Stirring Scene

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

Stirring Scene

CELEBRATION AT NAPIER Full Procession Includes Three Bands WARSHIFS SALUTE Through. streets . gay .with flags, pemions, bunting, and other decorations, a procession representing many of the organisations of Napier marched. to the Sound Shell this morning f roiii Memorial Square for the ofiicial Coronation ceremony. The long procession, which inclUded three bands, presented a stirring sight as it proceeded smartly along the main street, a v'ariety of colourful uniforms hlending admirahly with the existing decorations. Eatings from H.M.S. Leigh and a company of the First Battalion, Hawke 's Bay Regiment, assembled at 9.30 at the Dxill Hall in Coote road and marched to the Memorial Square, where the full procession was marshalled by officers and N.C.O.'s of flhe Defence Department permanent staff. The procession was headed by the Begimental Band in i.ts btight red uniforms, followed by ratings from the Leith, who took precedence as members of the senior service; a company of the . Hawke's Bay Kegiment, headed by colour-bearers carrying' the King.'s Colours and. the regimental • colours; the Napier Technical. Memorial Band; South African War veterans; about 200 returned soldiers; 25 Legion of Frontiersmen; 35 members of the St." John Ambulanee brigade; 26 mexhbere of the Napier branch ■ of A the Red Cross Society; the Port Ahuriri Caledohian Pipe Band; Maoris in native co'stume;, 160 Girl Guides; and 200 Boy Scouts. Units in the procession were assembled on markers on the lawn and pave-: rnent near the Sound Shell, and* an aid post was formed- on the seaward side )f the wall ' near the Sound Shell by the St. John Ambulanee Bri'gade. : Convaicseent hospital patients in motor-cars. were accorded a" vantage " point on a specially-;Constructed ramp. , Royal Salute From Leith. The ceremony itself was opened by an address by - the Mayor, Mr. C. O. Horse, which was followed, bya message from the Bishop of Waiapu and an address by Mr. T. Carroll, of Wairoa. The National Anthem was sung during the ceremony as a Royal Salute, and at the conclusion' the Maori memoers of the procession sang the first verse of the anthem and the 'huge crowd gathered about the .Shell joined "n with the seeond verse. • ■At noon the guns of H.M.S. Leith, which ris berthed at Glasgow Wharf,"' flred a Royal salute of, 21 guns. 44Thek Throne of England is like a rock in storm-tossed waters, a beacon, an emblemi on wbich our deepest

thoughts of loyalty are focussed, ' said the Maypr, Mr. Morse, at the service held at tha Sound Shell this morning. 44 Without. the Throne, and the deep-rooted traditions of the nation built on the institution of the Throne. the Empire would disintegrate. '44The eonstitution of the Empire is such that one of necessity must rule," continued Mr Morse, 4 'and of course others must submit and obey. To-day in Westminster Abbey our beloved King and Queen are being crowned. The ceremony marks the solemn pledges of Their Majesties to keep the holy ordinahces of God, to" exercise "justice, and to preserve the privileges of their subjects." . . More United Than Ever. Through the. 871 years since the conquest, and through the reigns of 40 sovereigns, the people had suffered under tyranny and grown and prosperedi under wise, self-sacrilicing rule, Mr Morse added. .The monarchs of old had held absolute power which was ' often misused, but the Realrn had survived and was now more united and solid than ever before. In ref erence. to the rearmament • of England, the speaker expressed a : wish that the King and Queen would help the nation ,ta lead the way in world peace and understanding. Mr Turi Carroil, nephew of the late Sir James Carroil, followed Mr Morse. The citizens were assembled, he etiid, as British subjects to dedicate themselves anew as loyal subjects of the Empire and its head, uniting, themselves in a, common bond of sympathy with the new Kmg. JJr Carroil referred to the changes in the Empire which had corrie about since the former Coronation in' 1911, and to 'the change in principles of Government whicfi" had followed. . 4 'King George V . has gone from us, but the firm heritage he left will endure," he said. "It'is a very precious ■one, oue which we must aH maintarn. The suecessi'ul inaihtenance of the prestige of the Ckdwn ;he -left, ■ in its ex- . tremely • difficult position, very largely depends on our : new soyereigns. God bless- theml'' ■