HASTINGS TRAVELLER DESCRIBES THE GOLDEN HALL OF HOMAGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 122, 9 June 1937, Page 10

HASTINGS TRAVELLER DESCRIBES THE GOLDEN HALL OF HOMAGE

Tbe marvellous sigbts to be sesn at tbe Daily Mail Ideal Homes Exhibition tbis year have been enjoyed by many visitors to London, and among them was a Hastings traveller, wbo writes so interestingly of all sbe saw tbat otbers not able to view the aetual exhibition may like to sbare ber experiences by reading extracts from ber letter. Tbe writer describes first tbe wonders of tbe Golden Hall of Homage, and later tells of tbe numeroua other sigbts. Sbe writes as follows — "I wonder if I can collect my scatterod thoughts sufficiently to tell you a little about tbe Ideal Homes Exhibition — ratber a diffieult task to attempt to give you even a sligbt idea of this marvellous exhibition — wbicb it would take one days to see properly^ lot alone write about. "Tbe Daily Mail Ideal Homes Exhibition, wbich ia beld at Olympia, came into being in 1908, and bas grown tremendously since tben, and baa now bosts of appreciative supportera and friends, bome-lovers and home-makers, young and old wbo year after year wend tbeir way along the miles of iuteresting and up-to-date exhibits, tbe' pick of our mighty Empire's productions. "Tbis year's exhibition, tbe twentyfirst of its kind, was. on a particularly fine scale to mark tbe Coronation of King George VI., and as a tribute to Tbeir Majesties, wbo are sueb great lovers of bome and fainily. The most striking feature of tbe exhibition was the Golden Hall of Homage, near tbe entrance to the building, and bere was seen a wonderfnl pageant of Empire, tbe people from various parts of tbe Empire, India, Afriea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ceylon and the Near East, etc., in huge frescoes, the figures standing out in bold relicf qdvancing towards tbe golden statue of tbe KingEmperor clad in- the xobes of tbe Garter and standing at tbe end of the Golden Hall of Homage. "It was a wonderfnl pietnrej men, women and children of all olassea advancing gift-laden to pay homage to tbeir King and Emperor, the majestic statue being tbe work of Sir William Diclc, R.A. In tbe backgroqnd were depicted on canvas London 's outstanding buildings— Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's, tbe Cenotaph, tbe - Tower o E London, Big Ben and otbers, while tbe ligbting effects were very. beautiful. A soft golden tint illuminated tbe dqme-like ceilipg of the ball, wbile a brighter glow gave a very lifes-like effeet to tbe groups of loyal subjeets on tbeir way to pay homage, and one alrnost expected to see them marcb forward or salute.

"Tbe wbole scbeme was most ingen ionsly carried out, and viewed from a distance was most effeetive, The im posing statue of His Majesty in bis sweeping robes, and holding in bis bands tbe symbol of xule, tbe sceptre. was particularly fine. Tbe statue, the flrst one of the reign, waa 15 feet in height, and stood under an octagonal canopy surmounted by a crown, tbe whole being brilliantly illuminated in golden ligbt. Indeed, the whole ball was one of golden splendour, . witb no colour save tbe searlet flags and Empire devices wbich decorated tbe friezes and bannerettes and emblems wbich added a splash of colour to' tbe scene. "Tbe various , groups of peoples of Empire were typical of the . country tbey represented. India led the pilgrimage witb a Rajput maiden wearing a garland of flowers, a boy bearing a bouquet, and a girl witb a tray of fruit on ber head. Tben followed a Holy man with a tiger beside bim, a dancing girl, a warrior, r, merchant, a billman from tlie Kyber Pass, and iast of all an Indian Prinee in a howdab on a gaily-bedecked elepbant. Bebind all was tbe mosque of Delhi. ''Bebind Australia 's group was the Sydney barbour bridge, gold-mining buildings, a landscape witb gums, natives of New Guinea bearing Bird of Paradise plumes, Australian abori ginals witb boomerangs followed, and then in striking contrast a truly pastoral scene, tbe farm overseer with his sbeep, women witb apples and grapes, and the forester with bis axe. "Dear old New Zealand, too, was tbere witb a pastoral scene and ghmpses of Mount Egmont, a Maori bome set among cabbage trees and ferns witb _a chief and bis people, t ough I did not eonsider tho figures of tbe Maoris did them justice. Tbe scene also showed a child witb a lamb, a shepherd, a farmer, a girl laden with fruit, an apiarist and fisherman. • "Ceylon was very interesting, witb its tea-pickers, fruit and coconut gatberers, wbile a gem-cutter from tbe city of gems was carrying bis casket of precious stones. Tom-tom beaters and daneers witb tbeir tambourines followed, wbile tbe procession ended with skin Cllief cari7^ng a leopard "Ihe Mediterranean group showed tbc Rock of Gibraltar, a hint of our naval power. A native flower girl laden witb blossoms was followed by a Maltese laee-maker bearing, a silk lace pillow. A Greek farmer witb a skin of wine followed, and an island Turk drove his donkey laden witbngrapes. ' ' Tbese are jiist a . f ew of tbe very interesting groups of loyal subjeets, but

it would take too long to describe them aU." Many other sigbts wero also described in this, letter, wbicb will be contimied later.