THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1034, 26 March 1869, Page 3

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

(Abridged from the "Argus.") The second visit of Prince Alfred to Victoria began on Monday, Feb. 22. TI 10 Prince's landing was a scone not easily to be forgotten. His galley, which was under sail, came 'up to the inner stage of the pier end on, but there was scarcely a soul near to take a rope's end. One of the sailors threw out a bight of the main sheet, which was seized by Captain Doran, assistant harbour-master. With this very slight hold, he tried to • stop the. way of the boat, but in vain, and falling, wrenched his knee painfully. At last, with the aid of Mr. Joyce, mail agent, and Mr. J. C. Harrison, of the General Post-office, the boat was brought to the steps, and the Prince and his suite — the Hon. Eliot Yorke and Lieutenant Ha'ig — leaped ashore. As they did so, the swiftest of those who had run from the railwaypier came panting up with scarce a breath to cheer with as they waved their hats. They soon found their voices, however, and the air rang with hurrahs. The Prince, who was in undress uniform, looked brown and well, and seemed somewhat thinner in tho face as he smiled kindly on the excited people near him. In six seconds he was surrounded by a throng of a couple of hundred people, and with no one to keep off" the press out his suite, Captain Standish, ana Mr. Inspector Kabat. His greeting r to Captain Standish was of the briefest, for the aspect of affairs was not pleasant. ' The people round thickened fast, and though shouting with all ineir might, " God bless the Duke," "We're glad to see your Eoyal Highness' back again," " Don't be afraid of us," and such like cries of welcome ; yet the Royal visitor might have been severely crushed as he moved towards the shore. The Prince bore his hustling manfully. It must be understood that there was absolutely no preparation made for the re- ' eeption of the Eoyal party, who scarcely knew which way to turn. Upon this, with characteristic adroitness and promptitude, Capt. Standish took his course. He dashed forward to his mounted men, dismounted, and giving his horse to one trooper, told the others to keep clear the way to Scott's Eoyal Hotel, at the top of the jetty. He then got back to the Prince, and after much pushing^-for the crowd had increased fifty-fold — the latter and his suite managed to get safely into the hotel, amidst a tremendous uproar of cheers. By this time the foot police had come up, and Sergeant Summerhayes, aided by men of nearly equal bulk and power, soon cleared a space round the hotel door, dissipating at " once the danger that had arisen so oddly. A telegram was immediately despatched to Toorak, and it was replied that the Governor would come down in a carriage for the Prince directly. Meantime, the crowd had got ashamed of pushing round so close, . but, nevertheless, as the news of tho Prince's predicament spread, people and vehicles nocked in from far and wide. At just before seven o'clock, after some, weary waiting, the Governor's carriage was seen coming in the distance, It was a neat turn-out, with four horses and outriders. Within sal; his Excellency, who was heartily applauded, and Mr. Manners Sutton, his private secretary. His Excellency quickly found his way to the apartment where the Prince was, and in a few moments the cortege started for Toorak. The Prince, the Governor, and Mr. Yorke ocbupied the first carriage and the - rest of the suite the second. They were - escorted by Mr. Superintendent Hare, and his troopers, and all went at a gallop, greeted as they swept past by; men and boys cheering and throwing up their hats, and by women waving their handkerchiefs, and followed by a score or. so of cabs. Our Eoyal visitor had a pretty quiet time of it on Tuesday. The. city manifested many signs of rejoicing, and flags fluttered in the principal streets nearly as abundantly as during his last visit, and made the house-tops and fronts glow with colour. The Prince. himself drove about the suburbs in the morning, and came to town in the afternoon in a close carriage. Later he walked out with Captain Standish, and was allowed to pass along almost undisturbed by recognitions. That nuisance the colonial " young man" — Anglice " boy" — however, found him. out, and followed in his train very perseveringly. In the evening he dined with the Melbourne Club, the Governor and suite being also present. The company included a number of the officers of the Galatea. There were in all twenty-five guests, and 100 gentlemen sat down to table. The fine band of H.M. 14fch Regiment performed various select pieces during the evening. Invitations have been issued by his Excellency for Tuesday next, to members of Parliament, their honors the judges, and heads of departments to meet the Prince at dinner. His Eoyal Highness, we observe, has given his patronage to the performances of Madame and the Misses Carandini at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre. It is agreeable to find that the Teqiiest made on behalf of our Eoyal visitor, that he shall be allowed to move among us as a private individual, is being obeyed to the letter. The only signs of the Prince's presence among us may be said to be the many flags waving from windows and housetops, and an unusual number of private equipages attended by liveried servants to be seen in the streets ; The latter is owing to the many visitors to town in consequence of the expected festivities. On Wednesday, the Prince had an ex* tremely quiet day, mostly spent at the Melbourne Club, or driving in a phaeton and pair about Melbourne, along the streets of which he was allowed to pass unnoticed. In the evening he attended the Theatre Eoyal, with his Excellency the Governor, Lady Manners Sutton and their family. It was a " command night," and consequently the house was crowded to an excess that compelled ladies to stand in the dress circle. A crowd of several thousand persons in the street awaited the coming and going of his Eoyal Highness, and cheered him with tremendous emphasis. He will remain at Toorak all Thursday, dine there with a few colonial celebrities invited for the purpose, and attend the Mayor's ball in the evening. On Friday, he will proceed by special train to Geelong, en route for Barwon-park, from whence he will return on Saturday. Sunday he will probably spend, according to custom, on board his own snip. Monday, being mail day, can scarcely be Spared for any public appearance, and on Tuesday he will dine at Toorak with the members of Parliament, the judges, and heads of departments.