Postponement of Coronation Festivities.

Manawatu Herald, 26 June 1902, Page 2

Postponement of Coronation Festivities.

ILLNESS OF THE KING. Yesterday morning at 11 His Worship the Mayor received 'the following telegram from Sir J. G. Ward, acting Premier ; — Segcet -to inform yon that I have the following cable from London, timed 1.80 p m. -24th. Cable begins, ! Acting Premier, Wellington. Ooro- ■ on postponed, King to undergo -nation’—cableends: there is no si-i.ature to the cable but I assume it is from the Premier: I do not think it necessary until His Excellency the Governor receives official con* firmation by cable for me to suggest what course should be followed, Should the news be confirmed all ceremonies in connection with the , coronation will require to be post* poned.” At 1.45 p.m. His Worship received the following telegram“ Since my previous telegram I have received the following from Mr Seddoh dated London 24th 1.46 p.m. * Colonial Premiers were to be received by His Majesty the King to-day, and dine with him this evening. All postponed. His Majesty the King ia suffering from peritonitis, operation necessary. Coronation postponed.’ ” Cable ends. Yesterday we received the following further telegrams from Sir J. G, Ward:—“The second cable which I have received from London from Mr Seddon advising me definitely of the postponement of the coronation of His Majesty the King in consequence of an operation being necessary requires me to say that all public ceremonies in connection with the coronaation be postponed. I therefore ad. vise you at the earliest moment that all public ceremonies arranged for tomorrow must not take place. On receipt of further advices fixing the date for the coronation J shall advise you." “ In the absence of official communication from the Imperial Government conveying any wish from His Majesty the King that the intended celebration should be proceeded with to-morrow, I feel it my duty after fullest consideration to now advise you that no public celebrations are to be carried out in any part of the colony to-morrow, except the entertainment of the children and the poor. Anything in the shape of general celebrations would in view of the fact of His Majesty having undergone a critical operation the outcome of which no one can forsee, be carried out under a feeling of sadness that would make such .

') w nothing short of a hollow It is unnecessary lor me to add that it is with the deepest regret in which I am sure the people of the colony join that I feel it necessary to advise this course. It, is too late to cancel the public holiday to-morrow, and this will be observed as doubtless many will desire to take part in religious ceremonies suitable to the occasion, and also to the entertaining of , the children and poor." . "Have just received following further cable from Mr Seddon—* London, dated 25th, 12.15 a.m.: No change condition in His Majesty King. Naval review postponed.’ ” . "Havejust received following telegram from Mr Seddon, timed London, 7.15 p.m. 34th— ‘ Operation successful, removed disquietude. Pray God preserve His Majesty the King this hour of trial. Seddon.' Message ends. All telegraph and telephone offices will reopen to-night at 7 o’clock and again at 10 o’clock, and it is proposed to arrange an all-night service between here and Sydney. There will be no postal or telegraph holiday to-morrow. Offices will open as usual.” " The following official telegram ha? just been received by His Excellency the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies under date London, 34th June. Cable begins: ‘lts with the deepest regret that I have to inform you - that I have received this morning the following official intimation ; • The King is suffering from perityphlitis. His condition on Saturday was so satisfactory it was hoped that with care His Majesty the King would bo able to go through the coronation ceremony, but on Monday evening a recrudescence became manifest rendering a surgical operation necessary to-day. The coronation ceremony is therefore postponed. I shall telegraph at once further intelligence both as to King’s health and as to arrangements with regard to festivities.’ Cable ends, MEDICAL BULLETINS. A bulletin issued this afternoon signed by the King’s doctor states "No operation was performed on Saturday, when the condition ot His Majesty was satisfactory. There was a recrudescence of the trouble on Monday night, and an operation will be performed this afternoon.” The publio interpret the bulletin to mean that the King has a growth or inflammation in the region or the vermiform appendix. A later bulletin states that the operation was successful, and was borne well. The abscess was evacuated, and the condition of the patient was regarded as satisfactory. The Earl Marshal (the Duke of Norfolk) has received the King’s command to express His Majesty’s deep sorrow that owing to bis serious illness, the Coronation must be postponed, but King’s earnest hop# is that all celebrations in the country will bo held as arranged ; also that the dinners shall be given to the poor. LATEST BULLETIN. A bulletin issued at 7 o’clock on the 114th states that the King is making satisfactory progress, and has been much relieved by the operation. MEDICAL EXPLANATIONS. Perityphlitis, said a medical man to a . Post reporter yesterday morning, is ■■generally regarded as being synonywith appendictis. Strictly speakperityphlftic is an inof part of the large intesappendicitis is inflammation vermiform appendix-—a narrow tube attached to part of the It may be induced by a a strain, or constipation, or of seme particle of food intestine. If perityphlitis is it is less serious than but either complaint canregarded, and at the very would mean that His Majesty confined to bed for a considerable period. In the great majority Of cases the patient recovers. Another medical authority regards the matter as serious if, as appears to be the case with His Majesty, the operation has had to be performed in an emergency. In itself the operation, however, is not an uncommon one, and it is not dangerous If performed in the oase of children or when the practitioner is able to choose his time for it. As in all surgical cases, too, a great deal depends upon the patient’s general condition of health.