Old picture recalls loyal welcome to Victoria’s son

Press, 26 February 1986, Page 17

Old picture recalls loyal welcome to Victoria’s son

By

JOAN WOODWARD

One of the more intriguing photographs taken by Dr A. C. Barker in the 1860 s is this group portrait, taken in the garden of his house (on a site now occupied by Noahs Hotel). Its caption is “Kaiapoi Maories, April 22, 1869.” — -

Whatever were they doing, all dressed up like that? The answer lies in the date — it was the day of the Loyal Procession for the Reception of Prince Alfred, Duke of-Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria. His visit threw the town into a frenzy of elaborate preparations for festive events, numerous committees working to organise a ball, the Mayor’s Dejeun or ceremonial meal, a race meeting, the Cavalry Concert, a huge public dinner, a rifle shoot, a pigeon match, fetes, firework displays, and other celebrations. The streets were decked with flowers, branches, bunting and flags, and spanned with decorated arches emblazoned with such words as “Greetings Queen Victoria’s Son,” and “Welcome Royal Duke.”

The Prince arrived in Lyttelton Harbour from Wellington on board H.M.S. Galatea, to be brought in a train festooned with foliage to Christchurch Station, where a carpet led from the platform, through a reception tent, and out on to Moorhouse Avenue. The speeches and formalities over, Prince Alfred was taken by carriage through the streets of Christchurch, escorted by a mile-long procession led by the police, lodge members and “Maoris (mounted).”

The procession wound its way through cheering throngs up Manchester Street to St Asaph

Street; eastwards to High Street; along High Street to Cashel Street; down Cashel Street to Oxford Terrace; along the terrace to Hereford Street; up Hereford Street to Colombo Street; through Cathedral Square, where 4000 children sang “God Save the Queen”; (no Cathedral then, it was not built until 1881); to the Market Place (now Victoria Square) as far as Victoria Bridge; then back along Oxford Terrace to the Clarendon Hotel.

An account of the procession in “The Press” next day reported that the Maoris from Kaiapoi and Rangiora, marching with the Union Jack, were dressed in blue coats with scarlet sashes, and white trousers, with feathers in their hats. They numbered about 50, and camping facilities were provided for them in North Hagley Park. .

The inclusion of the Maori contingent was arranged by the Rev. J. W. Stack, of Kaiapoi, who can be seen at the right of the photograph. This was the second time they had taken part in such a procession, the first being on July 9, 1863, when Christchurch was en fete for the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. “They were,” said the newspaper, “magnificently arrayed for the occasion.”

Other participants in the procession were equally spectacular. The Lancashire and Cheshiremen, for instance, marched with a “Rush Cart,” surrounded by Morris Dancers. (Their tradition of the Rush Cart goes back for centuries, to the days when

rushes were strewn in the churches for the comfort of kneeling worshippers, a festivity being made of the arrival of fresh rushes.) “We hear,” said "The Press,” "that it is the intention of the ironmongers to close their establishments for two days during the Prince’s visit. Doubtless also the majority of the tradesmen will, as far as practicable, follow their example.”

A children’s treat was arranged for thousands of school children, consisting of buns, cakes, and ginger beer. For “the masses of ordinary people” the City Council appointed a “Popular Amusement and Entertainment Committee” to arrange a public dinner in Mr Barnard’s Horse Bazaar, Cashel Street, tickets to be available at a cost of 6 pence. Purchasers were advised that “the Repository is estimated to contain 500 persons, and when that number of persons are assembled and seated, no other person will be admitted until sufficient space has been provided.” Both men and women would be admitted, but no children.

The Superintendent, Mr William Rolleston, remarked that he hoped that the public who took tickets would not do so under the idea that His Royal Highness would visit the dinner! Gifts of “money and kind” were solicited from the public. A week before the event, the chairman reported that he had been promised 10 sheep; one steer weighing 8001bs; one bullock weighing lOOOlbs; a fat calf; four pigs; eight ducks; five geese; five

turkeys; 30 fowls; five cwt of potatoes; a quantity of bread, a cheese, three hogsheads of ale, six and a half dozens of wine, 20 gallons of ginger beer, about 3601 b of plum pudding, and £lO 5s in money. He was, however, “particularly in want of more plum pudding, and for this he was compelled to appeal to the ladies, and knowing them to be ever foremost in loyalty and kindness of heart, he felt satisfied the appeal would not be in vain.” Messrs Jenkins and Jones had offered to give all the necessary timber for tables and benches, and to fit them up; plates, cups and glasses had been lent by Mr White, who however required to be paid for breakages; and knives and forks were purchased at 7s 6d a dozen, which could be sold afterwards at a profit. The city’s butchers killed and cut up the -carcases, and the bakers made their ovens available for half a day each for cooking the meats.

After the banquet, “The Press” reported, “The dinner ‘for the million* was one of the chief events of the day. Let the reader picture to himself the repository decked from base to roof with evergreens and flags; tables capable of seating 500 persons, laden with cold joints of all kinds, but invariably of the best quality; meat pies, plum puddings, cake, bread, and other edibles; every seat containing its hungry occupant, male or female. Carvers, posted at convenient distances from each other; waiters rushing about with plates of viands or big •cans of foaming beer, dealt out without stint; while in the gallery •were numerous eyes looking curiously on at the strange scene below.

“The first lot of persons sat down to table at half past one, and in two hours over 1500 hungry bodies had been filled. Many more were prepared to invest sixpence in so profitable a manner, but the vast store of provisions had begun to show signs of diminishing and the eager mob, against whom the police had to use great exertions to prevent (heir breaking in the doors, were fain to depart unsatisfied."

The report also mentioned that the Jockey Club’s race meeting that afternoon had not attracted as large a crowd as expected, because yet another great attraction had been provided at Lyttelton, H.M.S. Galatea being thrown open to the public for inspection.

Prince Alfred’s visit ended on April 25 with a visit to the Domain for treeplanting, and a tour of the Museum escorted by Dr Julius von Haast, before leaving for Lyttelton at 11 a.m. where a considerable crowd gathered to see him off on his voyage to Dunedin — to be treated to more of the same.