THE DUKE'S REPLY TO ADDRESSES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 148, 24 June 1901, Page 5

THE DUKE'S REPLY TO ADDRESSES.

At the Provincial Chambers on Saturday addresses from the Orangemen and old age pensioners were presented, the chambers beingl richly decorated. His Royal Highness replied as follows: —

.\fr Aijayor and Gentlemen,—On behalf of the.Duchess and myself, I thank you sincerely for the hearty welcome you have proferred to us, in the name of the citizens of Christchnrch and the various bodies who represent them. lam specially interested in the greeting accorded to \ik by the old ag-e pensioners of the district. The working1 of the system which has been established

in New Zealand is being- carefully

watched in the Mother Country, and I am glad to be able to gather information respecting- it during our visit. Tt is a great pleasure to us to come amongst you to see for ourselves something of the remarkable progress which has been made by this city and district since the* Canterbury pilgrims landed some 40 years ago. Favoured though you are by a splendid climate, and rich fertile soil, that progress speaks volumes for the courage and perseverance of the pioneers who wrested the province from the wilderness; also for the intelligence and resource of those who have followed them. You have here established a new England, bound to the old by the two-fold cord of love and affection. The deeds of your sons have proved that they have nobly learned the lessons of loyalty taught them by their fathers and mothers. In the name of the King I thank you for your renewed assurance of that loyalty. We also thank you for your kind wishes and expressions in re-' gard to our voyage. We shall always cherish gratefully the memories of the warm-hearted kindness and generosity we have everywhere met with in New Zealand, and it is our earnest prayer that the progress and prosperity you now enjoy may

continue to grow from day to day.

The councillors and others present were presented to the Duke, who shook hands with them.

THE JUBILEE MEMORIAL.

Their Eoyal Highnesses then proceeded to Victoria Square, where great stands had been erected to aeco'mmodate visitors and the public. A pavilion was built in the centre of the amphitheatre, in which the stone was to be laid. A canopy dais fronted this, where the Duke and Duchess were received by the Governor, amid continuous cheers and peals from the cathedral bells. Here, as elsewhere, cameras closely followed the Royal progress, and a kineroatograph record of the scene was taken. The

Mayor stated in his speech that the memorial would serve as a token of Ihe honour and esteem in which they held the early settlers, and that there should be some memorial of the Canterbury soldiers who had died in p^outh Africa. The Duke replied after laying the stone, as follows: —

Mr Mayor, Ladies and Gentlemen, —We are very happy to be here to-day, and to become associated with this tribute of affection to our late dearly beloved Queen. I should say to you, teach your children to look up to this as a memorial of her whose life was a noble example

of devotion to duty, of tender sympathy, and of loving- regard for the well being of her people, and to us all a priceless heritage. I can assure

you that the Duchess and myself are

greatly touched by the very kind and hearty welcome given to us to-

day by the people of Canterbury. The friendly societies then marched past, each society cheering the Duke. His Royal Highness was presented with a large silver trowel, the handle being solid greenstone. The Royal party then drove off through the Victoria Bridge arch, which, by its graceful curves and festoons of greenery, gave added beauty to the slowly flowing Avon. The carriage then drove, via. the beautiful broad avenue of Park Terrace, and quaint old Carlton Mill Road, by the side of the willows of the Avon,'to Te Koraha, the Royal residence. The Duke looked rather tired throughout the functions, but the Duchess smiled pleasantly, and seemed to be enjoying herself. The infantry lined the streets throughout the whole length of the procession, the cadets lining the route north of the square.