THE KING’S ILLNESS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 455, 26 June 1902, Page 4

THE KING’S ILLNESS.

CORONATION' 'POSTPONED, CONSTERNATION EVERYWHERE, The following appeared in special Extras issued by the Times yesterday. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Received June 25th, 9.17 a.m. London, June 24. The Coronation has been postponed. The King was operated on on Saturday, but is progressing satisfactorily.

TELEGRAM FROM THE ACTING-PREMIER. Wellington, June 25. Received 10 30 a.m. Regret to inform you that I have received the following cable from London, timed 1.35 p.m., 24th. Cable begins: Acting-Premier, Wellington. Coronation postponed. King to undergo operation. (Cable ends.) There is no signature to the cable, but I assume it is from the Premier. ,1 do not think it desirable until His Excellency the Governor receives official information by cable for me to suggest what course should be followed. Should the news be confirmed all ceremonies in connection with the Coronation will require to be postponed. LATER.

Since my previous telegram I have received the following from Mr Seddon, dated London, 24th, 1.45 p.m.: “ Colonial Premiers were to be re- “ ceived by His Majesty the King. “ He is suffering from peritonitis. “ Operation necessary. Corona- “ tion postponed.” J. G. Wakd, Wellington.

AV ellington, this afternoon. The second cable which 1 have received from London from Mr Seddon advising mo definitely of the postponement of the Coronation of His Majesty the King in consequence of an operation being necessary, requires me to add that all public ceremonies in connection with the Coronation bo postponed. I therefore advise you at the earliest moment that all public ceremonies arranged for to-morrow mußt not take place. On receipt of further advices fixing the date for the Coronation I shall advise you. J. G. Ward.

Railway to be Opened. At a meeting of the Coronation Colebra' tion meeting to-day the Mayor stated that a cablegram had been received stating that His Majesty had expressed a desire that all celebrations should be proceeded with. His AVorship said they might at least carry out the railway celebrations in their entirety. The Hon. Mr Carroll made brief reference to the depressing news. He would, he said, hear later in the day as to whether the Coronation proceedings were to be postponed. After discussion it was unanimously decided that the full holiday be observed as arranged, and that the programme for the opening of the Gisborne Railway, including the celebrations at the Paris, should be proceeded with. The meeting was adjourned until halfpast three, in oase further news in regard to the Coronation celebrations is received.

The condition of His Majesty has created great consternation among all nations. The Coronation Celebrations Committee resumod at 3 p.m. The Mayor road Mr Seddon’s second cable to the acting-Premier, and Mr Carroll read a wire from Sir Joseph Ward stating that the definite cancelling of arrangements for the Coronation celebrations was held over pending the Governor receiving official information that night. Though a message had been received stating that the King’s desire was that, though tho Coronation would be postponed, the ceremonies should proceed, the' Governor had received no offioial advice, and there had been no communication from the Secretary of State. 'Under the oiroumstances, the cancelling of arrangements would be deferred until more definite news was received. The Governor had sent a precedence cable to London for directions, and a reply was expeoted in about six hours. It would be some time in the evening when a reply would be received. He then read the following wire about the opening of the railway, put in at 1.42 p.m.:— “ In reply to your wire, the position is an exceedingly difficult one, made so from the fact that no official intimation has been received from the Secretary of State. If one should come, it may alter matters, and I shall advise you promptly. In the meantime I think you had better definitely arrange to go on with the railway opening.—J. G. Ward.” The Mayor again said he thought the opening of the railway should be proceeded with. They regretted the distressing news had arrived, and it would take the charm out of the proceedings, but still they should open the railway. If more serious news came through in the morning they could stop everything.

Mr Carroll thought the programme should be proceeded with as regarded the opening of the railway. It was deoided finally that the railway opening be proceeded with.

The following late messages have been received at the Gisborne Times office . “ Have just received, the following cablegram from Mr Seddon, timed London, 7.15 p.ni., 24th 1 Operation successful. Rumors “ disquieting. “ Pray that God may preserve his “ Majesty the''King, in this horn of “ trial. SEDDON, All telegraph and telephone offices will re-open to-night at seven o’clock, (Mid a'gain at ten o’clock, and it isipro-' posed to arrange for an all-night telegraph service between here and Sydney There will be no post and telegraph holiday on Thursday. The offices will be open as usual.”

A further message from the ‘ ActingPremier, in regard to Coronation festivities, is as follows “ In .the absence of official communication from the Imperial Government, conveying any wish of His Majesty the King that the intended celebrations should te proceeded with to-morrow, I feel it my duty, after the fullest consideration, to now advise you definitely that no public celebrations are to be carried out in any part of the colony to-morrow except entertainment of the children and the poor. Anything in the shape of general celebrations would in view of the fact of His Majesty having undergone a critical operation, the outcome of which none can foresee, be carried out under a feeling of sadness .that would make such celebrations nothing short of a sham. It is unnecessary for me to add'that it is with the deepest regret, in which I am sure the people of the colony join, that I feel it necessary to advise this course It is too late to cancel the public holiday on Thursday, and this will be observed, as doubtless many desire to take part in religious ceremonies suitable to the occasion, 'and also -to the entertaining of the children and poor;”-