IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 7

IN CHRISTCHURCH.

AT THE RAILWAY STATION. THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION. The railway station was _ lavishlydecorated in readiness for the arrival of the Royal train. ; Mr H. Macandrew, the District Railway Engineer, / in. whose hands the whole of the arrangements were, placed the supervision of the decoration’s in the hands' of Mr H. Dansey, his assistant, and that gentleman is 10 be congratulated upon ; the success of his efforts.. The. whole of the • platform was laid in Royal red baize, and thfi walls were ,draped in lilac aud yellow and pink, native shrubs and tree' ferns _:»a- , troduced to brighten the effect. Outsido the main entrance a light portico was constructed, on which floated the Royal standard, and which was tastefully draped in lilac and yellow. Over the buildings floated the National flags of England, Ireland and Scotland, and the colony’s era- ; blem. The whole front of the station was liberally treated/with dhruhs from the Railway Department’s plantations, while there were also introduced with artistic effect native evergreens obtained ■ from Southland, including Ti (cabbage trees), Kahahoe (toi toi), Punga (tree feraa), birch, flax and xaupo. Outside the, station a hollow square was formed 15y mounted' troops, who kept The exp ectant crowds back, and every point cl vantage was mad© use-of by those ■ onrioia to catch a first glimpse of the RoyM pair, In front of the main entrance was draws ■ up a section of the Cavalry, which formed , the escort for his Excellency the GovmTion ready to head the while. th< Royal guard of honour, Wshed! by tin City Guards and Imperial Raflesp undaj the command of. Captain Okxrlewobdi.wtooi ready to salute at the word of command, As the time for the arrival of the train drew near the scene m front ox tn* station was a most animated one, tte clanking of swords, the champing of bte and the stamping of chargers, .mmglim ndth the sharp words of command or tto officers.

THE OFFICIAL RECEPTION. A portion of the platform Lad been ■’ roped off, and in the enclosure, ready to welcome their Royal Highnesses to tho , City of 'the IHains were his Worship the Mayor, Mrs Rhodes and Mirs Mairehaa Rhodes, Messrs H. F. Wigmm, O. G. Stead and R. Allan (the Royal Commissioners), with the’ Government reception: officials and the 'heads of , the Railway Department. A few minutes before twelve o’clock the Royal train was signalled, and! as tho first stroke of the hour was struck

bj the city clocks, the tram steamed easily into the station* and, by the aid of the sir brakes, the carriage the Royal pair was brought to a standstill exactly opposite the enclosure, and at the same moment the guns of. the E Battery were heard to commence firing the Royal salute, whale: th© Nelson and Blenheim Harrison Bands, stationed outside, played the National Anthem. , His Excellency the Governor stepped from the .train, quickly followed by tine Premier and .Sir Joseph'Ward, both in ! Windsor uniform, and then the suite, with liord, Wenlock, also stepped out. As their .-loyal Highnesses alighted! they , were introluced to the Mayor and Mrs Rhodes by 'tfOrd Eanfurly, and little Miss Mairehan /Erodes presented the Duchess with a harndpm© shower bouquet of violets and fems. Ihe Commissioners were then presented, ad l then the Mayor, who wore his chain of ffioe. and had the Town Clerk in attendice, formally welcomed their Royal High- ’ «sses to Christchurch, and presented the vie address. By this time the Govern'ienfc party and! th© suite had caatered their ' Xniages and driven off. The Duke and '/uchess, with Lord Wenlock, then passed nrough the vestibule, and as they appeared n ■ th® station' steps they were- greeted by ieartv cheers ; and entering their carriage, hove'd off with the two equerries in their gorgeous uniforms on either side'of carriage, and with the Commander of the "New Zealand Forces in close attendance.

t THE PROCESSION.

