THE STREET DECORATIONS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10998, 22 June 1901, Page 7

THE STREET DECORATIONS.

ARRANGEMENTS WELL ADVANCED. AN ATTRACTIVE DISPLAY. When the Decoration Committee waacoo* stituted, with? the large number of seHemee that were possible, it was found to be difficult to hit upon one that would meet witib the upscial exigencies of the case. The decorations had to be adapted <not only to the occasion but also to the particular time at which they had to be used, viz., the very depth of winter. This precluded -onythsag like a floral decoration, and therefore it wae nectrssa-ry that some material shoukJ be used that would have the neceseaay brilliancy and colour and yet wouM be able to withstand the effects of bad weather if such arose. To fulfil these condition* it wae, after a good deal of coneideratieft cci the part of the committee, found that foriiHianoy, variety, and durability— the three eeeentiate —could be obtained by the use of materiaJe which would not be much affected by rain; etc. Another main cooeidepaSion, wae tihet

the materials selected would adroit of vmyring schemes of colour. ,_ The ferjna of decera* tion ultimately" was what might be> termed the arch and Venetian maet plait Considerable difficulty was esperienced by the committee in obtaining inexpeinßTO arohes of sufficient strength, ac had substantia! arches hod to be bwilt the isiwte a* lie dwposal of the committee wouldt iK>t hacre been aofficien*. After vaiioia trials the present scheme of ardbes with ei&e poles asd cross sections waa selected, and is fully described below. After the committee b&d expended the money at their disposal in the decoration of the direct route from the railway station to Victoria square, it was announced that the Royal visitors would make a detour to the Provincial Council Cnambsrs which necessitated a stall furtiber extent of decoration. To overcome tKi« difficulty aa interview was arranged with the Premier, who, on consideration, undertook on behalf of the Government, tirat Venetian masts for the additional street* required to be decorated would-be erected by the Government. .Iloiiamately as tJ»* time approached for the visit a munlier of Associations a-areed to supplement the wort: of the committee by erecting a number of typical arches. These included the Frozen ileat Companies, the Agricultural and Pastoral Association, the Shipping Companies, and the Government arch across Victoria bridge, which is the only foliage one of the special arches. This is different from the other

