THE ROYAL TOUR.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10998, 22 June 1901, Page 8

THE ROYAL TOUR.

FROM PORTSMOUTH TO LYTTELTON.

It is primarily to the establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia that we owe the honour of the visit which the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are now paying to New Zealand. The impartuu* ot ~iiu* «j>oeb>

making event in the* history of Australasia waa so fully recognised fey her late Majesty, Queen Victoria that she overcame her natural reluctance a. allow her grandson, and his consort to leave the Old Country for so long, and agreed to their visiting the Greater Britain of the South. She was undoubtedly influenced also in coming to this decision by a wish to afford some tangible recognition of her appreciation of the, profound and practical loyalty exhibited by the&e colonies during the South African war. i/e had had other expressions of her Majesty's deep affection and admiration for her loyal colonists; it remained for her to make visible acknowledgment of their sejfsacrifice, and no better way could have been devised than by sending to these distant; lands the Heir Apparent to the Throne. The despatch in which her Majesty signified her desire in the matter bore every trace of the sincere personal feeling which characterised so many of her messages to her people. It was dated September 17th, last year, and ran as follows: — ''Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased 'to assent, on the recommendation of the Marquis of Salisbury, to the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to the colonies of Australasia in the spring of next year.

"Hie Royal Highness the Duke of York will be commissioned by her Majesty to open tae first session of the Parliament of the Australian Commonwealth in her name.

"Although th e> Queen naturally shrinks from parting with her grandson for so long a period, her Majesty fully recognises the greatness of the occasion, which will bring her colonies of Australia into federal union, and desires to give this special proof of her interest in all that concerns the welfare of her Australian subjects. Her Majesty at the same time wishes to signify her sense of the loyalty and devotion which havd prompted the spontaneous aid so liberally offered by all the colonies in the South African war, and of the splendid gallantry of her colonial troops." "Her Majesty's assent to this visit is, of course, given on the assumption that at the time fixed"for the Duke of York's departure trie circumstances ara as generally favourable as at present, and that no national interests call for his Royal Highness's presence in this country." ■ The superstitious anight see in this last paragraph some ominous foreboding of the event which four months later was to plunge half the world in mourning. It was feared that the death of the Queen would place an embargo upon the departure for a tour lasting the greater part of a year of the Prince who had stepped into the position of Heir Apparent. All the preparations which were in progress in the colonies for the Royal visit were checked for the time being. Then came the welcome announcement that the King, while still in the shadow of his great loss, had, like his mother, resolved to put his personal feelings on one side, and carry into effect what he knew to be her wish. The visit of the Duke and Duchess to the colonies was to take place, and forthwith the colonies set about their preparations in renewed earnest, Xhe fact that the Court was in mourning precluded many of the festivities with which I it had been intended to entertain their ' Royal Highnesses, but enough was still permissible to enable a brave show to be made. DEPARTURE FROM ENGLAND. Accompanied by the King and Queen, and a large family party, the Duke and Duchess left London on the afternoon of March 15th. for Portsmouth, whence they were to leave England on the following day. They dined with their Majesties on board the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert that night, and on the Saturday the farewell lunch took piaoe on the Ophir. The toast of the day was proposed by .his Majesty, in tones which betokened deep emotion. Hβ asked the company to drink success to the trip which his son and daughter-in-law were about to make at the express wish of his late mother, the Queen. The trip was undertaken, as they boew, in honour of the confederation of the Aiistralian colonies, and it was extended in order that he (hie Majesty) might show, his appreciation of the part which the self-go-verning colonies had taken in tie war. It was a great hardship to tlbe Queen and himself, added his Majesty, to lose the Duke for so long a time.

