CORONATION SUMMER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3251, 23 June 1911, Page 3

CORONATION SUMMER.

THE INVASOH OF LONCON.

PREPARATIONS FOFv FESTIVITIES

(Specially written for the “Gisborne 'rimes” by E. N. Armit.) LONDON, May 12. London is fast becoming a rival of Paris and Brussels as a pleasure resort. Year by year greater numbers of'foreigners and overseas' visitors flock to the vast city for amusement, entertainment, or instruction. The capital, of England is gayer, more brilliant, more hospitable to newcomers than ever before in its history. , ■ In the realms of ; art, the drama, music, and in tire production of pleasant debonnair and easy graces, London bids fair to lead the world. There is a* charm about this opulent “city of cities” to bo found l in no other capital in the world. Still is the love of showines and pageantry strong, and the magnificent parks, public buildings and promenades become! more stately as the years advance. Trade l is stimulated by 1 the constant influx of visitors, with the result that great sums of money have been s"ent within the last few years in the beautification and adornment of the more central; portions of the metropolis. a here are indications that the forthcoming Coronation will provide the most brilliant and impressive example of this love of pageantry and splendour than any other event of recent history. The ceremony and its adjuncts will symbolise, amid unexampled pomp, the stateliness of an ancient monarchy, as well as the vastness and power of the twentieth century British Empire. Every circumstance will be employed to rouse the historic imagination, and to end the mind reeling through centuries of gradual dcvlopment to the days of the earliest kings and theodawn of constitutional government. The representatives of everv crowned head of Europe are expected to be seen in the triumphal procession through the city: every navy of the world will be represented at the Coronation Review at Spithead. ABNORMAL APPEARANCE. Months have been spent in preparing London for the great pageant, and already the city has assumed an abnormal appearance. Noble and antique churches in various parts of the r-ont© have been disfigured by timber stands and galleries from 1 which spectators may view the procession. Westminster Abbey is hidden about its base and sides by a mass of unsightly woodwork, which appears strangely to desecrate the hallowed and venerable sanctity of the ancient pile. • For some weeks now visitors have not been permitted to enter the-Abbey, while Sunday services have also ceased till after‘the eermony. Various alterations. and temporary removals have been made inside the building. admission to which at the time of the Coronation will, of course, he. given only to members of the Royal household, foreign potentates, distinguished guests, ambassadors, and the representatives of special interests. There are to be three processions in all—the first on Coronation Day (22nd June), when the Roval cortege will pass from Westminster Abbey, after the crowning, along by the tower of Birr Ben, up Parliament street and Whitehall to Charing Cross thence to Cockspur street, along Pall Mall, S. James street, through the imposing Piccadilly, along the Green Park, to Hyde Park corner, thence down Constitution Hill and back to Buckingham Palace. When their Majesties set out for Westminster the carriages proceed along the into Whitehall and down Parliament street. The following day the Royal procession will take place through the city and South London. Setting out from Buckingham Palace, the representatives of “dominoins, thrones and powers” will pass up Constitution Hilli to Hyde Park coiner, along Piccadilly, St. James street, Pall Mall, Ludgate Hill, St. Paul’s Churchyard, Cannon street. Queen Victoria street to the Mansion House, where the Lord Mayor will extend a welcome to their Majesties. After a short ceremony, the precession will pass down King William Street, over London bridge to Borough High street, Borough road. St. George’s Circus, Westminster Bridge, thence back through Whitehall and the Mall to Buckingham Palace. This route is about seven miles long, and, it - is anticipated will be lined by dense crowds behind troops the whole way. On the 29th June the last procession will pass along the Mall into Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, the Strand, Fleet street, St. Paul’s Churchyard, Cheapsido, Moorgate street, City road, Rosebery Avenue, Tlieobold road, Hare street Oxford street, the Marble Arch, the Ring, Hyde Park corner, Constitution Hill, hack to Buckingham Palace (about ten miles). In order to give a free debouchement into Trafalgar square from' The Mall, three oxfour buildings have been _ demolished, and this will incidentally improve one of the finest approaches into the noblest square of Europe. FANCY PRICES FOR SEATS. Already heavy bookings have been recorded ‘ for seats along the procession routes. In Pall Mall, St. James street and Piccadilly, a large number of suites on first, second and third floors have been, let at prices ranging from. 200 to 400 guineas.- Individual seats on the staging near the Abbey are. being booked at prices ranging from twelve to five guineas. At other places along the Strand and Fleet street seats may be obtained 'for one and two guineas, while notices are displayed in nearly every window and elevated “coign of' vantage” that the windows are “to let.” Warnings have been issued 1 to intending purchasers to deal only with reputable agents as extensive frauds were perpetrated in connection with the Coronation of King Edward. In. one instance on that occasion a. private speculator took a large stand in a prominent position in the West End, sold all his seats'—'more, than a hundred' — several] times over, and l when the buyers turned up,, they, found! hundreds of claimants having the same tickets; Meanwhile the speculator disappeared with the proceeds. As a. fact, the postponement of King Edward's Comonation led to numerous cases in the law courts and all indicated the necessity for same kind of agreement being -arrived. at between hirers and lessors of procession seats. POPULATION DOUBLED. Tt is anticipated that the population of London will be nearly doubled at the time, of the ceremony'. There will be a good sprinkling of New Zealanders: oiio estimate places R-he number at 3000. Though accommodation will doubtless bo taxed iO' its!' utmost capacity, some mis,understanding 'lias been- occasioned by reports ..that prices will be exorbitantly high. 'lt. is .said that’ booking^:'Horn the United" Stdtes’ have been lowqr than usual, 'because a large .number qj: mid-dle-class. American®,...who .wtthldjJotherwise, liaye yisjted England ...whqn the country is in Its normal have | been deterred by the qj. high I prices and difficulty,ofmodationr - r A statement was v Biffin-

lated that all the hotels had been fully booked. This was quite incorrect, and j at the time of writing there is abund- [ nut ac:o'.nm'<;dattion at prices about the ' normal. Lange numbers of Europeans, however, are now arriving. One heais ereach, Germ a, Italian, and other languages in the streets, the “tubes,” the mot r 'busses and electric underground railways.

NEW ZEALAND’S PART,

Satisfaction has been occasioned in olli rial and other quarters that New Zealand has sent a Coronation contingent ter participate' in the festivities. The troops will receive a warm welcome,. and numerous corporations and municipalities are already making arrangements for their reception and entertainment. New Zealand will be well represented ait the Festival of Empire, opened at the Crystal: Palace today with impressive ceremony by King George, and the exhibits inemde a Maori pah, a model oil the Houses of Parliament, a representation of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a steamer loading wool, moat and hemp, and other displays to testify the industries, _ resources and scenery of the Dominion. Colonial visitors l will be welcomed by the Dominion Club, an outgrowth of the Festival of Empire, which will see to their entertainment and interests. Oversea, journalists will meet their brother pressmen of England at a conference promoted by the Empire Press Union, while a banquet will follow. Lord Curzon will attend this latter ■function. INVESTITURE AT CARNARVON.

Nob the least interesting sequel to the Coronation will: be the investiture of the young Prince of Wales at Carnarvon in July. This revives an ancient eclesiastical ceremony, and is the first such investiture since the historical presntation of the first Prince of Wales by Edward I. The ceremony is charterised by much dignity and impressiveness. Extensive business is being done with illuminations, public and private, all over Groat Britain, and it would be safe to say that the London summer of 1911 will be marked by more varied, brilliant and impressive pageantry and festivities than, has ever been seen in the ancient seal of Empire.