HTfhss inumoob •• I* b Mt vmm mrdk. .'!.« Fire «te social Seat;i;e», being oomtaroatod of fire brigsde «pr ji-.i.we, Mid iiMoaed by tfe* members of Kit; brigade. Iα addition the Ctan&jr of Wetland determined to afford an obiect k-.wcn of the prodootiveneaß of the West C«.«et, in tbe nattier of ooaV gold, and tim-o-.r, by emoting an obelisk showing the t Hal amount of gold produced on th« West C<>.ist, surrounded by coal and timber, and a; •»<! fern* from the W«et Coast. In addition to toe deoeratione of Uμ city by day Ui# committee undertook the expenditure of a aura voted by tb* Kxeoutire for illuminations/ The oommitt**, recognising the advisablenees of concentrating the illtiminatiuin on apodal points, determined to make thfl C&UudnU tower end steeple the most prominent feature of their wort, inasmuch as it could be seen from a great distance, and also because it lends itself most effectively to illumination. Tb* result proves that the committee acted very wisely in this selection. A minor feature in tin illununatio'iia arranged for by the committee, although exceedingly beautiful, ie the lighti°g by electric lamps of different colours of tbe arches leading from Colombo street to Victoria *auare. Seeing the beautiful effect of the archee in the square it is matter for regret that tbe funds at the disposal of the Executive did not admit of all the arches from the railway to the square being similarly illuminated. Tbe colour scheme of the main feature of the decorations was divided up into sections as follows:—Manchester street—South belt to Mansfield's, red, white, anß blue; Mansfield's to Tuam street, red and blue; Tuain street to High street, red and white; Clock Tower triangle, purple and.white. Hijjh street—Prom Clock Tower triangle to Freeman's, purple and green; from Freeman's to angle of triangle, browns, reds, and lines of orange: angle of trywigle to Cathedral square, red and ereen; (jathedTal square, red and oranp-e ; Worcester street, Cambridge torr&ce, and Gloucester street to Colombo street, red and blue. Colombo street—From Gloucester street to Victoria square, purple and gold. Victoria square— Purple and gold. The decoration* of the city, on which workmen have been engaged for days past with tireless energy, are nearly completed. Finishing touches no doubt will have to be given, and in some places these will take until almost the very hour of the Royal arrival. The general effect produced yesterday elicited favourable comment from everyone, and today's display should be quite equal to* Wuit auJucved in any of the other cities of New Zealand. In Manchester street tire most* are not displaying their . full gorgeousness of bunting, and there was nob many arches. The window of Mr Sidney Hmith, facing the dock Tower, has been decorated with a profusion of flags. In High , street the draped arches across the Btreet are many and beautiful, and the thoroughfare should present % very animated appearance. Dozens of flag poles are to be seen on different buildings, where flags will doubtless be hoisted during this morning. Messrs Strange and Co. wilhmake a brave display. Messrs Wallace and Co. have draped the interior of their windows witji attractive results, and the decorations of flags and bunting on the City Hotel with the two fine arches in High street itself, and the Weatland trophy, which laet'oight wa» very nearly completed, shouiu form-ta worthy entrance to Cathedral square. Specially noticeable in Caehel etreet for, decorative effect will be. the premises of Messrs Balantyne and Co., Messrs Beath and Co., and of the D.I.C. At «he former two long strings of-flags have been placed in position, meetingiin at the top, ana the iettors. E.R., in ftytue colours, decorated with a deeiga , of tfloioa Jacks and representation* of the Seebhem Cites, form a verjF arttetio design. The D.I.C. is ooticeuible for itt nmuksMy fine display of bunting. 