The time for the last good-byes had come. At four o'clock the splendid vessel wiioh had Jbean ooaaverted, as described in another column, into a RoyxJ yacht, cast off her hawsers, and began to move down the harbour. The Trinity House yacht Irene led the way, followed by the Royal yacht Alberta, upon which the King and Queen and the Royal party had gathered. Then came the stately Ophir, followed by a double line of eight : destroyers, moving so slowly in comparison with their usual speed that they seemed asleep. The Duke and Duchess were standing on the lofty upper bridge of the huge liner, while their Majesties stood on the bridge of the Alberta. Further on the Ophir picked up (her two escorts, H.M.S. Niobe and Diadem. So amid the thunder of saluting batteries and warships, the roars of cheering from ships and shore, the crash of bands, they passed on their way to the open sea, until the farewells having been waved, tlhe last fluttering flag signals exchanged, the Ophir disappeared into the grey mist of evening, steaming full speed out on "the old trail, the trail that is always new." IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. In spite of bad weather which' is no irespecter of even Royal yachits, Gibraltar was reached on due date,' March 20tk The Rock greeted them with bright sunshine, and tfce Royal visitors were welcomed on landing by the hero of Ladysmith, Sir George White, the Governor of Gibraltar. The Duke and Duchess drove through the streets, receiving an enthusiastic welcome, and after lunohing with the officers of the Royal Fusiliers they visited the docks and several other points of interest, and laid one of the last of the great concrete blocks of the new mole.

Among other incidents of the day was the presentation to the Duchess by four ladies of a beautiful Spanish mantilla, the gift of the residents. Boisterous and cold weather spoiled! the programme of the next day, which was to hare include a review and a visit to the galleries, the Upper Rock and Europe, Point. These bad to be given up, and the functions of the ■•day resolved themselves into a visit to H.M.S. Majestic, and a banquet on board the Ophir in the evening.

Leaving Gibraltar .early next day, .with'a fresh escort, composed of the Andromeda and Diana, the Eoyal tourists set out for Malta, reaching Valdtta three days later. A hundred ana thirty miles distant from Malta, messages had been received by the escort by means of wireless telegraphy, and when within less than fifty miles the voyagers were given a summary of Mr Arnold-Foster's speech on the tfavy Estimates in House of Commons, delivered the night before, and the febeet news of De Wet. Malta gave the visitors royal welcome. Ten destroyers met the Ophir out at sea, and the Royal yacht came into view with the destroyers gabolUng about her like dolphins, a division on either sidk of har aboat one and a-half cable length from her bulwarks. Passing the Ophir, they wheeled round on a circle of four cables diameter, and darted bock to the Ophir's side. The destroyers were naxt seen well ahs&d of the Ophir, showing off doubls circling movement. Each division simultaneously turned a circle some eight hundred yards I in diameter, making a point of completing just as the Ophir got abreast. The third manoeuvre showed the destroyers in a particularly audaoions and tricky* mood. After rushing off for fifteen cables, they wheeled towards as if running straight into the Ophir, and pulled up with marvellous dexterity. Then each destroyer made a circle of its own, one behind the other This concluded their evolutions, and the whole' flotilla made straight for the harbour, keeping alongside the Ophir. The stay at Malta lasted from the morning of tire 25th until midnight on the 21th, and I, the festivities were marked by extra-ordinary f brightness and enthusiasm. Their Royal Highnesses devoted a good deal of time* to seeing tho antiquities of the island, and its many ancient treasures, « review, visits to the exhibition aad to the lace workers. The departure of the Royalties was signalieed by aa aquatic diepiay of such brilliancy

