THE CITY DECORATIONS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10995, 19 June 1901, Page 8

THE CITY DECORATIONS.

HOW THE WORK IS PROCEEDING.

So far the work of decorating the city for the reception of the Royal visitors is very much "a thing of shreds and patches," and there is but little indication of how the scheme will work out in its entirety. The general idea is that things have been cut rather fine, as regards time in which to do tihe work, as compared with the other cities. However, ii the Christchurch workmen continue to get on as well as they have since eight o'clock on Monday morning, the City of the Plains will make a brave show yet, always providing the weather gods are (kind to us. » At the railway station nothing has yet been done towards the design in greenery •which is to be carried out except to bring beautiful palms and ferns from Southland. The South Belt shows no signs of decorative activity or [proposed illumination—either public or private—as yet, but perhaps the residents intend springing some surprises on the town a littfie later.

At the corner of Manchester street workmen vs-ere yesterday engaged erecting the red, -white, and blue arch, the Venetian masts of like colours, •which reach from the South belt along Manchester street to the shipping arch, being all in place. But they (the masts) did not yesterday look really happy, or as if they -were pleased to be standing there on an ordinary busy work-a---day morning, without their pennants flying. The shipping arch is as yet a mere skeleton; it is to be something worth seeing ■when completed. A line of Venetian masts in red a/nd blue foElows to St. Asaph street, and then red and white masts to the Clock Tower, where a square of 'heliotrope and white Venetian masts wave their pennants. There is no indication ri private illuminations till Messrs Milner and Thompson's is reached, where the motto "Welcome greetings to our future King, in coloured glass, with lamps behind, appears. The only other completed effort in Manchester street is the word "Welcome" in electric lamps over the south door of the Canterbury Hall.

Messrs Strange and Co.'s premises are being specially illuminated, ''Ghristehurch Rejoices," "God Save the King," "E.R." "G.M." intertwined, and an anchor, all in electric lamps, which, judging from the trial illuminations last night will make a very effective show. Some of the central designs are particularly good. Messrs Ashby, Bergh, and Co. have a large crown of silver stars with an electric lamp in each star, in front of their building. Lines of coloured electric lamps and the letters "E.R." also appear. Over the Wliite Hart Hotel there is a transparency depicting the Duke and Duchess advancing arm-in-arm and 'his Royal Highness assisting a Maori woman to rise as she kneels at the feet of royalty.

In Cashel street Messrs Pyne and Co. have "God Save ttbe King" in large tetters, and at Mr Burkes Hotel workmen were engaged yesterday fixing up a big crown with the letters "E.R." and Ireland's warm-hearted motto, "Cead Mile Failthe." Rows of little lamps appear in front o£ Messrs BaJlantyue's and evidence is given by the appearance of workmen hanging on to the front of buildings, and heaps of gas-pipe and such material that other firms have something in hand. Messrs Ballantyne and Co. have hoieted into ptuce the Maori welcome "Haere Mai," and are putting up other mottoes and emblems.

At the Grain Agency corner the scene is n busy one; work is being pushed on at the Frozen Meat Companies* arch, post holes are being dug and) masts erected. The West Coast trophy in front of the Bask of New Zealand has only just been started. Messrs Sa»rgood, Sons, and Ewen are well under weigh with their preparations for display, which will be attractive. Other firms l»ve crowns, the letters ,"E.K.," and , other emblems in front of their premises. A good number of the posts for barricading the royal route are in position. The" square itself, however, seems destined, as it should be, to form the finest decorated portions of the city, that is, with regard to its western side. The eastern portion is yet bare of all adornment, except for a promising flag pole on Messrs Kave and Carter's roof, and another on those of Messrs I Dalgety and Co. It is "a pity that the additions to Warner's co'uM not have been completed. All round the Pot Ofliee, however, are little flags of red, white, and veHow, flying from maste of Che same) colours, wh»se chief wealth of bunting is at .present furled around their bases. In this condition their effect is doubtless somewhat ludicrous,

bat when all their gorgeousness' is spread • abroad, instead of wrapped about them, the appearance should certainly be good. A good deal of bunting has already been hung about the Poet Office itself, and above the windows of the Customs Department is the transparency "God Save oar King and Queen." Flags have been arranged on the turrets round the building. The device upon the Cathedral, "Welcome to our future King and Queen" is now in position, and the other designs for illumination are proceeding fast towards completion. A shamrock device in gas* lights has been set up by Messrs Fletcher, Humphreys, and Co., together with a transparency of a yellow cirole, with a coat of arms inside, bearing the'tetters R. F. Flags and bunting have been -erected in the Government Insurance Buildings, above the door of which is a gas lettering of "E.. R." A design for illumination of a gas crown witk a circle round it is to be seen beside tl*e window of Mr T. G. Russell, solicitor, above Messrs Broadway and Co/s. From the Square to Cambridge terrace, Worcester street is lined on either side, with red, yellow, and blue masts, whose colour design changes on the terrace itself to red, blue, and white. In their present* •unadorned condition, the masts bear a curious resemblance to gigantic ecclesiastical candles, ludicrously appropriate to a Cathedral city, but the effect is only temporary. Atong Durham street from Gloucester street to Armagh street, the masts are blue and white. In Gloucester street, between Durham and Colombo streets, they are red and white. Taking the main road north through the city, however, we notice few decoration*. Messrs D. Craig and Co. and Messrs Wm. Minson and Co. make a show of Chinese lanterns. The masts line either side of the road as far as Armagh street . Messrs Cook and Ross are putting bunting up; the triple arch at tho intersection of Colombo, Armagh, and Victoria streets has a good effect, and the Government arch on Victoria street bridge already bear the mottoes, 'God Bless the Duke and Dcchess," on the south end, and "Long Live the Governor," on the north. Between every two letters is a red fairy lamu In V-ctoria street, there is little attempt at adornments. Tbe Victoria Cycle Works, however, are busy with a promising ■design. Getting beyond the town, half a dozen smaller flags axe flying from tie formal School, and the large one will bs hoisted to-day. Cambridge terrace shows one flag and an occasional Hug-pole.