THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2591, 26 April 1869, Page 2

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH

The following are the particulars of the proceedings of His Royal Highness down to his departure for Dunedin yesterday : On Saturday, the 24th, His Royal Highness Prince Alfred, attended by his Excellency the Governor, his Honor the Superintendent, several officers of the Galatea and Blanche, and other members of the Royal suite, visited the Government Domain. His Royal Highness, who drove six-in-hand, was attended hr an escort of the Yeomanry Cavalry, and catered the Domain gates at the top of Heref rd street at 1.20 p.m., where he was received :y the members of the Park and Domain Eo the Mayor of Christchurch, and two or three other gentlemen. His Royal Highness acd party then entered the first enclosure and planted a very promising young oak, which will now be known as Prince Alfred’s Oak. It is near the centre of the paddock, and on entering the gates appears in li:u- with ;!;t centre mount between the two enclosures, c

is an interesting circumstance that Mr Davie, who, as Chairman of the Park "n i D ;; rd' Board, had the honour of pre.-enting the rr.e to His Royal Highness should have K-en :h; first of the early colonists who surer--:vd w raising a large number of oaks from Tigliri acorns, and those who remember ; e !i:t.e garden standing out from the w.i.-te whirrthen formed what is now the busiest part .n the city of Christchurch, will shirk of t.a utter improbability, as it then appeared. 'l:.;t any of us should ever live to see the day warn a son of our Queen should pa r s ever that very spot attended by so many thousands ,’f people as filled our streets on id urs.iay last The tree having been plaint? 1, :lisßw.i. Highness, on being informed that it was intended to plant four other tree.-, in the ! 1 - mai;; in commemoration of his visit to :1 ' terbury. was pleased to say that he wo;;!-’, plant them himself, although his doing so ;:i----voived a walk of nearly a mile. The "nod 1 party at once started for the site of the r.v.« tree at a pace not much under four miles *r hour, and on walking through the- renga grass three pheasants were sprung, whi.-!. r •« almost close to the Prince. The tress planted were a WWlirgroa ;l gigantca, a totara, and a deodara. A ceL* of Lebanon was also p’anted near tiw i path, on the rise between the two ; . n The totara and ce far were presented : - r Armstrong, the ■ t vt-ni-' t-nf gardener The deer in th“ enclo-ures attract.-.’. r --' attention of liis i-loya’ II glmcss ami who then cross d tin- r ver in tb.e nun s” walked through the grounds of t.'n tuition Society, wiu*-t? .;;e •. duction of the trout w-«s bro- g' t un !.r t.-u notice of the Priuco, who also ins- e 1 : - ! aviaries in wfne;n inn-r ci English ; 'i." - -o placed previon-Iy tl-eir being tur.qidle carriages an - os • >rt h '.emu hv t •» -• i-iached the g -,;o, i- toy u II;.!-. suite left for Kie-.-art-'n. wlu-re r h y - : ’ look pa-d in a pigeon n ,atch in. a pt-i the Deans’ estate. , , Admission was by tick i, an: mar..' - spectators were present. There we--- -Jo matches between tie,-■ ffioers of the -■ ‘ ■ LI -' including oi ■ Royal Mghn -ss. and live :m«; bers of the ( hristcbuvdi rluh. Two c. matches were won by the latter. T;u P -*-. returned to town about six o’clock, hour afterwards rhe riuoe lo.t the Ma*'don to dine with th - ■: emb.rs of the 1U ■ He left the t'luh in Messrs, ('obb an ! I carriage at half-past nine, and after rera.m ins half-a i-hotir a' the Clarendon. " :U -'. through the city accom. aniod by some -- 1 ' . bers of his suite, viewing the bmlm o* ‘ tK illuminations. He also visited the .1 for a short time. , Yesterday morning His Royal and suite, accompanied by h s d Governor, his Honor the Superintendent, Messrs J. Cra.roft Wilson, C. 8., ten Clarendon in two of Cobb and *- 0 -® . at carriages enroute for the Rahway - a uuarter past ten. He was esco tea guard of Cavalry. A guard ° f P° {be Mr Inspector Buckley, was in . g t rte d Railway Station, 'ihe special tram sta

, ~ , *,.1. »nd his Koyal Highness was i about 200Ljj Highness arrived in Lyttelton ® minutes to 11. He was accompanied by Wa suite, by his Excellency the §° v J“f no !'’ hi“ Honor the Superintendent, Mr W. MontSomery, Mr E. Jollie, Major Wilson, C. 8., Eel Packs, Captain Montgomerie of Sm s*Blanche, Mr L. Walker. Mr Marshnan and a few other gentlemen. His departure was evidently unexpected by the inhabitants of Lyttelton, there being only aoout a hundred present to witness the embarkation. On alighting from the train, his Royal Highness was greeted with a round of cheo ,J' s > which he graciously acknowledged. The arrangements for the embarkation were under the superintendence of Captain Gibson Port Officer and were satisfactorily earned out. It wasTntended that his Royal Highness pm bark where he landed, but owing to ■'* p'“ “ •» be * b “- K and it was decided that he should omSKn the sea wall. The s.s. Gazelle, Cantain McLellan, was specially engaged to £SS the Duke on board H.M.S. Blanche. After a short delay, his Royal Highness having shaken hands, and bid good-bye to them who had accompanied him, stepped on hoard, the Royal Standard being immediately tun up This was the signal for an enthuaiastic burst of cheering, led by his Honor the Superintendent. Cheers were also given for her Majesty the Queen, his Royal High■ess aud his Excellency Sir G. Bowen. His jloyal Highness was accompanied on board by his suite and his Excellency. A final parting cheer was given, and the steamer moved rapidly off. It was thought by many that on his Royal Highness’ arrival at H.M.S. Blanche, a royal salute would he fired and the yards manned. A large number of people went round to Sumner _ road, but they were disappointed. At i!0 minutes past 11, his Royal Highness stepped on board the H.M.S. Blanche, and there was no demonstration or ceremony. The ship had been getting up steam from 9 o’clock, and orders were at once given to get under weigh. At a quarter past 12, the anchor was tripped, and she steamed out of harbour.