a» to surpass evert the illuminations of the Flfeet at tbe Ji&ilee review at ispithead. Sir? Donald Wallace, in Jiia "log" of, tbe voyage, remarks of the magnificent send-off"-:—"We all agree that we have not seen" anything so fine in its way, and tbat we are not likeiy to seen anything so line again." PORT. SAID AND ADEN. On the voyage from Malta to Port Said the Duke exchanged messages by wireless telegraphy witb ha couain, Prince George of Greece, Governor affHd High > Oommissioner of Crete. ' The weather became warmer. Port Said was reached in the afternoon of Sunday, March 31st, und their Royal Highnesses visited tbe hospital aud entertained at dinner in the evening a large coinjpany, among whom were the KfctrSve's brother and Lord Cromer. Coal aus taken on board during tbe night, and cm It next morning, after a night made sleepless by the cries of the Arab coai-hsavers, the Ophir was taken in tow by a .ug. Cn the way through the canal tbe Britannic, luring on board the returning Imperial Oortingent. is reported aground m Lake Xiumb, and a brief visit is paid her > y it«e of the Uphir's party, when tEey heard from tbe officers of the transport tbe oft-renewed tab of bow well \be colonies "did tiiem," with special reference to New Zealand. Tbe Ophir had to anchor for the night, so as to allow of a <diver removing from tbe canal the buckets of a huge dredge which had come to grief. Passing Suez, the Ophir reaches Aden on April stb. As tbe day was Good. Friday, service was lield on ©t;a,d.. Two native chiefs, "Sultans," were thea received on board, and an address w.«s read by a, Parsee gentleman, the son of the gentleman's who read the address to tne K:«g when, as Prince of Wales, he -.-." ned Iridia in i 875. Afterwards the Royal parf-y drove to th* famous "tanks," and after a. reception on board in the evening, left for Ceylon at midnight. CEYLON. The stay of the Duke and Duchess at Ceylon lasted four days, most of the time being spent-in the ancient capital, Kandy. An immense amount of novelty was crowded into these few days. At the station their Royal Highnesses found, drawn up for their inspection, two of the weirdest groups they have ever met, or are likely to meet-, ih their travels—one in black and tinsel powder and paint, delightfully hideous, representing tne ancient kings and queens of Kandy,. the others in masks which might have been borrowed* from the "Demon's Cavern" of a Drury Lane pantomime, representative of the famous devil-dancers of Ceylon. The Duke and Duchess ■travelled to Kandy in the same saloon carriage which was used by the King a quarter of a century ago. It had, however, been enlarged, reupholstered in cool pale blue silk, and with open windows and aii electric fan ample ventilation was secured. A stoppage was made at Polgahawela, where ths Duke received an address, enclosed in a beautiful carved ivory casket encrusted 1 with jewels, from i the chiefs of the North-Western Provinoe. I Ths programme at Kandy comprised a perahea or procession of elephants in the private grounds of the King's pavilion. A rrfeption of the Kandyan chiefs was followed by a visit to the temple of the sacred tooth, aid a great display of fireworks and illuminations. The perahea took place in the evening, after dinner, and was said to be the grandest thing of the sort ever seen. Fifty elephants, including several magnificent tuskers, were mustered from all parts of the island, most of them tho property of wealthy chiefs. The procession was headed by a stuffed figure emblematic of the sacred white elepliant of the East, for all the world liks a mammoth toy, drawn on a cow-cart. Walking in front alnd on either side of the elephants were the chiefs in their gorgeous costumes, which included great bsjewelled, four-cor-nered hats, rich tunics of silk brocade, and many dozen yards of fine silk round the waist, the latter giving them an altogether; artificial but truly imposing embonpoint. This remarkable manifestation of barbaric splendour was watched by the Royal party for a long time from the balcony of the King's pavilion. The elephants were formed up in. a semi-circle, and made obeisance to the Duke, who personally thanked the chiefs, and congratulated them upon the magnificence of the display. A durbar, which was'a very solemn and dignified function, took place in the evening; after dinner. Tha chiefs, more resplendent than ever, formed in a double line facing each other down the long audience hall, and were presented to the