HOW CHRISTCHURCH RECEIVED THE DUKE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 5

HOW CHRISTCHURCH RECEIVED THE DUKE.

IMPRESSIONS OF A VISITOR. We read to a book that is familiar to most people of an operation which caused the best things to be left to the last, and it was with some thoughts of this in my mind that I looked forward- with pleasant anticipation to' witness the festivities with which the C-ty of the .Plains would receive, and greet its future King and Queen. Auckland had acquitted herself well and loft a-pleasant-impression -in the minds of the visitors; the celebrations at Rotorua were' not only unique in character, but marked by a freshness and originality which could not fail to charm the Royal visitors. And then there was Wellington.: The Empire City has always suffered from an unenviable reputation for wind and rain, and that reputation was not to bo brushed aside, even though a Royal guest was to be entertained. But Wellington, had some good arches and its illuminations were magnificent, especially that of the Post Office, wiuca has not been excelled to any, of the colonies.

And then we came to Christchurch. So eminently an English settlement, containing such a large number ox prosperous people might reasonably nave been expected to excel all that had gone before—in New Zealand at anyrate —and it was with anticipation of many good sights to be seen,that I again visited che City of Churches. • As if an omen of ill, the heavens were forbidding in aspect. Canterbury, which rejoices so much in genial sunshine, even in winter, was in tears. A dowering sky, a steady drizzle of rain, and sloppy streets indicated that something, wrong had come over the place, and that auguiy was fulfilled in the influence it exerted on the mmds‘ of -the • Celebration .Committee. ■Christchurch has not risen, to the occasion. The people who have converted a wilderness of dull, fiat, uniutexesttog country into a. beautiful.city with -stately building)*, fine paiks and handsome plantations, seemed quite incapable of doing what was fitting when a Royal Prince and Princess visitedthem. The streets! reminded one of nothing so-much as the cheap s-ale of an enterprising draper who ikto plenty of space in which, to direct, attention to his alarming sacrifiecs.

Tawdry in appearance, flimsy in structure, were; the predominant features of the display which- was considered worthy of an event such as none of the present generation are likely to again witness. , There were some redeeming features which relieved l the perpetual reminder of a cheap -draper’s shop. 1 The frozen meat arch, the Westland -trophy, the A. and P. Association’s arch, the Government arch, helped to save the city from continued reproach. Of the lighter form of arches, that of the Fire Brigade seemed, to me the most artistic, and it certainly proved an object lesson to those who think - a city can be adequately decorated willi coloured pieces of cloth. The Westlanders contrived to produce an imposing effect with their golden obelisk and the ferns were most charming, whilst they remained there; , But, alas ! for the confiding - Westlanders. Feminine Caftter,bnry of -all ages -admired the-ferns with an adtoiration that was not to bo denied. Those- ferns were as attractive to the girls and women of Canterbury as..was that fateful -apple to the mother of mankind, and the gratification, of thpir desire was not •attended with such,serious penalties. At first small fronds were pinched off, then the larger , ones were attacked,, and finally -plants were'carried away. - As to paradise/ so in Canterbury, mankind was tempted by what temptedr his,-, womankind,-., -and on Saturday .night .& very ..large, proportioii of tho'young people of both sexes perambulating the streets ■ were 1 -adorned with fern fronds from Westland. At present the trophy stands shorn of its chief glories, but the representation of its wealth in natural products—gold, coal and timber — still confront-the beholder.

I was privileged to witness the ceremony on Victoria Square, -and consequently was unable to see -any portion of the procession excepting the final Scene, Having, been warned by the omnicient Press to take my seat early, I was enabled -to watch the preparations being made’by that august body which controlled the arrangements, for the reception. “All hands and the cook” were diligently employed - fixing up a canvas Covering to keep the rain off, and in laying carpets and .hiding a portion of the ugliness which seemed the most conspicuous feature of the structure where Royalty was to perform its first public function. The carpet loading to the pavilion was unrolled in, that expert and dexterous manner so familiar to frequenters of circuses, and one almost expected to hear the blast of trumpets ’ which would announce the commencement of a fresh act.

