THE CORONATION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 43, 12 August 1911, Page 9 (Supplement)

THE CORONATION

MY IMPRESSIONS. (By Sir Joseph Ward in Daily Mail). I have seen great popular demonstrations in other countries, and I remember well the visit of the Dominion representatives to the Guildhall four years ago, but never have 1 witnessed anything to compare with the demonstration of Friday. In every way it was splendid. We must have passed through millions of people, and wherever we went we saw evidence of the keenest appreciation. The crowds were not too serious: they were good-natured and intent on giving not only to their Majesties but also to their guests a real hearty welcome.

We are often told that the British have forgotten how to cheer. That is slander. No one, I am sure, has ever listened to cheers that were more hearty or more sustained. It is true that in West End the people were less demonstrative than in the east and in the south, but, having regard to the difference in the class of population this was not astonishing. South of the Thames the enthusiasm was extraordinary. A TOWN OF MANY CITIES. One thing especially strumk me as I watched the people—their earnest desire to identify the most prominent members of the procession. Nearly everybody hud a newspaper and consulted the programme. When they managed to find the names they immediately devoted their energies to cheering. In the east and also in the south I was strangely impressed by the sight of so many mothers with infants in their arms. No doubt the children would not have been there if the parents had been able to leave them in charge of someone at home. When one remembers that many of these mothers had to walk considerable distances and to stand in a crowd for three and a-half hours one must be amazed at their endurance. Only a woman could carry such a burden and not complain. No man, I am convinced, would be capable of the task and the sacrifice. This is one of the things we do not understand and do not often appreciate. The journey was a revelation to many of us. We all know that London, with its seven and a-half million population, is the greatest city in the world. But until yesterday we did not realise that London is composed of many and varied cities. The west and the east, the south and the north—all have distinct features both in their general aspects and also in the appearance of their inhabitants. While the general condition and physique of the people are admirable, 1t was impossible to shut our eyes to' the existence of many whose physical condition leaves much to be desired. Coming from New Zealand and knowing sdmething of the British Dominions that require men and women for their development, I could not help thinking what might be done by transplanting some of these people when young and capable of improvement. '

THE PEOPLE AND THEIR POLITE POLICE.

The children were everywhere, and seemed not merely to enjoy the spectacle, but to take an eager interest in the distinguished members of the procession. Their shrill little cheers gave an emotional note to the demonstration. They appeared to be greatly impressed by the military part of the pagent. And well they might, for it was certainly a remarkable display of imperial military power. The presence of so many young children in these great crowds was a tribute, to the organisation and the control of a demonstration that covered so great an area.

The orderliness of the people and their readiness to assist the authorities were alike astonishing. In no other country have the police fewer difficulties with the populace. Their control is nothing short of marvellous. I saw one convincing example. At one part of the route about two thousand people were pressing forward into the ljne. Two mounted policemen rode up, and without raising their voices asked the throng to move back. Instantly they moved. In any other city the people would have murmured and demanded a reason. Here there was no question. Only instant obedience, and that, too, from an evident desire to assist the police. I suppose this ready obedience comes from their experience in the management of the vast traffic of the capital, where movement would be dangerous and often im-' possible if the people did not obey orders. Nothing is too troublesome for your police. Their patience is inexhaustible and their politeness is proverbial. And the people recognise and appreciate these qualities, so that there is never anv conflict of authority.

There was not a single yard along this long route in which the arrangements were not perfect. Procession and spectators never mingled or trenched on each other's sphere. There was not the least sign of confusion from the time we started until we returned, and yet there was never any attempt to prevent the people from seeing everything that was to be seen, I have never seen anything on the same great'scale or anything so well organised and carried out from beginning to end.

IMPRESSIVE SPECTATORS. Our carriage, I believe, was responsible for the only pause in the progress. Soon after we started—General Botha and Mrs. Botha and Lady Ward and myself—one of the traces of our carriage broke. We were compelled to stop arid leave the procession. But the mews were within ten minutes' drive and as soon as we could get another horse we rejoined the procession within half an hour without any difficulty. If I might sum up my impressions, they are these. Every visitor from the dominions was greatly impressed by the multitude of the spectators, by their manifest appreciation of the significance of the demonstration, by the marvellous organisation and the ready obedience, by the vastness and the variety of London, and by the affectionate enthusiasm witli which the King and Queen and the members of the Royal Family were received everywhere by all classes of the people. It was a great demonstration worthy of the race and of the Empire. We shall return to our distant homes strengthened by the knowledge that we belong to a living Empire. I often wonder whether the people of the United Kingdom realise how keen is the interest taken in the dominions in everything that concerns the welfare of the British Empire. We in New Zealand arc Imperialists to a man and woman. In my experience as a member of the Government of New Zealand I have always found that nothing appeals more strongly to the people of that country that the question of Empire. We desire above all things co-operation among the different parts of the Empire. These visits, whether to conferences or to pageants, serve a most useful purpose. FATHER AND SON. I must say a word or two about the Coronation service in the Abbey. The solemnity and magnificence of the ceremony have left on me an undying impression. It was difficult perhaps to

