CERMONY AT WELLINGTON

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 98, 12 May 1937, Page 5

CERMONY AT WELLINGTON

— Pres« Assooiation.)

Big Military Parade At Memorial SUNSHINE PREVAILS

(By Teleersnh

WELLINGTON, This Day. Coronation Day opened with a Communion service at &t. Paul's ProCathedral and later, prior to the State ceremony at Parliament House, there was a general service at St. Paul's, which was attended by the GovemorGeneral, cnembers of the Cabinet, representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force and Judiciiary, There was a large congregation. The service was in conformity with the form of prayor and thanksgiving commended by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and was conducted by Bishop Holland. Other clregy pi-es-ent were Bishop SprOtt, Bishop Bennett and Archedaeon Hansell. The freewill offering was received in aid of the King George Memorial Fund. By 3 9 o'clock the populace' was fioeking to the vicinity of the Oitizens' War Memorial and the grounds oi. Parliament House. By 10 o'clock, when the military parade marched to the frottt of the cnettiorial it was impossible for more people to get near. Bunting everywhere and bright sunshine made the scene - happy and memorable. Every vantage post was occupied and the surroutiding buildings presented a sea of heads. The military parade was tho first of its kind in New Zealand, in that it included mechanised units consisting of battery and aircraft guns, a battery of field guns, a battery of searchlights and a motorcycle platoon from the Wellington Regiment, . besides other branches of the serviee including the Air Force, and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. A thousand returnecl soldiers paraded. The Governor-General Viscount Galway arrived at 10.25, accocnpanied by his aides, the naval, air force and military staff, and inspected the parade, the inspection lasting half an hour. The parade then moved into Moles-* worth street to participate in the ceremony at Parliament House.