Duke and Dudhess in the order of seniority. From the audience hall the Royal oarty proceeded to the temple of the sacred tooth, which was hard by, passing through long rows of Buddhist priests with shaven heads, holding torches. After gazing for some minutes upon the sacred tooth and other richly bajew?Ued relics, their Royal Highnesses viewed the fireworks and illuminations on the lake till past midnight, from the octagonal tower, which surmounts the temple. SINGAPORE. The Bbyal squadron arrived at Singapore at daybreak on April 21st, and sailed" again on her final course for Australian waters at 2 o'clock on April 23rd, so that the Duke and Duchess had just two days ashore. The decorations were quaintly gorgeous. Chinese devices and lanterns of every shape, in the form of birds, fishes, dragons, and serpents, naturally came to the fore, floating lazily in the garish sunlight by day, and transforming the streets at might into fairy-like arcades of soft-toned prismatic radiance. It was through miles of such Aladdin's Caves that the Duke and Dudiess drove' in the State carriage provided for their use by the Sultan of Perak, followed by a score or po of rickshaws, conveying the members of ffifl'T suite. No fewer than twelve adJesses of welcome, each enclosed in a costly casket, were presented. Most of the caskets were of silver or silver bordered, or otherwise ornamented with jjold. The one containing the address from the British subjects was large, massive, nnd exquisitely chisselled. This, and several were in tha form of oblon? boxps- OtTiers, a<?ain. were cylinders of polished bamboo, elaboritelv mounted, in gold, or of rilver, carved witb Oriental letterin? and decerns. The most strikingly characteristic of" al], unionbtedlv. was tbe Chinese, which wss an iddre?*! and casket in one. As a matter of Fact, it was not a caeket at all.' but a *ma!l fire screen, about 2ft high, in silver. j-bony, ajid sn'd. The fraW was 'ebony, md was surmounted by flying dracrom in ?old striving for a pp-arl. The" Malay 3tates arave a magnificent ivory tusk, nouhted in sold. In the afternoon, their Royal Hiirhnesoes i went for a drive, in the course of .which i ibev witnessed a fratWini? of 5000 children >f mixed races -and all denomination®. The same evenine a. torctern procession wns witnessed by the Rov>ail party from Govern- i nent Houre. This was another wirrdlv ncturesnus manifestation of celestial horn- I i#e. Great tortuous luminous dragons, ] makies, and) oilier reil or mvthieal ani- i rto/'s were borne aloft with every pomp t nd circumstance. " r . THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR. T Singapore was left on April 23rd for * rfel'bourne. Instead, however, of steam- I nt? direct, the Ophir put in at Übany on May Ist; but reached Mel>ourne even then earlier than was expected, amely, May sth. instead of Jlay 6tb. The >s,rtv remained in Melbourne until May Bth. It is vecessarv to describe fl.yain he many splend'Sd functions in whifth the loyal viwtors participated. They were on sca'e of magnificence in the olonie*. The irtentinn had to fnij for I< |n*ens.'and on Ma-*- 16th. but the Duke dp- 0 'dine; to go north by land, remained in a r Hnria two days longer. Th*» Royal visi- , jra rtticbfd Brtebßn* on May 20+h. nnd le-ffr n May 24Hi. for New-cast V. the Hawkes- P urv and Rvdnev. Port Jaclwn was en- v ;r?d on the momtn<r of Moy 27th. and the. tl ay in South Wales extended over j> even days. AFTER AUSTRALIA. D Tlie Ophir ?rrived at Auckland on June Ith, and at Wellington on June 18th. She due at Lyttelton to-day. The Royal irty ->r«w>h Dun?dia on June 25th, bbart July 2nd, Atiejaidv- July 10th, Fre- w antle July 20th. Tbe Ophir then goes to w [auritius "(Ansjust Sth), Durban (August Sth), and Simons Town (August 17th). fter leaving South Africa the course is co _r way of' Ascension Island (Aurust 27th), fo id St. Vincent Island (September sth) to { ea alifax or Sydney, Nova Scoti-i, which is I a £ be touched on. September 14th. Two kys later the Royal tourists will reach I , uebec. They will stay two days of Mon- j 0l real, and. will then go on -to Ottawa, j th

and will remain that© fottr daya • will teave Ottawa lor the Pacific Coeawi September 24th, and wilispejid ,in Manitoba, the Jfortb. West and British Columbia/ returning fey wfjkfM Ontario, Toronto, Hamilton, ■ Nnflipliy Thousand Islands, and the St. Their Royal Highnesses will Halifax for Newfoundland on October lfi&fe and they ore due at Portsmouth on ber let. o%£