THE ROYAL COAT OF ASMS.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 7 September 1901, Page 3

THE ROYAL COAT OF ASMS.

The attempt of the Welsh members, renewed on the accession of King Edward VII., to have the Royal coat of arms amended by introduction of a symbol representing Wales met with no encouagement in high quarters. It was pointed out that, if the ancient order established at the time of the Union was tampered with, it would be impossible to resist applications made from India, Australasia, Canada, and other colonies for special recognition Sir William Harcourt has made a suggestion, the peculiar appropriateness of wtiich is likely to ensure success. The arms of the Prince of Wales differ from those of the Sovereign chiefly in the matter of the escutcheon in the centre. The Prince displays the arms of the Eoyal House of Saxony, which with a label of three points argent partly obscure the lions and the unicorn in the upper half of the oval centre. Sir William Harcourt’a suggestion is that the unicorn in the top section of the centre shall give place to the dragon of |Wales. No injustice would be done to our old mythical friend the unicorn, who would be still represented in a prominent position as one of the supporters of the Prince’s arms. As far as decorative design goes, 'the change would be an improvement, whilst the introduction of the dragon in this historic coat of arms is obviously appropriate. The matter is now under consideration in the highest quarters, and Sir William Harcourt is sanguine of a settlement that will satisfy > the sentiment and spirations of the Welsh people.

The Wanganui Magistrate is of opinion that nurse girls with perambulators are as bad as bicybles on footpaths. The Nelson City Council propose to askthe ratepayers to sanction a loan of JE20,000 for improving the sewago system of the city. It has been decided to build a Roman Catholic College at Auckland at a cost of some thousands of pounds.

The mail per Petone for Wellington closes this evening at 7 p.m. .

Several steamers are booked to leave Sydney shortly with a large number of remounts for the Cape. The first will be the steamer Eippinghara Grange, and she will be followed by the Nairnshire. The former vessel will have 1000 horses on board, and the latter is expected to take 750.

Some of the bills for the Royal celebrations in Melbourne are “ staggerers,” For two bouquets—one for the Duchess and the other for Lady Hopetoun —the figure is £4O. This bill is held over for iuquiry. The State concert music cost £I2OO-—that is for the singers alone. In addition to the music, supper and champagne were provided for 9000 people.

Mr Albert C. Bostwick, of Boston, stated to have broken the world’s mile motor-car record at Long Branch, his time being 1 min 16f sec. One of the Napier letter-carriers, while on his round a few days ago, found two cheques, aggregating in value over £l2O, drawn to the order of a well-knoivn Napier citizen.