough Houso unt the Coronation period is over. Coronation Fare in Prisons. Minute instructions have been issued b tho Home Office to tho Governors of h Majesty's prisons respecting the'issue ( special diet for prisoners of all elasst on Coronation Day, which will consist i Jib. bread, lib. potatoes, lib. boef, an lib. plum pudding. The Coronation Ball, One of the special buildings being erec ed for the Coronation Costumo Ball i the Royal Botanic Gardens will contain parquet dancing floor, 22,400 square feet i area. . No dancing floor in London is ; large as this. Lloyd's and the Coronation, With the near approach of the ceremon there has been a material- reduction i lie rales of premium paid to reinsure i Lloyd's against Coronation risks. O May 6 10 guineas percent, was. tho fin: premium to cover against any alteratid in the existing arrangements. Boom in Fireworks, Fireworks will be in great demand f< the Coronation. "We liave already sei away tons of displays," said a mom'ber ( tho firm of Messrs. Brock; of Suttbn, n cently, "and in the next few weeks tl quantities will be stupendous. About ' •tons have gone to Ceylon, African Cod nies, tho West Indies, and to small Angj< South American communities. Tho Chii ese and Japanese orders will be sent awa in charge of trained men. The King portrait is first favourite. Baling is hai ing displays on June 22 to "A, while tli Woolwich fireworks will be given on W 7 oo wich Common on June 22, at Plumsten next day, and at EHham on the 2-Kli." Building the Stands. Tho enormous amount of limber requi: cd may bo gauged from figiiTre supplie to a "Daily News" reprcscnUitivo by M Cooper, of Messrs. William Cooper, Lin iled, Old Kent Eoad, S.K, one of tli largest contractors. Mr. Cooper"* firm creeling over 50 stands on 'the procession; routes," capable of seating from 250 1 3500 people each. For this work tli contractors require: 2100 lons of t.imbn 70 tons of iron bolts, nails, and nuts, 30,0( yards nf drapery, etc., for seat and decor; ,tiou purpose*