A HASTY STATEMENT QUALIFIED.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10954, 2 May 1901, Page 5

A HASTY STATEMENT QUALIFIED.

* (SPECIAL TO "THE PRESS.") WELLINGTON, May 1.

Comment has been occasioned here by the action of the Government in omitting the Mayor, who is head of tho Citizen's Reception Committee, from tho Honorary Commission appointed to make local arrangements. It is thought this might -o_ due to the fact that Mr Aitken, on election night, in reply to an interruption, said he "did not care a twopenny ticket for all the dukes in creation, and he wished the Royal party wasn't coming." Tho 'Mayor qualified this in tlie course of a speech to his committee last night. He said lie liad spoken hastily, under the pressure of constant interruption.

DUNEDIN ARRANGEMENTS. (press association telkgram.) DUNEDIN, May 1. The City Council to-night decided to guarantee £2000. to defray the expenses in connection with the Royal visit. An amendment to reduce the amount to £1000 found four supporters, three being new Councillors.

THE DRESS REGULATIONS. (SrECIAL TO "the press.") DUNEDIN, May 1. The dress regulations in connection with the Royal visit are likely to cause much, inconyenienoe, and as matters of the. kind have to be settled by the Imperial authorities, tbe Premier, it" is understood, has sent a cable to Mr Chamberlain to have the regulations amended in harmony wiCh colonial ideas.

It is stated that during her visit to Auckland tho Duoheos of Cornwall ar.d York will lay tho foundation stone of tha Queen Victoria Memorial Maori Girls' School. Nearly £900 haa now been subscribed towards it throughout tha colony, of which £40 has already been given in Christchurch. The work can bs begun as soon as £1200 is obtained.