The 'following was the order of the profession s— —... y ‘ Staff Officer. 10 Yards. ■* - Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Ellesmere-Mounted Rifles. •- ■ ■ Malvern Mounted Rifle*, ■ - ■ Wainrakaiin Mounted Rifles. 1 , , - 30 Yards. , Staff -. Officer. 20 Yards. . ■ Orderly. ■ . Orderly, i -20 Yards. ■ Orderly. Orderly. 10 Yards.- ' Staff Carriage. . ' ■■ 10 Yards. Staff Carriage. . : 10 Yards. Orderly. Orderly. 10 Yard*. Sergeant of Escort. Sergeant of Escort. - '.5. Yards. Advance Party of Royal Escort. , Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. ' . ■-15 Yards. ■ ■ ' A.D.C. to H.E. the Governor and Officer ~ .. ' Commanding District. '' 10 Yards. ; . , ■ Outrider. . ■ ' - 15 Yards. Royal Carriage. Equerry. •; Equerry. ■, ■ : 6 Yards. hd in Coipmand o! Officer Commanding Escort. ' Escort. 15 Yards. Commandant New Zealand Forces. 5 Yards. ■ Trumpeter. 10 Yards. . i Rear Portion of Escort. Ashburton Mounted Rifles. 1 Staff of Commandant and! O.C. District. - 10 Yards. ■/ Five Companies Mounted Rifles. J - Amuri. North Canterbury. Cu*t. Kaikoura. Cheviot. Two Gfuns E Battery. Two Companies Mounted Rifles. ■ South Canterbury. Mackenzie. ' / ■ .Staff Officer. , 100 Yards. Two Companies Mounted Rifles Studholme.

Geraldine. ■ ■ The route of the procession was thickly {tn«d with sightseers. Every point of van- ! (Mg» was crowd'ed', every window was fully ' occupied, and many people had climbed, to the roofs of the houses to get a passing view. The Premier, who was fsome diatance in advance of the Royal party, and '•"whose figure, of course, was' familiar to ' the people, met with a very hearty reception. • As the carriage containing the Royal pair left the station there was another outburst of cheering, and this was taken up . Manchester Street and v continued -■ . .along the whole route, both their Royal acknowledging their hearty reoeption.. Although the sidewalks of Manchester Street were thronged, the volunteera'who lined it on either side found no r difficulty in keeping the people back, and the crowd was essentially an orderly one. ..Passing under the ' “ shipping ” arch in '-Manchester Street the Duke and Duchess recognised the familiar bridge of a steamer, arid smiled approvingly. Passing on ..through the lines of volunteers, all stand"lng at' the salute, the procession reached ‘the clock tower, where an immense number' .of people had collected, and here the cheering' swelled into a great volume of ■' sound,' which continued until the arch, representing the frozen meat industry had been passed and the procession reached the '-triangle opposite the Bank of New Zealand, where the wealth of ferns, surmount-, ed’ by the golden obelisk representing the , ''West Coast attracted the attention of the ..Ppyal party. Turning into Cathedral which contained several thousand people, the volume of cheering appeared to reach its and every available iwindow and house-top had its occupants, .who joined in. At the Godiey Statue the ; Stan more Band played the National An--them. Emerging from the Square through the Fire Brigade arch, surmounted by a representation of Britannia, and along Worcester Street, there was more cheering, and at the corner of the City Council Buildings the Napier Garrison Band play- . ed tie National Anthem. As the Royal ; i carriage approached. the arch representing at the agricultural and pastoral-industries an ‘ unrehearsed incident oecurred, and appeored to amuse the Duke and Duchess con- : .siderably. ■ On one side of the arch there ■■■ was a 1 representation of , a cow byre, con- ’ tainin 0- a cow and a milkmaid. Unfortunately the cow became very excited with the noiae of the hands and the cheering. The tableau was, of, course, spoiled, and ' • when the Royal carriage passed, the young' lady. Was pluckily holding to the horns of the animal and endeavouring to soothe it. Just , over the bridge Worcester Street was lined , by. pupils of the Boys’ High School on lorries, and their Royal Highnesses ao-■knbwledged-the hearty reception, as they did also that of the students of Christ’s College, similarly stationed at the inter- ■ Motion of Gloucester Street and Cambridge Terrace. At Gloucester Street Bridge the 'Wanganui Highland Rifles Band played a Royal ireloMnje as the Duke and Duchess approached. Here,, by some mistake, the I—Ain.gr escort and several of the oarriMpee ' turned into Gloucester Street, 'had going over the bridge, made their way “to Victoria Square, and nod to ho sent for. At the Royal pair, who proceeded ataaight on, ohrinted from their cam-, aga at the Provincial Council Chambers, the Wellington Garrison Band played the Na- ’’ tiooal AntK«.m ; and this was followed by another outburst of cheering. The-Royal party was awaited on the steps outside the Chambers -by • his Excellency the Governor, the Bight Hon R. J. Seddon, Sir J. G. Weird, both wearing Windsor, uniform, the Hon W. ,0. Walker , and his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch. ,

