AT THE CHRISTCHURCH STATION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10999, 24 June 1901, Page 5

AT THE CHRISTCHURCH STATION.

WELCOME BY THE MAYOR.

As the train approached Christehurch, the sun shone out brilliantly. The station presented a * truly artistic appearance. The decorations had oertainly been designed and carried out with as much taste as any portion of the city's holiday garb. The overhead bridges had become bowers of greenery, large quantities of native •shrubs having been obtained from SonLhland, including ti or'oabbage trees, the kafcaho, or toi-toi, flax, punga (or tree fern), raupo, birch, and English shrubs from the railway plantations. The draping was all in delicate tints of lilac and yellow, and yellow and pink, .tiie shades being chosen with discriminating and artistic care. Indeed, those who visited the sta/ion before and after the arrival of the Royal party were loud in praise of the arrangement and harmony of everything about the place, and unanimously agreed tJiat tlw Railway deco r rations.'inside and outside the station, were among the best in the city. Mr H. Macaiidrew, district engineer, and Mr Daissey, his assistant, designed and superintended the work. Shields, with arms and designs, made at Addington, were placed on each pillar of the verandah, and flags were flying from every possible point. Over the portico floated the Royal Standard, the flags of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Zealand waving from other poles. ■ ' The platform was barricaded off with red baize-covered ropes, and a carpet of Royal red was spread out along the front, and through to the main exit. The walls wero draped, and carpet was carried across the footpath to the roadway.. The arrangements throughout were as perfect as the officials could possibly desire, and the Royal Commissioners were .satisfied that the-traffic manager (Mr Arthur) and the district engineer (Mr Macandrew) could not have possibly done better. There were present on the Platform when the Royal train j arrived:—The Mayor of Christchurch (Mr,; A. E. (t. Rhodes),' Mrs Rhodes, and Miw> | Mairehau Rhodes, Messrs John Holmes, H. F. Wigram, G. G. Stead, and Robert Allan (Koyal Commissioners), Mr J. A. Cassidy, Government Commissioner, and Mr T. E. Donne, Secretary of Commerce and Industries, Mr H. R. Smith, Town Clerk of Ohristohurch. Mr Arthur (Traffic Manager), Mr Macondrew.(District Engineer), Mr-Piper (stationmaster), and other representative railway officials, were also present. Punctually at noon, with the sun making tho raindrops, which still lingered on the foliage, glisten like diamonds, tho Royal train glided into the station, and was brought to a standstill as only a veteran engine-driver could possibly bring up a train —without the least jar or noise—the Wcstinghouse brakes acting to perfection, and the Royal car being stopped in exactly the position it was desired, at which happy fact a look of relief was noticed, on the face of Mr A. L. Beattie. the locomotive engineer, who had taken his place beside the practical man whose workaday life is spent on the cab of a locomotive. Hats were taken off as the train arrived, and gentlemen in" military uniforms of a more gorgeous type than Christ-church, is at all used t«, saluted aa they looked out on the expectant crowd. Lord Raqfurly was the first to aught, and stepped briskly on to the platform, and looking round with a pleasant smile, quickly greeted the gentlemen lift-knew. Lord'Wenlock followed, and then, from several departments, came Prince Alexander of Teck, Lieut.-Colonel Sir Arthur Bigge, Sir Charles Cust, Sir Donald Wallace, the Puke of Roxburghe, and other members of the suite. After a moment'e pause the Duchess stepped out of the-Royal saloon car, hie Royal Highness following closely. Lord Ranfurly stepped forward,' and with a low bow presented the Mayor to their Royal Highnesses, who shook hands with him, Mr Rhodes handing the address, from the City to the Duke. Mrs Rhod«s was next presented, tind Miss Rhodes, the latter hancung the Duchess a lovely shower bouquet of Her Hi.jjhness accepted the' gift with a smile, which brightened .up her rather pale face, giving it that sweet, womanly look which has so appealed to the English people, and made the Princess May the popular idol she is to-day. Messrs' Stead, Allan, and Wigram cams next in the order of presentation, and while a moment's wait occurred Jiis Royal Highness, entered into conversation with Mr Stead. No time was lost, and with bands playing and people cheering, tha Royal party walked out of , the i • station, and in another moment a-page of' Christchurch history had been turned : the!' Duke and Duchess had reached the City of the Plains. IHE CITY'S-ADDRESS. The following was the address handed at the railway staticn to His Royal Highness:— "We, the Mayor and Councillors of. the City of Christchurch, as loyal subjects of our Most Gracious King, desire warmly and resx>ectfully to welcome your Royal Highness and her Royal Highness the Duchess, of Cornwall and York, to our city and the _ provincial district of Canterbury. We are deeply grateful to his Most Gracious Majesty the King for the special favour conferred on iis ■in sanctioning the visit of j-our Royal Highnesses to this the most distant part of his Empire, and to your Royal Highnesses for so willingly and cheerfully incurring the fatigues and inconveniences of such a lengthened journey to our shores. We recognise in this visit of your Hoyal Highnesses the great regard that his Most Gracious Majesty has towards all parts of his Empire, and we feel assured that it will be the means of further strengthening that bond of union and affection which attaches us to the Mother Country, to which it is »ur pride and boast to belong. We sin- ■ ceiely hope that the visit of your Royal Highnesses city ma.y be as much a source of satisfaction to yourselves ac it is >t gratification to us in bidding you welcome. We earnestly pray that Almighty God in His good providence may ever guard your lloyal Highnesses as He has hitherto done ' Erom all perils, either by land , or sea. "A. E. G. RHODES, Mayor. "H. R. SMITH, Town Cfcrk." ,