5 \ line of venetiaa,«aet»4d4corated with material of a nd and*onmg»fcolour stretches round *he -vdeeteam side of Cathedral ■quarc The tmMxmfytlHStmi Post Office is decorated with a ; quantity of evergreeas, while to the left aad right of tb* doorway still hand the two transparencies, one of theyK2ng and Queen, the other of the DuJce andiD)ttohess. On the north side •f the Post Office there are several transparencies, one/of the Royal arms, another representing !* emtfU portion of a yacht's deck, and aftplaving to great advantage a aaooring jaoab. There is also a transparency WpreWdSn«{th« Prince of Wales feathers: i> tags of aJJ sisee, patterns, and colours aw suspended flying from the top of %«ch of theee staffs.' Red wteto drapinga adorn the wals of the baiWings. The walmgs surroanding the Oodiey statue h*ve been decorated with wwgreen*. A bunph of email flags, prettily aesorbedi, hangs over the main entrance of the A.M.P. Buildings. Above the flags an iUuminKtion representing a crown is placed. Over the crown, and from a small balcony higher up, further tenches of small flags are hung. Two lines of bunting stretch from the mxkie of the top front of the iraHding to the extremities on either side. A tarasparenoy "R.F., , is placed above Fletciier, Humphreys and Co.'c main door, these initiek represent "Ripubiique Francaisa," and indicate the official abode of the French Consul, Mr Charlewood. An illuminatUm representing the Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle, followed by "E.R.L," js also erected in front of the came buildings. The Ooeaa Accident Coßporafcioa display the motto, "Welcome to our SaSor Prinoe," above their building, and on top of this again there is a transparency of a lighthouse. The doors of the Government In•nraßce Building are draped with red, white and yellow hangings. Seven trios of flagstaffs and flags line the front of the building right at the top, while skeleton illuminatooas, consisting of four stars and "JJ.R,," are placed in various poskione in Bont. Ihere is in addition a device representing the Rose, Shamrock, and UhielEe. Cantinuing round ihe aqusuK there is to be seen a string of email flags and bunting etoetomng. across from Willie and Aitken's to Mr E. W. Roper's, while in front of the latter building another "E.R;" is outlined At «ie apex of tbe garret roof of the Weetport Cml Company , * office, a bunch of najps, toi tois, and evergreens has been (placed, while an elaborate transparency is BUepended underneath. A orojrn is painted in at the top of th* sheet, and 'underneath the Bun; then the motto, "Welcome to our Bwai visitors." A map of th« world on SMeroator's projection is observed underneath. Bed, white, and orange drapiugs adorn the gable of Messrs Dearsley and Laoe's building. Hey wood's display is a device representing a crown, a star, and ■EJ*.," outlined in incandescent electric lamps, and surrounded by a rectangular waaie, Thie device is surmounted by toi t«e and flanked by flags artistically draped. Werner's Hotel displays a large transparency, "Welcome to our Royal viators," in the middle of which the Royal Anna are placed. A large outline crown, encircled by incandescent lamp*, is placed at the corner of'Hobbe's Buil^ugs. Aβ soon, as Colombo street is reached, the •fcwet drapings change in ooloar to purple aad oreoge. Prom Hobbe's corner to Armagh «*r«et, five bght archee have- been erected, from «aoh of which the drapmgs hang. Venettao masts line each side of lie street. The top of ftbe Masonic Motel is lifted with a 1W of small flags, and in front there Jβ an outlined device repreeentina a chief s head and the islands of New Zealand. ToneycHfle and Carey display several traneparencim: the motto "Welcome,' tine King and Queen, and the Duke and Duche**. Minsoa's content themselves m ith & number of Chinese lanterns hanging from tbe verandah.

