WELLINGTON READY FOR GREAT WELCOME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 10

WELLINGTON READY FOR GREAT WELCOME

DECORATIONS BY DAY AND NIGHT THIS AFTERNOON'S PROCEEDINGS Anticipation, and now at last realisation. For weeks past the Royal Visit has been keenly looked forward to, and as our distinguished visitors have drawn nearer and nearer to Wellington, in like degree have pleasurable anticipations increased. To-day the capital City of the Dominion is about to extend to Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York a welcome second to none of the many rousing welcomes that they have already received in other parts of the North Island.

During the last few days the city lias undergone a transformation. Buildings are now gay with flags, streamers, and bunting, bravely fluttering iii the breeze; triumphal arches and pylons span the streets, whilst overhead long lines of multi-coloured electric light bulbs, giving promise of a fairylike night display of illumination. Over all shines the summer tun, • in ' spite of gloomy prognif tications. ■ Visitors have been pouring into the city during the last day or toyo, and will help to swell the concourse of citizens bent' on paying loyal homage, to the King's second son and his' popular lady.

That the decorations follow no set pattern or Bcheme detracts' but little from "their effectiveness, tending rather to add to the spontaneity of Wellington's welcome. The point of arrival, Lambton Station, is now a verdant bower of ferns and other greenery. The Duke and Duchess when they leave the precincts of the station will immediately be confronted with what is the gayest part of the whole route which they will traverse, for the Parliamentary and Government Buildings are an attractive sight with their many flags. The route passes first through a noble arch in Bunny street on to Lambton quay. Willis street, Manners street, Courtenay place, and Kent terrace— the route for this afternoon's procession—are all gaily decorated. At Intervals along the route, destined to be crowded from end to d, bands will supplement the vocal welcome with music, and the whole scene gives promise of "a triumphal entry on the part of the Duke and Duchess such thai; even a Roman Emperor might have envied, •

Little time will be occupied at Lambton Station in the first official welcome to Their Royal Highnesses. This welcome will not bo by tlio Government —that has already been given ir Auckland: it will be a greeting by the civic authorities on behalf of the citizens of Wellington—an introduction to ' the city's welcome. ' The real civic welcome, with addresses and other formalities, takes place in the Town Hall on Monday. This greeting at tho station over, the' Royal Party will proceed at once along the route detailed above to Government House, its headquarters until Tuesday evening. ,