KING EDWARD'S DEATH

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 258, 11 May 1910, Page 2

KING EDWARD'S DEATH

DIES IN HARNESS. A NATION IN MOURNING. BUSINESS AT A STANDSTILL QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S FORTITUDE. KING GEORGE V. PROCLAIMED The King's death at 11.45 p.m. on Friday profoundly shocked the Empire. In London all business'is at a standstill, and the Empire in mourning. All the Royal family, except Princess Maud were present when the King died. The pervading tone is a sense of personal loss. Queen Alexandra bears her loss with fortitude. St. Paul's great bell tolled, as did all church bells, and minute guns were fired from all warships. The London "Times" says:—"The King died as he had lived: in harness. King George V. will be proclaimed to-day. In a short speech he referred to King Edward's promise to promote the best interests of the people, and added: "That promise has been fulfilled, and it will be my constant endeavour to follow my father's example. I have sustained something more than the loss of a father: I have lost my King, my father and my friend. It will be my constant endeavour to fully uphold the Constitution." FEELING MESSAGES. London. London schools will be closed after addresses to the children. Archbishop Bourne has ordered a week's prayer for the Royal Family and the Empire. Minute guns were fired at Gibraltar, Malta and other stations. . Sir Wilfrid Laurier has cabled a feeling message to Earl Crewe on behalf of the Government and people of Canada. The Kaiser, the King of the Hellenes, the King of Greece, Belgium, Spain and Portugal will come to England. The Kaiser and the Emperor Francis Josef are greatly distressed. The Mikado and the Empress of Japan are deeply grieved. Touching references were made in all public courts and gatherirgs in Britain. FUNERAL ON MAY 20. It has been arranged that the burial will take place on May 20th, previously lying in state' in the Throne room at Buckingham Palace for members of the household and those privileged to enter the Palace. Subsequently the coffin will lie in state in Westminster Hall, where the public will be admitted. Crowds outside in the evening heard the.distant strains of a band, which then became suddenly silent. Salvationists, with a draped banner, appeared, and to the general surprise were admitted to the forecourt of the Palace, where thsy played King Edward's favourite hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." They then removed their caps and sang Queen Alexandra's favourite hymn, "Abide With Me," with great feeling. The public was deeply affected. The Court will wear full mourning till November 7th, two days before his late Majesty's birthday. Mr Bruce Joy has taken an excellent cast of King Edward's head. Proclamation of King George V. At exactly twelve o'clock noon yesterday, the Mayor of Te Kuiti (Mr James Boddie) took his position on the Post Office steps to read the proclamation of the accession of King George V. The hours between eleven and one o'clock were very generally observed as a holiday and a large gathering of members of the public were present. The Mayor read the following Orderin Council: — "Session of his Majesty, Plunket, Governor, Order-in-Council at the Government Buildings at Wellington, this 9th day of May, 1910, present the Right Hon Sir J. G. Ward, K.C.M.G., presiding in Council, his Excellency the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, acting by and with the advice of the Executive Council doth hereby approve of the proclamation set out in the schedule herewith respect to the accession of his Majesty King George V., and doth direct that the following formalities be observed in connection therewith —(1) That the Proclamation be publicly read in the front of the Parliamentary Buildings at twelve noon on Tuesday the 10th inst.; (2) that in the case of public buildings all flags be mast-headed from twelve until sunset on Tuesday next and thereafter be tit half-mast until after the funeral of his late Majesty; (.'!) that in the cases of other than public buildings, or ships the observance of the last preceding clause be requested on the part of the public; (1) that the public be requested to observe a holiday between the hours of 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Tuesday next." THE PROCLAMATION. "Whereas it ban pleased Almighty Gou to call to bis mercy our late Sovereign Lord King Edward the Seventh, of blessed and gloricns memory, by whose demise the Imperial Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and all other his late Majesty's Dominions is solely and rightfully come to the high and mighty Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert. We therefore, William Lee Baron Plunket, the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand Joseph George Ward, a member -of his late Majesty's Privy Council Prime Minister of the said Dominion and the members of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, assisted by members of both Houses of the General Assembly, judges and magistrates, ministers of religion, mayors, chairmen and members of local bodies and numerous other representative European and .Maori

citizens, here present, do now hereby by one full voice and consent of tongue and heart publish and proclaim that the high and mighty Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory become our only lawful and rightful liege Lord George the Fifth by the grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the seas, Defender of the Faith Emperor of India, Supreme Lord in and over the Dominion of New Zealand and its dependencies. We do acknowledge all faith and constant obedience with all hearty and humble affection beseeching God by Whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless the Royal Prince George the Fifth with long 1 and happy years to reign over us. Given at Wellington in the Dominion of New Zealand this 10th day of May in the year of our Lord, one thousand ninehundred and ten.' —J. G. Ward, J. F. Andrews, Clerk of the Executive Council." "God Save the King." After reading the Proclamation a verse of the National Anthem was sung by all present. MOURNING ARRANGEMENTS. The Mayor then read the following suggestions and arrangements:— "To secure uniformity of action in connection with the lamented death of our late beloved Sovereign the following public observances are respectfully suggested : That a close day of mourning be observed on the occasion of the funeral of his late Majesty (a general holiday on that day will be proclaimed later), women and girls to be asked to wear a band of black ribbon on the right arm above the elbow and men to wear a strip of black ribbon on the lapel of the coat until after the funeral of the King. Flags on public buildings, in addition to being at half-mast, will have a black streamer a foot above each Hag and it is desired that this also bo done on business places. It is further suggested that all ministers of religion and all congregations on Sunday next the 15th inst, and on the day appointed for the funeral of his late Majesty, hold solemn services of public worship and mourning on behalf of the people of the Dominion." The school children in Tc Kuiti were given holiday yesterday in celebration of the proclamation of King George V., and will be given holiday again on the day of the late King's funeral.