THE PUBLIC DECORATIONS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 9

THE PUBLIC DECORATIONS.

The committee which had to carry out the decorations of the city of Christchurch for the Royal visit, were confronted with a somewhat difficult task. Any attempt to produce a display that would compare

with what had been done in Melbourne and Sydney must necessarily have resulted, in failure, but at the same time there was scope for an ornamentation of our streets which would stamp our individuality and give our visitors some idea of the resources of the colony. No unprejudiced person, however, can aver that the. committee proved themselves equal to the occasion, or that the decorations were, as a whole, of a kind to meet with general approva.. The main idea was to erect a number of Venetian potis along the lino of route, and to drape the intervening spaces with particoloured cloths, and although this Was effective enough in its way, the result was not altogether happy, while the bad weather which heralded tihe Royal visit in a great measure considerably marred the display. Had the money which was spent in the formation of what has been irreverently termed an “ avenue of rags been expended in the erection of three or four well-designed arches, the effect would have been far more imposing, and a more extensive use of native shrubs would have given.’ a distinctive colonial note to the decoration pfj'the city, whidh for the most part lackifigT 'N-Or ban itibe'. said that the scheme' of colour ' carried out in the general design was altogether satisfactory. There was plenty of variety in the drapery, which included the most brilliant reds and blues and the sickliest of greens and greys, but they were mingled together without much regard to their relative tones, and the effect was, in conse-' quence, somewhat incongruous. Considering that the main streets of Christchurch, with their long vistas, offer an excellent opportunity for the successful development of a ■well-thought-out scheme of decoration, it is to be regretted that the result was such a failure, from an aesthetic point of view. Following the line of route taken by the Royal procession, the first object of interest which called for notice was the railway station. The arrival' platform was draped in delicate tones of heliotrope and pale yellow, while there was an extensive use ol shrubs, no attempt being made in the direction of Artistic arrangement, but the result was not ineffective. The exterior of the station was decorated with festoons of greenery, with groups of ferns and cabbage trees distributed along the front of the building. The overbridge was similarly ornamented, and a liberal supply of bunting added to tho effect. The southern end’ of' Manchester Street was draped in red and blue, and the first arch m that thoroughfare was the one erected by the shipping companies, near Coker’s Hotel. This was a simple structure, and consisted of a birdge of a steamer, flanked on each side by towers—an erection scarcely worthy of tho important interests it represented. The open space . where the Jubilee Clock Tower stands was draped in pale heliotrope and white, and presented a most sickly appearance, os the recent rains had! reduced the drapery to limp tags, while the bilious-lo oking green, which was the prevailing tint in the next section, did not tend to improve matters. At the intersection of Cashel and High Streets, the decorations, consisting of brown, red and orange, were, perhaps, the most successful along the whole line of route, the schemie of colour being preserved by the business premises in the vicinity, and' the effect was decidedly striking. The most prominent feature in High Street was the arch erected by the meat companies, which attracted considerable attention. From an architectural point of .view it was not beyond reproach, find the stuffed animals whoso heads protruded from the kennels on the upper story were somewhat ludicrous, but the arch was an excellent advertisement for an important industry, and Was, therefore, not inappropriate. Credit is due to the Westland people fot their trophy, which took the form of on obelisk, representing the amount of gold produced from that part of the colony, surrounded by samples of timber and coal. An element of the picturesque was added to the trophy by the collection of ferns and indigenous plants which formed the base, although the latter,might have been more artistically arranged. Cathedral Square is undoubtedly the finest site in Christchurch, and here, if anywhere, the committee might have made the most striking display. There can be no doubt, however, that . the opportunity was lost. Instead 1 of a strong scheme of colour, which would have given dignity to the situation ’and impressed our visitors, the poles and their accompanying drapery of pale red, yellow and white, gave the place ■ a flimsy appearance, which was further accentuated by the ridiculous transparencies that disfigured the Post Office buildings. At Worcester Street the Fire Brigade erected an arch, which was composed of escape ladders, decorated with shrubs and a liberal, supply of bunting, and presented a pretty and appropriate decoration, not the less effective because of its unpretentious character. The Agricultural and Pas- • toral Association’s arch, opposite the municipal buildings, was a praiseworthy attempt to symbolise the important industries they represent. The structure made po pretence to architectural merit, but was rustic in treatment, consisting for the most part of cages, ’ where live .stock of all kinds were shown. Specimens of sheep, horses, cattle and fowls were on view, while vacant spaces were’ filled with vegetable produce of all' sorts, the whole display being of a utilitarian, rather than of an artistic, interest, but serving its purpose admirably. It may Ire noted that the Venetian masts in \Vorcester and Gloucester 4 Street, and along Cambridge Terrace were of a more ornamental character than those in other parts of the city, being decorated with shields and banners, which greatly improved their appearance. The last arch through which the Royal party passed on their way to Te KcrrJha was undoubtedly the most successful of' all the decorations in. Christchurch. The Victoria Street Bridge had been converted into a veritable, bower of native shrubbery, and it was a pleasure to contrast the beauties of Nature with the tawdry millinery which had formed the basis of the decorations of the principal streets of the city. Trelis work had been erected the whole length of the bridge, and the spaces were filled in with all kinds of native creepers and shrubs, while baskets of ferns were hung in the various bays. Nothing can be more artistic than the manner in which this admirable decoration was carried out, and it is satisfactory to know that there was at any rate one feature in tho ornamentation of our city on this memorable occasion which calls for unstinted praise.. Of the decorations as a whole it is impossible to speak with approval, and although the recent rain may, in a measure, have impaired their effect, they -would scarcely have been successful under the most auspicious conditions. The mistake which the committee made was to bind itself down to'one; dtp finite scheme, that ffe/3t£U> in a wearisome monoton/. ‘ln other'places' the idea has been to’ 1 deal" with- ' each thoroughfare distinctively, and this, had it been carried out in Christchurch, would have given an .incentive to individual effort which would have proved advantageous. It goes without saying that an intelligent control should have been exercised over the whole scheme of decoration, but this couid have been easily provided for. As things have turned out, we have the melancholy conclusion forced upon us that Christchurch, in spite, of the liberality shown by its citizens, has fallen short of the o ther cities'in the colony in their welcoming of our Royal visitors, so far as the public decorations are concerned. One noticeable feature, which must have been observed by those who have followed the progress of the Duke and Duchess through the colony, was. the-, fact that virtually no ati-enip: was made by the business people of the city to decorate their premises. With the exception of Oashel and High Streets, already referred to, the fronts of the shops wore an overy-day appearance, the proprietors evidently being of opinion that the committee had provided enough drapery for the occasion, and that.there was no necessity to increase it. On the roofs of the Post Office and Government Insurance Buildings were displayed a large number of flags of every conceivable kind, the object, apparently, being to cram as

