THE MAYORAL RECEPTION

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10999, 24 June 1901, Page 7

THE MAYORAL RECEPTION

A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.

The reception on Saturday night given W the Mayor of Christchurch' and Jlrs Bhodes "*■

on the occasion of the visit , of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duohens of Cornwall arid York is entitled to take high rank amongst the many brilliant functions which have taken place during the Eoyal tour. Indeed, so far as the decorations and general tout ensemble was concerned in the opinion of the distinguished band of artiste and journalists who are at present sojourning amongst us, they far surpassed anything they have ever seen. "We have been in larger balls, and have met a greater number of people at one time,' said two or three of them who were spoken to on Saturday night, "but we have not seen anything more artustic or so beautiful as the Jicorations to-night." Sir J. Lγ. Ward, in the course of conversation, most heartily endorsed these opinions, and added, "You in Chrietchurch have q\ ary reaeon to ba exceedingly proud of the magnificent scene to-night."

The combined taste of the two . firms— MesKrs J. Ballantyne and' Co. and Strange and Co.—to whom was entrusted the carrying out of the scheme of decorations, aided by the artistic taste of the Mayoress, Mrs (i. E, Rhodes, and several other ladies, resulted in the production of a most- charming and fairy-like scene. The note of colour in the beautiful. Canterbury Hall—which was the portion of the building allotted to Ballantyne and Co.—was a combination of deep reds and dark blue*, the ducal colours. The- walls on either side- were hung witk curtains 30ft long in alternate red and blue over Madras muslin curtains of cream colour, producing a splendidly artistic effect. The softness of the cream colour threw up into strong relief the red and blue, and the reenlt was a rich tone.. At intervale large snjrror* were placed, having the effect of greatly increasing the nobleproportions of the room, and reproducing over and over again the gay scene, to which, the magnificent dresses ol the ladies and the scarlet and blue military and naval uniforms lent brilliancy to the whole. At the foot ol the mirrors .were* groupedmasses of ferns, palms, etc., making a very artistic finish to this portion of the decorations. Above the curtains was a border of old goift. pluah; running all round .the hall. The front of Wie. dreiw circle was festooned with old gold plush.. The carpets which covered the entire floor were of rich red and ultramarine blue, matching the curtains, A line of blue carpet on the red led front the southern msLn door of the hall up to the dais, which was placed pn the .northern side facing the door into the south window and close up to the stage. There were three steps to the dais, the topmast one being wider than the two below it. T'he dais wait carpeted ail over with red, having

a wive mue carpet running up the centre to the top. On the dais were two armchairs for tne Duke and Dachees, upholstered in irobeiin blue, making a delicate contrast colour in comparison with the prevailing darker ones of blue and red. The rattan chairs for the suite had crimson velvet cushions. Towards the centre ot the hall waa a cluster of tree ferns, palms and flax, making a notable and characteristic feature in the general schema of decoration. Under the gultory, just in front of which, where Ins Worship the Mayor and the Mayoress received their guests, were four mirrors, two at the end. and one on each side, with tree ferns, paims, tt»., interspersed. Couches, settees, easy chairs, and occasional chairs were scattered over the floor, affording much to be desired havens of rest. The handsome crimson plush curtain of the sUge wus moved back some distance, and th« space thus formed was converted by Messrs Nairn and Son into a perfect bower of ferns, pdhns, po fc pi*"'*, etc-, making a most artistic picture, 'backed up by the deep colour of the curtain. The decoration of tno hUge was one of the most pronounced Items in the thoroughly charming and effective scheme of decoration, which had the affect of converting the hall into a portion of fairyland. This was a part of the hall which* excited the artistic admiration of several of our visitors.