One amusing feature to -connection with this portion of the performance was the dilemma of ah old gentleman Who had some special duties, to perform. After the Royal party had proceeded to the erection’where the foundation stone was to be laid, he discovered there word no chairs for tho ladies. He hastily grabbed a. couple and moved a few steps towards them, then courage failed, and he retreated. A fresh attempt was made; and a second retreat. Finally, realising that the eyes of tbe -world were upon him, dud! that, ho' could die but once, - he heroically crossed his Rubicon and placed the'-chairs on the edge of the stand; one of them, which seemed in imminent danger of upsetting its own gravity and that of the onlookers, was rescued in tho nick of time by the lady-in-waiting. But the die had! been cast, and the transfer of the remaining chairs was effected in good order and without further casualties. After all these -well-meant efforts the seats were not -occupied. A special stand had been erected for the old age pensioners, nearly all the seats being occupied. ■ lb seems-, a pity that these poor old people should have been so placed that they were confronted ‘ with a strong, cold sonbii-wester, and.,'so far from the scene of -operations that many of them must have had a very hazy idea of what: was going on. We all profess to honour these worthy old pioneers, to whom we owe so much, and it does seem as if something -was lacking in the etcrr.al fitness of things when wo find them separated from the remainder of the spectators by conditions which were to their disadvantage in .every respect. .It would have been more in keeping with our professions if a portion of the main, stand had been assigned,to them. What seemed to me a marked feature in Saturday’s performance was the comparative absence of enthusiasm. Perhaps Christchurch is not given to exuberant expressions of sentiment; .possibly the cold southwest wind chilled the ardour, pf her people ; whatever the cause, it was somewhat surprising that so many people could, make such little sound.

And yet the most pleasing feature of the whole display was presented by the people themselves. One could not but be proud to feel that ~these, tens of thousands of quiet, orderly, well-dressed and intelligent looking people were our own countrymen and countrywomen; that they were our Idn in everything; that makes real kinship. It is. true they made short work of Westland’s fem display, but,-.the Westlanders should not have * been so verdant as to leave such tempting goods within easy reach. Smiling good-natured crowds bent on pleasing, and being pleased.. Throughout my ramblings I saw °b nt two drunken men, and not the slightest sign of any disorder. There may have been police about—l think I saw two or three—most, likely they were polishing their clothes in order to keep the pavement to front of the Cathedral clear of a few ft'"'"'-' of neonlo the following mattoa.

However, they were not wanted. Canterbury conducted itself in Christchxirch on Saturday night in a manner that could not be excelled anywhere else in the world. And now I suppose 1 should say something of the illuminations. I can truly affirm that some were pretty—that is all. The Cathedral was .most tastefully and appropriately lighted; Messrs Strange and Company had a very pretty flag device; the D.I.C. showed capital illumined pictures of the Duke and Duchess. These impressed themselves on my mind as being the -best—possibly I have forgotten others equally good, but I do not think so. I forbear referring to the transparencies of the King and Queen, Duke and Duchess in front of the Post Office, as I understand it was intended to have those responsible for their appearance executed to Hagley Park os soon as the Royal visit was over, but an inspection of many similar atrocities has rendered it necessary to vary the penalty, and they will now be permanently employed on Ripa Island. On the whole the illuminations varied from medium to bad. The frozen meat arch again scored, but the other arches were not things of beauty by night. Some transparencies were ludicrous. One enterprising tradesman displayed a double-tailed mermaid in economical costume posing with Neptune, who, for the occasion, had been transformed into a merman. I do not say this was the worst, because many others would run a tie with it, but it. serves for an illustration as well a® -another. Out of tho main thoroughfares there were few illuminations, small patches of light in the general dimness, the street lamps being most conspicuous objects to the long vista of streets. And then long strings of sightseers went by tram and rail to their homes; happy contented groups swarmed along the sidewalks ; groups of Volunteers of all descriptions and in a variety of garbs, some with their best'girls, strolled past. At length the shop lights went out, doors were fastened, and Saturday passed into Sunday with a bright cloudless sky resplendent with the glittering lampspf tho firmament.