THE CORONATION.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 337, 19 January 1937, Page 2

THE CORONATION.

SILVER JUBILEE ECLIPSED. DEALING WITH THE CROWDS. An effort Ts toTse made by the Office »f Works, In conjunction with other luthorlties, to flood-light London during the Coronation celebrations next May In such a way as to avoid congestion In the West End streets slmi,ar to that which followed the Silver lubilee Illuminations last year. Schemes have been suggested and ixperfments carried out during the ?aat few weeks, tor flood-lighting at joints outside the central area. Last year hundreds of thousands of jeople gathered each night outside Buckingham Palace, then wandered .lowly through the streets for the .Vest End. Traffic was held up for tours, and It was necessary to close nany streets to vehicles. Lighting From River. Three principal schemes have now teen devised to draw the crowds eastwards, westwards and southwards rom Buckingham Palace. These Inlolve floodlighting The Serpentine, to attract people westward Into Hyde Park. The Houses of Parliament, from the Thames, to attract people southward over Westminster and Lambeth Bridges to the Albert Embankment. The Tower of London and the steeples of all the City churches, to attract people eastward. Important buildings will also be lluminated during the celebrations. These will include, in addition to many arge private buildings: Buckingham Palace. Queen Victoria Memorial, National Gallery, St. Paul’s Cathedral. Big Ben face and tower, Whitehall, Admiralty Arch, St. James's Park. It has not yet been decided by the iffice of Works whether Westminster Ibbey will be flood-lit. Plea for Clean Buildings. Appeals are being made by lighting luthorlties for owners to clean the surfaces of buildings in time for the Coronation. It is pointed out. that Use walls of London juildings make it difficult to secure effective flood-lighting. A huge injrease of electricity is necessary to lluminate dark walls. Local councils in many parts of the sountry have already made allocations for the illumination of public, buildings tnd parks next year. An official of the General Electric Company stated yesterday that his firm had received many inquiries for spectacular lighting effects. Set pieces of red, white and blue soloured lights have been prepared, fhese are mainly in the form of flags, crowns and combinations of the two. with the initials, “E.R.” Designs for lantetns and electric lamp standards have also been prepared. More Plans For Seats. Buildings, outside London. which have been wired for floodlighting include : Hampton 'Court Palace, Windsor Castle Tower, Chester Cathedral, Abbey Gate, Bury St. Edmunds, Bath Abbey, and Churches In many part of the country.