much bunting- into a given apace as was possible. A distinguishing feature in the decorations in Worcester Street was the draping of the Government Offices in red and blue, which gave the building a dignified appearance, and contrasted favourably with the somewhat tawdry surroundings. In regard to. tire decorations generally, which- did not -extend beyond the precincts of the city, and left the long line of route from Victoria Street to Te Kotaha in its native nakedness, the universal verdict was that the committee had missed their opportunity. Why an architect was employed to carry out a work which could have been equally well, if not better, done by a millinery expert, is on© of those mysteries which most people will regard as insoluble, bub that the result was disaatrous is beyond question. There was a lack of originality in the conception of the scheme as a whole, and in no sense can it be said that any idea was conveyed of the peculiar characteristics which distinguish New Zealand from other countries m the world. h.-: PRIVATE decorations. I ' Outside the special arches, and the illuminations, very little has been done in the way of private decorations. Flags, houever, are flying in all directions, and on some business houses large festoons stretch from post to post and corner to comer. Several large devices, extending warm welcomes to the visitors, are displayed in conspicuous places. Up Victona Street several shops have been decorated with greenery. The Salvation Army Barracks, off Victoria Street, have been decorated with pink and white colours, and the words, The World for Christ,” “The Salvation Army Greets the Duke and Duchess,” and Rigbteousriess Exalteth a Nation,” are displayed'. _ It may be liemarked that the lack of private decorations is in marked contrast to what has been done in Auckland and Wellington, where private enterprise in this direction was conspicuous. In Chnstchurch to-day there were even a number of masts without flags on them.