THE COACH OF GOLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 827, 16 April 1910, Page 4

THE COACH OF GOLD.

Immense labour is expended in the preparation of the great State coach in which the King rides when he goes to open Parliament. The gilded vehicle, in these days of drab and black, conveys a certain sense of magnificence and beauty, and in spite of its immensity and its vast expanse of gold, the coach and the eight creamcoloured horses that draw it, suggest solemnity and dignity. This great State coach has carried British monarchs to Parliament for nearly a century and a half, having been built in 1761. Some idea of its worth may be gathered from the fact that an American artist who recently painted a picture of King Edward, valued the paintings by Cypriaui, with which the panels are decorated, at upwards of ,£IOO,OOO. These panels represent such subjects as Britannia seated on a throne, bulbing in her hand the staff of Tibet ty, attended by Religion, Justice, Wisdom, Valour, Fortitude, Commerce, Plenty, and Victory ; Industry and Ingenuity giving a cornucopia to the genius of England ; History recording the reports of Fame ; and Peace burning the implements of war. The length of this magnificent vehicle is 24 feet, and of the pole 12 feet ; the width is 8 feet 3 inches, and the height 12 feet, while the head of a six-foot man would not be on a level with the height of the wheels. The weight of the coach is four tons. A writer in the Daily Express states that in spite of this tremendous weight, so lightly and easily is the coach hung on the great C springs that a child can push it backwards and forwards with its hands. The carriage and body of the coach are composed of four large tiitons, which support the body by four braces covered with red Morocco leather and ornamented with gill buckles. The two figures in front are represented in the act of drawing the carriage by cables extended round their shoulders, and they are sounding blasts on great trumpet shaped shells, to announce the approach of the monarch of the ocean. The body of the coach is composed of eight palm trees, which, branching out at the top, sustain the roof, and four other trees are loaded with trophies, illustrating various victories gained by Britain. There are numerous other gorgeous ornamentations in various parts of the vehicle. The inside of the body is lined with rich velvet, superbly laced and embroidered with gold. Such a coach requires constant and devoted attention. It is housed in an apartment that is almost as dainty as a drawing-room, with strips of carpet running all round it. It takes two men a whole night to dust it before it is ready for its State function. The preparation of it for the great procession means onerous work for the staff at the Royal Mews. Twentyfive men are specially brought to London from Windsor in order to assist in the task, and even then the whole staff is kept fully occupied.