A dbulfle arch has been erected at the comer of Colombo and Armagh streets, and lines of incaodMxot lamps have been suelanded. A row of flags ornameois the back tt the Victoria uqoare stand, and folds of o.aitge and purple drapbgt are stretobed irum staff to staff. The ends of the stands are covered witih material of the same colour.

The front of the Salvation' Army Barracks is resplendent m pale pink mottoes., In front of the left tower m the motto, "The world for Christ," on the right tower, exalteth a nation," while between and above the main doorway appears the motto, "The Safvatkm Army greet tin J>uke «Ad touch**."

THE GOVERNMENT ARCH.

•" The Government arch erected ottt TicPγ tori* street bridge is the largest and per- °* '' heps the most impori&g of ail the afobee |J» erected in The Arch, which °* is in the farm of a carriage avenue, consists ■* of nine semi-circular arches extending over a " the whole width of the* roadway and rising * to a height of tweafcjr-two feet: The fpots * .paths on each side will also be covered with l . d eemi-circular arebee. The framework of x ~ the arch is covered with New Zealand tiora. "? Festoooe of creeping plants are. suspended 0 from all the main arches, and also along the j* smaller arches, forming avenues on both *~ sides. Upon the end of the arch facing Vie- *" toria square there is the motto "God Bless * the Dux* and Duchess," and at the other ? end the words '\Long Live tht Governor." From each of the main arches, and from the -' crown of each side arch fern basket* axeeus- > pended. On the crown of each main arch * the Prince of Wales's feathers, composed of 18 tei toi phunee, interlaced with masses of }" dark green foliage, are placed. The arch [* Vill be lighted by electricity at night, and C red and deep orange lamps will be used td harmonise with the green foliage. These ? will be arranged in groups of three round the arches facing the square and the (Street, T following the outline of the arches. There c will also be three «?roups of three lamps 8 each in the intermediate arches. The whole [ " structure will form a decorated arch 100 ft , long. • . !. THE FROZEN MEAT ARCH. !i The Frozen Meat Companies' arch, erect- ; ed by the Canterbury and Ghristchurch ; Meat Companies, is on 3of the principal (i- ---; forte made in the scheme of decoration. •it . is place 1 in High street, near the Grain 0 Agency Buildings, and crosses High street, - along which thoroughfare the procession will , pass. The bad weather has somewhat de- > layed the work of erection, but at a late 1 hour last night the arch was pretty well , completed, and with the finishing touches > to be put on this morning -will look as- afr- > tractive as the promoters could desire. The i span of the circular archway is 28ft, the - height from the road to the underside being 19 feet. Each side is flanked by a tower, i the bottom part being in chamber form, I with glass windows. A sloping base at the foot of each tower rises to a height of about ' four feet, anu the structure then continues B upward in octagonal form. Buttresses rise b to a height of 16 feet, on the alternate faces, - a sheep being placed on the summit of each . buttress—eight in all—and a snowy canopy covering each animal A regular octagon. ~ with domed roof and flagpole, finishes the 5 structure. The wbo3e fo painted snowy * white, and covered with fragments of glass, :• which in the sunlight has the appearance ■ of frost, and' presents a dazzling spectacle. , On tne side towards Manchester street the words are painted: "Frozen Our product; our welcome warm," and the reverse side: ' "Long life and happiness to your Royal 1 Highnesses." When quite finished the ceni tre of the span will bear shields with the . Royal and Ducal arms. The flag of one company will be flown on one side, and the flag of the other on the opposite side. Ice ia also to be placed at the- bases in which chrysanthemums have been "frozen, and shouiu the sun be hot enough to melt the ioe, the latter will be renewed. - ~ ■ Coloured electric lamps are so placed that , they will outline the structure when lit up at night, and the effect should be good. Considering the important part the frozen meat industry has played in Canterbury's growth and prosperity, it iswell that it should take a prominent part in' the decorations of today. , THE AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL ■ ARCH. The bridge over the Avon in Worcester street, near the City Council Chambers, is, at any time, a picturesque spot, and' it has been singularly well-chosen as the eHe for the Agricultural and Pastoral Arch. The «tnictur« is entirely characteristic of the agricultural and pastoral interests ' of Oantenbury, and will certainly prove a grea/fc attraction to visitors. The framework is of uDsqu&red timber, aod> is artristioaHy covered with native greenery. A semi-circular arch epane the roadway, risaog to> a theight of 23ft, aadi on each side ■tftoere ie a bay 10ft square, xidsag to a height of 16ft, with flat top. In the lower compartment of each bay a fat bullock is to be placed this morning, facing towards the Cathedral. Above these are pens for sheep, some fine specimens of Canterbury's special breeds being housed yesterday attennoon. The sheep pens are again surmounted by poultry- pens, with live birds in them, and on, each, side there is a plough. The arclTltself ris 10ft in depth, andi the underside ia cleverly matted with cereals to form a ceiling. At the orown there .is a pediment, on which two stock-drrvere, in the dress of the early days, will be seated as the procession passes along. The flag of the Canterbury A. and P. Association surmounts the arch, and on the bays appear the names of the oontributing bodies—Canterbury, 'Thnaru, ißllesmere, and* .Courtenay on one side, and the Canterbury College, Rangiora, ami Ashburton on the other. Facing the Cathedral are the words: "Welcome from the Agriculturists and PaetoxaLists," and at the other eide of the arch: "Your High<nesses are Right Welcome/ In xecesses on the faces of the bays roots, agricultural and garden produce ore attractively arranged. The whole design is clever, and reafly -well executed. THE NAUTICAL ARCH. j In Canterbury more particulai-iy which can boast of having founded and initiated in its midst the largest shipping company in' the colony with a fleet which Would do. credit to a country three times its age, it ia c that a special arch relative *f to shipping should be erected. This has { been done m Manchester street just below Coker's Hotel. Appropriately it combines c the patriotic colours, the red; white, and ° blue, which harmonise with lie scheme of • colour in thie particular part of the city. V The arch, which spans the street, has two f towers with square bases, and three squares at the height of thirty feet, two flag poles q rising twenty feet higher to a total height of fifty feet. A nautical arch would not, of course, be complete without ay bridge, and this has been provided. From this the captain will give the orders for a salute to ■■* tbs Royal Admiral as he passes. At the 'T base of each of the towers ie a ship's boat raised some four feet from the ground. A ° blue ensign is displayed from one tower ? and a red one from the other. The three -*i house flags of the shipping companies jointly erecting the arch are to be seen above the" t bridge. Shields with fche arms of the Duke 7 show out md the mast, bridge, etc., are 5 decorated with the prevailing colours, red ? white, and blue. Anchors, coils of rope' " etc, complete the arch, and the motto die- *" played is "Welcome to Our Sailor Prince " d

