THE PRINCE AT OTAGO.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1047, 11 May 1869, Page 3

THE PRINCE AT OTAGO.

(From the "Otago Daily Times," April 27.) His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh arrived from Christchurch 1 yesterday. He was accompanied by his Excellency the Governor, the Hon; Elliot Yorko, and Captain H.D. Pitt, ofthe Royal Artillery. The landing afc the porfc was effected about tiiree o'clock, ahd the; passage from thence to Dunedin was one scene of triumph. Particulars- of the day's proceedings will be found appended. ' THE CITY DURING THE DAY. . The reception preparations-alluded to. in pur .last issue were, .as the" event has proved.; merely, a prelude to' tho arrangement.as completed. From an early hour, yesterday morning dray loadpof shrubbery came pouring into the- city. - These -were wrought up into all manner of. floral, devices — wreaths, festoons, &c, which were bung out in front of the buildings, twisted round verandahs, and, in not a- few. instances, suspended across the street. THE HABBOUB. • On the -Blanche entering the harbour tbe steamers and yachts were tp have taken up tbeir position in the following order: — On the starboard side— tbe steamers Wallace aud Peninsula, ahd the' yachts, Cygnet, Champion). Royal Alfred, and Gold Seeker; and on the port side — the steamers Geelong, Golden Age, and tho yachts Dauntless, Greens, Blue Jacket and Flirt, a Maori, boat full rigged and mauned being on either side ; bufc on account ofthe speed with which she came np tlio harbour tbis arrangement fell through. The Blanche came up handsomely to anchor, flying afc tbe same time her flags ; and the Peninsula, with tbe Superintendent, Judge Ward, tbe Speaker of the Provincial Council, and Messrs Cargill, Hughes, Yogel, and Haggitt, went alongside, ahd was received by the Prince in the cabin. After presenting the address tbey retired, and in about half-an-hour afterwards his Royal Highness, wbo was most enthusiastically cheered, left the Blanche in the Peninsula for the shore, yards being manned,, and a . salute .of 21 guns being fired fron_f -the former vessel. The ships at anchor wenT gaily dressed with flags, and the small fry in rhe"W.qy.of lighters and watermen's boats also did" their best to make tbe scene a gay one. THE EOAD. From the Porfc to Dunedin the road was alive- with horsemen, buggies, and men, women, and children on foot; These had evidently come out for the purpose of getting a sight of his Royal Highness," and the purpose of their journey was fulfilled. At the Junction there was a very neat arch erected, and a little further on the road a beautiful avenue of cabbage trees, terminating in an arch, had been .erected by some of the surface men engaged on the roads of the Provincial Government. Tho whole bad' a very pleasing effect, and the view which met his eye as he emerged from under tbe arch; could nofc bave boon otber than gratifying to bis Royal Highness. From here, except thafc on tbo flat the road was lined with people, there was little to chronicle till tbe Duke had arrived at the WATEB OP LEITH. Here he was received by tbe Mayor and Councillors, r and the crowd was nofc only large bufc enthusiastic. . Tlie carriage was drawn up here, and the Mayor advanced and read tbe address prepared for the occasion. . , There was afterwards, a procession, more addresses, a children's welcome, illuminations; in. fact the programme of other provinces was repeated with little variation. . . The Times of the 28th says :— THE CALEDONIAN GATHEEING-. The morning broke with heavy clouds and drizzling" rain which lasted, with intermissions, throught the day. Tbe stand was well filled, and the outside of tbe ring crowded with spectators. Tlie centre part of the stand was reserved for tbe Prince and party, and was elegantly fitted for their reception. His Royal Highness, however, after remaining for a short time in the box, preferred a nearer view of the games, and went on the. ground, where a tent lent for the occasion by Mr. Cantrell had been erected, nnd where he partook of refreshments. His Royal Highness was attended by his Excellency the Governor and suite, all in plain clothes. He wore the badge of tbe Society, handsomely manufactured by Mr. Robert Hogg, watchmaker, of Rattray street to tbe order of tbe committee. MASONIO PBEBENTATION. At the ball his Royal Highness was • presented- with ah address by the officers ofthe Provincial Grand Lodge of New Zealand-' (Scottish constitution.) His Royal Highness said tbat be would take an oarly opportunity of forwarding a reply ia writing. . *- THE CITIZENS' BALL. Tho ball was a brilliant affair, surpassing any thing of the kind that bad ever taken place in Otago. Shortly after midnight his Royal Highness led the way to tlie supper-room, the walls of which wero also decorated. The chair was occupied by his Honor the Superintendent, having on the right tbe Prince, and on the left his Excellency tho Governor. The vice chair was occupied by the Mayor. ' The Chairman having. proposed, the toasts of " Her Majesty the Queen," and "The Prince and Princess of Wales," which were enthusiastically responded to, then proposed tbe health of' their distinguished guest, his Royal Highness tbo Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness, in responding, said — Your Honor and ladies and gentlomen, I thank you sincerely for the kind manner in which you bave responded to tbo toast which bis Honor the Superintendent bas so kindly proposed. I can assure you ifc is with the greatest pleasure thafc I have made tbis visit to the Britain of the South Seas. (Applause.) Ifc has also been a great satisfaction to me, as ifc riiusfc be to all Englishmen, to find that in New Zealand, the oldest and most respected of names has been adopted as the name of the principal city of this important colony. (Applause.) It is a singular coincidence that I should be the first member of the Royal Family to visit Now Zealand, and also this city, bearing tho name, the modern name, of a cily after which you bave called your city by the ancient name. (Applause.) My visits to otber places in this colony have been to cities bearing the names of two of our greatest heroes, one

who was associated with my own profession, and the other with the army ; a. profession to which the volunteers of this colony, as a supplementary force, are a credit. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, I again beg to thank you for the very kind manner in which ybu bave received tho "toast just'proposed. (Applause.) Tbe Chairman next proposed tho health of bis Excellenpy tbo Governor Sir G. F. Bowen. ' . Three cheers were then given for Lady Bowen. His Excellency, on rising, was warmly received. He Explained thafc pressure of business had prevented him from coming .td Dunedin before ; bub said ho trusted tbat he should soon pay another visit, and thafc he would then be accompanied by Lady Bowen. (Applause.) He begged to return thanks for tho kind manner in which tbe mention of ber ladyship's name bad been reoeived. He was glad that bis firsfc visit to Otago should be on that proud and auspicious occasion' when tbe citizens bad assembled to give a loyal wel- . come to his Royal Highness tbe Duke of Edinburgh. - (Applause.) In conclusion, he proposed the health of his Honor tho Superintendent, and tbat of tbe Mayor of Dunedin. ILLUMINATIONS. The illuminations were again repeated, and a quantity of fireworks discharged.