' understand the reason for some survivals, such as the oblations. But in the British race there is a strong conservatism in such matters. Every part of the ceremony has its root and its significance in the past, and serves its purpose in keeping alive traditions and in preserving that continuity which is an element of nature whether in men or in Constitutions.

One incident was distinctly pathetic and most moving to every spectator. When the young Prince of Wales knelt to make obeisance to the King, his father, one could not help remembering how short is the period since the King himself was in this same position as his sou. It was a most touching incident of the great solemnity—the kiss that followed upon the obeisance and the oath of fealty. THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT. A SUCCESSFUL CORONATION" DELEGATION. London, June 23. New Zealand has every reason to be proud of the reception which lias been accorded in England to the military con-' tingent for the Coronation, and also of the manner in which the men have acquitted themselves. As I stated before, the uniform consists of an olive green tunic, with black shoulder straps, silver buttons, black collar with silver fern/ leaf, white cord breeches, black riding boots, and green slouch cap with the huia feather. The effect is unexpectedly smart. On the march to St. Paul's last Sunday the New Zealanderß quite took the fancy of the public, and on Tuesday Lord Haldane, in his inspection, was specially struck by the smart appearance of the outfit, on which he made an audible remark to his stall".

By a happy thought, four of the Maori troupe from the White City have been embodied in the contingent, and one of them was detached for the special escort of the Prime Minister in to-day's procession. One of the Maori members, Aperahama Wiari, was also a member of the Coronation Contingent of 1902. The others are Tiki Papakura (a brother of Maggie), Titi Roera and Kereopa Hori—all mightily pleased at the honor they have received.

When I visited the camp of the New Zealanders at the Duke of York School at Chelsea on Wednesday, they were parading at full strength .for photographs, and Colonel Bauchop, C.M.G., who has cut himself off from Camberley for a few days to see the Coronation through, took advantage of the opportunity to present to Corporal E. R. Husband the long-service medal, "a decoration no fellow can get unless he has earned it."

The disposition of the New Zealanders for the Coronation and the Royal progress was as follows:—On Coronation Day (yesterday) the officers.joined the guard of honor of oversea officers in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, while the men were lined up with other troops from the dominions in Queen's Gardens, about the new Queen Victoria Memorial. To-day the majority of the contingent (six officers and twenty-four men) were detached as an escort to the Prime Minister, marching in front of the carriage in which Sir Joseph Ward and General Botha drove. The officers were Colonel Bauchop, Colonel Abbot, Col. Chaytor, Major Moorhouse, Major Gabites and Captain Seddon. The balance of the troop were drawn up on the line of route. Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes and Major Johnston (both of Canterbury) were selected for the staff of the General commanding the oversea troops, which was drawn from the whole oversea force engaged in tbe celebrations. They will come in contact in this duty with Major W. R. N. Maddocks, Jt.A.", who was formerly aide-de-camp to Colonel Pole-Penton, and is still his staff-officer in command of the artillery at Malta, and Captain Makgill Crichton Maitland, brother of the officer of the some name who is at present with the New Zealand army. All the officers of the oversea contingents were presented to Lord Haldane after the parade, and he addressed them shortly on the prospects which the new scheme of an Imperial army opened tip for them. He said that Field-Marshal Sir William Nicholson, as Chief of the Imperial General Staff, had worked out in collaboration with the oversea chiefs a plan which it was hoped would result in a unified army of the Empire. "That," he added, "means a great deal for you. It means the chance of distinction, power of interchange, opportunities of making yourselves acquainted with what is highest in the military system of this and other countries, and I hope opportunities also of doing something that you will be proud of to hand over to those who come after you, and which those who come after you may oarry yet a further stage. These arc things which give me a lively sense' that we live ;n days that are full of hope for the Empire."