DECORATIONS AT THE RAILWAY At the railway station a most effective scheme of decoration has baen very artistically carried out, under the superintend dence of Mr Macandrew and Mr Dansey A number of trucks of tree ferns and* greenery have been ueed, and nearly the, whole of the front of the station has been Covered with (beautiful festoons of ferns and evergreens, which, as has been said presents a most charming appeaiance. The overbndge has been draped with greenery ' the station platform has been carpeted, and arrancemante have been completed by which the Royal party will be received by his VVorship the Mayor and welcomed to the «ty.

THE WEST COAST TROPHY. One of the mast charming of the decorations in the essy on tJte occasion of the Royal ryat, and possessing the charm of rilustratmg the land of the mountain, the rata, and the flood— the West Coast—is the %°l h L ■«?»*** b y Weelland, opposite the Cwt Hotel. <X«i residents remember, though* thj nearer generation have perhaps forcotten, that WeatfLuid formed at one time an integral portion of Canterbury, and that one of our most distJDgttiahed men, Sir John' HaU, wae the firs* Chairman after it wae< made into a county. The agitation in connection with the W*st Ooaet railway also fcroagibt oe «loser into contact with our friends across the enotrv mountains to the westward. There is an old proverb that blood Iβ thicker than water, and the Went Coaster* have not forgotten that at one time their destinies were identical with those of the Canterbury province, though now separated somewhat more than in the old traje. Henoe it was to a certain extent a feeling of brotherhood which prompted the kindliness of assisting in giving a truly Royal welcome tp tbe Duke and Dncfeess. The County Co-.jocil came to tie conclusion that this could bo btat attained by a trophy repreaentaijve of the Coast. This, everyone w» h*s Been the charming display madeljjr '&« West Coast* Jui

been carried out in the trophy, which will form one of the most distinctive features to-morrow night. - _ Tie main idea of the nophy is. the. reproduction of the' mighty gianta of the , Wset Coast, with the ferns clustering jroond , and about their This has bee* done by banding together pieces of timber, and these are placed upon a platform with the ferns Bqringtng from them very naturally. It hod Ibeen originally intended to have a trophy of the celebrated Westport coat, which saved the ships of the Empire at Samoa during the hurricane, but this .was -found to be impossible, and so the coal display {has been confined to the placing d pieces in position in the upper recesses of the trophy, so as to combine with tne timber in building up the trophy. The effect is a very excellent oneT In the centre rises the obetisk, which is an object lesson telling of the amount of gold got in Westiand. This obeliek represents 6,000,257 ounces, of the value of £231854,068. Then on the coal specimens is a statement that the coal got in Wesffland has amounted to 12,000,000 tons, and that the approximate .quantity of the coal beds on «be Coast amounts to 200,000,000 tons. Then the timber production hxe its say, and we find that on the W«st Coast the extent of timber country comprises 1,000,000 acres of sawmiUing bu«h, carrying fifteen billions of marketable timber. Placed in different portions of the trophy are transparencies: "Westland greets her future King," "Westiand and Oanfaerbary shake hands,' "Welcome from the bad of the forest and the lake."

The arrangement of the arch nas bees carried out by Nairn and Son, trader the supervision of Mr Leo Northcote, Chairman of the Westiand County Council. Mr B. P. Manhire has carried out the transparencies. ' During yesterday considerable damage was done to the beautififi ferns by persons, mainly, it may be noted, ladies, picking pieces of them. It is to be 'hoped that as Wsetland has gone to some considerable trouble and expense to arrange for the decoration of a part of the city by the trophy, people will respect it to-day, and not in any way damage it.