DEMONSTRATION OF LOYAL ENTHUSIASM

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 98, 12 May 1937, Page 6

DEMONSTRATION OF LOYAL ENTHUSIASM

Crowds Iine Procession Route HUGE ASSEMBLAGE AT PARK A little of ihe Coronation pagdantly in the Empire's ctpital and every bit of the loyalty of London crowds were jreflected in the procession and service with which Hastings marked the historic occasion of the crowning of Their. Majes- = ties King George VI. and Queen Elizabeth this morning. Shops and other business premises in town were closed in lumour of the occasion and the special bunting with which the streets and buildings were decoralted lent a festive air. Children waved small flags and adults showed no less enthusiasm, a piece of red, white and blue ribbon being worn on the coat by almost every one. The response shown to the Mappeal made by the Mayor, Mr. G. A. Maddison, for a display of loyalty to the Crown was extremely gratifying, and not for many years has Hastings been so thronged with such a goodtempered and joyoys crowd. The official ce$ebrations in Hastings took the form of a procession through the streets followed by a ceremony in : Nelson Park,

• fisaded "by the Hastings Citizens' Band, ihe procession left ihe Municipal buildings and proceeded via Heretaunga street and Karamu road to the park. All along the xoute the footpaths were lined with people, and by the time ihe first units of the procession had reached the park there was a large erowd there tp meet them. The assembling of the units in the procession was undertaken by LieutColonel A. J. Manson, M.C. Those taking part jncluded the Hawke's Bay Highland Pipe Band, the Hawke's Bay Regiment, Legion of Frontiersmen, South African War veterans, Returned Soldiers' Assopiation, St. John Ambulanee Brigade, Hastings Mre Brigade, and representatives of the Friendly Society Lodges, Boy Scouts, Red Cross groups, Girl -Guides, Women's Community Oub and the Hastings Townswomen'g Guild- , ' At the park the hymn "Land^ of Hope and Glory," was followed by an introductory talk by Mr E. L. Cullen, M.P., for Hawke's Bay. The New Zealand National Antlxemi, "God Defend Kew .Zealand, V. was sung, and special prayers. were offered by ihe Rev- K. Liggett. followed by another hymn, "O God- Our Help in Ages Past". The princlpal address was then given by . ihe Mayor, followed by the singing of the National Anthem. "This Great Day." In his introductory remarks at the celebrations at Kelson Park, 'Mr Collen •aid that the people of -this small portion of the Empire were gathered to pay homage on this great day, Coronation Day. Throughout the whole of the British Empire the day would be ob•erved as one of xespeet and rejoicing4 'The Coronation is a most wonderfuf one, for it is a covenant between the King and the people of the British Empire," he said. "The King, as the occupant of the Throne, enters "into a covenant of loyalty to the, people of the Empire, and at the same time the ""people enter into a covenant of loyalty to the Rritish Crown. The British people have always kept this covenant 1 to the* Throne. It is a matter of the greatest pride that throughout our history ihis loyalty has been maintained." ihe celebrations in London and Westminister to-day would be watched with the greatest interest the world over, he said, for the crowning of a British King was the most solemn event in the British Empire. Though there might be discord and trouble in certain paris of the world, there would bo found in the British Empire only one great spirit, that of loyalty and respect to Their Majesties. Nowhere in the world co'uld there be so great a display of pageantry as 'in the Coronation of the British Monarch, and it was indeed wonderful to know that the foundation pf the British Throne was still intact and secure. Other countries of the world, he pointed out, would be .sending ambassadors to the celebrations, and they would b6 impressed by the evidence that would be found on all sides of the great spirit of loyalty that would he manifested at th'e celebrations and at the great Coronation service itself. They. by their presence, would be joining the people of the Empire in paying their respect to the British CrownMr Cullen concluded by saying that he was sure Theiy Majesties de.sirccl this day to be one of rejoicing throughout the Empire, and he asked the children partieularly to extend their thoughts to the two Princesses, Elizabeth and her sister Margaret Rose, and urged the people to tliink of the other members of the Roval Family. * Thc March-Past. The march-past providcd a fitting clirnax to the impressive ccrpmony. As the various units in the procession marched past the specially-erected dais, from where His Worship the Mayor, assthe recognised representative of His Majesty the King, took the salute, there were waves of appreciation from th© huge crowd, and each unit was aceorded liheral approval and approbation. The procession had been joined hy the pupils of the Hastings High ■ Sehools and the foar primary schools l of ihe hOtough, and it.was truly one_ of the most magniiieent spectacles ever pitnessed in the history of Hastings as £rst the. elder Tepresentatives of all .« wftlks of Efe and interests of the eomi imnity, then the 1000 0T more citizens » of the future, filed past and paid their ; Joint trihute to the Throne and all it k for in the British Empire^

As the crowd dispersed one heard on all sides espressione of praise and pleasure at the magnificence of the occasion. It was also made ahundantly clear that the people themselves took pride and pleasure in xecording that they, by their assemblage in such huge numhers to take part in the civic celebrations, had once again indicated that Hastings took seeond place to no other part of the Empire in expressing its loyaly. and affection to Thoir Majesties.