The main corridor was carpeted with rich red and blue carpets, and decorated with paJme, ferns, etc. Mirrors were used with charming effect, especially the one at the southern end, which, reflecting the whole length of the corridor, made it appear of almost interminable length. The vestibule looked particularly beautiful. Masses of forns, palms, etc, filled up the comers, giving an Oriental appearance to the scene. On ench side of the staircase, on a lofty pedestal, were two statuettes holding aloft Ranches of incandescent electric lipbts of different colours, which gleamed like gigantic nifcies and jewels. The board room of the Selwyn County Council was appropriated to the use or his Royal Highness the Duke, and wan charmingly fitted up, <ut was also the secretary's office, which hnd boon arranged a* a boudoir for her Royal Highness the Duchess. These with the main corridor were very tastefully furnished by Messrs Strange and Co. Outside the hall every provision had been made for the comfort and convenience of the puests, a covered way to the main entrance wae constructed along the footpath, and this was carpeted so that those attending the reception alighted straight from their carriagea under cover. A similar covered way was constructed to the southern <loor, which was reserved for their Royal Highnesswi and the members of their suite, his Excellency the Governor and Lady Ranfurly, bis Excellency the Admiral and the Ministerial party. Aβ it was found impossible, owing to the very large number of jrnesta invited, for the vehicles in the city to convey them to the hall in time if the original hour of invitation, nine o'clock, was adhered , to, his Worship thft Mayor hnd the hall opened at eight o'clock. The stream of guests set in strongly shortly after tliafc hour and continued without intermission till half-past, nine. The arrangements for the setting down were exriflleiitly carried out, and no hitch occurred. Hi* Worship the Mayor (who was attired in Court dress) and the Mayoress took up their positions just inside the southern door of the hall, and received some fifteen hundred ladies and gentlemen. After the reception those present formed groups l , strolled about, and a large number went into the dross circle. A string band played several .tek-ct-ionji during the period of awaiting the arrival of tlie Royal party. Viewed from the-dress circle, the scene was a wondorfully brilliant one. The beautiful decorations, the crowd of ladies and gentlemen in full evening dress, the sombre tones of which wera brightened up by the military and naval uniforms, all made up a splendid vitfht, one the peer of which has never before been seen in Canterbury. Nay more, as has already been said, in the opinion of those _*wbo have seen all the preceding gatherings of a similar character, including those in Australia., the historio gathering of Saturday nigjht, though smaller, in brilliancy and artistic beauty of decorations stands first fn order of merit Two distinguished members of the Victorian Legislature said, in course of conversation on Saturday night, "We must congratulate you on to-night. It hoe been really splendid, and the decorations are splendid. We had nothing better over on our side." As the tima which was fixed for the arrival of their Royal Highnesses drew near the guests ranged up in two lines from the doer of the hall to the <laia, leaving the centre carpet leading np clear. Some Kttle time elapsed before the strains, of the* National Anthem were beard from outside announcing the arrival of the Royal Party. A little further wait took place, the guests massing into two compact cohunna, whilst a hum of expectancy arose- Then through the door, marshalling the Royal,procession, came Captern Dudley Alexander, followed by Ho~ Hill Trevor and Hon. C. H. Butler, then came hm Exoellency the Governor and Lady Rj §to Hon. the Premier, Mrs and Mwa and hra Worship the Mayor and Mayorew, his Exoellency the Admiral and Commander Winsloe. The Royal unit* came next, including hi* Serene Hitfmem Prmoe Alexander o£ Teck, Lord Crichton, ft« Dufcetf Roxburgh*, Curt,, Sir Donaldi Wallace, Hon. Derek Keppel Lieutenant-Colonel Byron, ,-ChwalfS of Cornell ancT York, followed by Lady Mary I/poiuWy Catherine Coke, Ld & Hon. Mrs Derek Keppel. The Dnchei *M * r^T^ 06 "*. dia "«>nd coronet *nd a broad bine cash crossing her block «d up the line of curteering. and bowu7ir OTwt. th*y -bowed, WttffinSy; aTS! Head of the small procemiar, Shed &£& the leaders opened out, an example wh«£ T^ , , dom! i}w> line > *he Dufee and tbe Duoheaa, foEowtd by the LadL in Waiting, U« ExwHtoer tL 2£fy Ranfurly.the Right Hon. the P^ *?* Mh!s . Seddon . and the others fornung_the prooaaewn, in inverted order tetaM their seats on tho dais. The nW Hugh Reevw, who was in excellent voice. Mr» Burna came iveat, and she b« never 52L*rt . to g"*** l ' She selected Gmut'B "§ing Sweet Bird!" which «n»g Tery «rtatfcaily, and appeared to be Mr WaUac* pfay«d a vioiin solo, weoeen/'by Samate, well Miss Sm* §S? 80 * , ? <* the River," and 15 Idmiral-, Broom." MiS Katie Ywmg ected &s aocompanirt, and did «, exoeltertlT. The concert ended, the «°7« the dais, and passed through the HaU, ha.Roy*! be mg Troth the MayoKs», and the Duchess with the Mayor. As they came towards the oentee of the HalL her Royal Highnew the Doahetn, eeeang Mrs Burns amongst tie guesta, reqtjeeted has Worrfup the Mayor to pweeaa* .that lady. The Mayor accordingly did co, and her Royal Highnees entered into conversation, in the course of which she intUMkted to Un Burne how delifrhbed she had been with her ainging of the itaa allotted b'lT on the P" , ? l^lll ™** and also said she had been much charmed with it. thanking toe Burne for her fanring. Her Reyal Highness was moet graoious, and conversed for some little time with Mrs Borne, who w»a the only one of the performers having the honour of a personal introduction to the Duchtt*. The Duke and Docbese and suite ih«n retired from the Hall, and shortly afterwards drove o2 to Tβ Koraki. '

The guest? proceeded to the cafe, the small ball room, and the hall used for the Art Exhibition, in all of which supper, admirably oaUsred fur by IJVeeman, Ltd., Traa served. His Worship the Major and fcha Mayoress were aseiated in the very ardoooe tanki of attending to the gu«sta by Messrs R. M. Macdonald, a Turrall, C. Perry, B. Lane, O. E. Rhodes, and J. B«nndc- These geotlemen -were untiring in their efforts to conduce to the comfort.and conTenknce of the guests, and the enrooihnew «ed pfeaeantnees which all thb ww> carried «ut waa due in a large xneeeuift to thedr -ertiooe.

to fcbe lateness of th* hcor, & gen»nl pcwentatum, each at Auck-

land and Wellingtoo, wm unable to be car* ried out. Their Royal Highneesee, as they passed down the Hall, spoke- to some of those present, including his Honour Mr Justice Denniaton. "