AT THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CHAMBERS. PRESENTATION OF ADDRESSES. THE DUKES' REPLY. : The second function of the day took flacs at Canterbury’s historic building, the •rovinoiail Council Chamber, where addresses from the Loyal Orange Lodge and the old age pensioners were presented. Looag before the time set diown. for the arrival of the Duke and Duchess a number of those who had the right of entry into the” Chamber assembled Arrayed in the frock coat and silk hat proper to such occasions. A hushed feeling of expectancy seemed to pervade the reception hall, and •mm walked up and down speaking to each other ia whiepers, without knowing why they- did so. Outside, the prevailing colour was kharki, but a pleasant - wlisrm* note to the dull uniforms of the

Volunteers was afforded by the flags and festoons. The Wanganui Highland Rifles’ pipers enlivened proceedings by dancing and playing at the corner of Cambridge Terrace, and a band in front of the Chamber relieved the tension by playing patriotic airs. At the entrance to the Chamber a canopy ‘had been, erected over the footpath, the uprights being decorated with rimu foliage, flax and ma-tipo, the crosspieces festooned in red and blue, .and the canopy itself in red and white, while carpet was laid over the footpath and up the steps. . The Chamber itself was lurnished simply. The whole, floor had been richly carpeted, and at the end was a dais carpeted in red, and on which stood the chair of the Judge of the Arbitration Court, and several other seat©, all upholstered in bright red; a few pot plants in the window niches and palms in -the corners of the room comprised the only other decoration, but indeed furnishing was not required to set off this magnificent room, with its beautiful roof and stained glass windows. It was an ideal hall for the reception, of the Crown Prince of Britain in Canterbury’s province. Presently tire deep, muffled booming of‘the guns firing the Royal salute, and the sound of cheer--ing were heard like distant thunder, and the cheers grew louder and lender as the Royal procession approached the Chamber. The members of the-Executive Committee, the City Councillors and those presenting addresses were ranged 1 in a double row along. each side of the room, and then his Excellency the Governor, .attended 1 by Captain Alexander, Premier, Sir J. G. Ward and the Mayor of Christchurch arrived, the Premier and Sir J. G. Ward being'in Windsor uniform,, and the Mayor wearing his chain of office. They, were received by the' Commissioners of the Royal visit (Messrs H. F. Wigraon, G. G. Stead and R. Allan) at the main r, and there awaited the Duke and Duress. The orders of th© officers ooinmaniing tire troops in front of the building rang out sharply, a roar of cheering followed, and the Royal guests entered the - Provincial Chamber precisely ait 12.20 p.m., while the buinds outside greeted th© advent of the Heir Apparent with th® fit-rains of th© National Anthem. Their Royal Highnesses were escorted by Lord ■ Ranfuriy and followed by Captain his Serene Highness Prince Alexander of Teck, Captain Viscount Crichton the Duke of Koxburgh, Commander Godfrey Faussett, Lord Wenlock, The Pre-mier-and Sir J. O. Ward. The Hon Mr* Derek Keppel arrived shortly afterwards. The little procession made a brilliant spectacle as, the. many coloured lights from the windows fell upon the gleaming uniforms, and the glittering decorations and orders. The Duchess was dressed in a costume cl a dark material, ; His Royal Highness, who was in the uniform of an admiral, took up his position in the centre of the dais with the Governor and Sir J. G._ Wardonth right, her Royal Highness the Duchess oi Cornwall and York and the Premier on bis left. The Lords and XLnoms-in-Waitinff on his Royal Hignness placed themselves behind the .dais. A sh ort delay ,occurred, awaiting the return of the carriages, which had taken the wrong road and the few minutes were occupied J the Duke in conversation' with : Governor, while the: Duchess conversed with the Premier. Lord Ranfuriy was noticed to draw their Royal Highnesses attention to the beautiful roof of the Chamber. Then the Loyal Orange ' announced 1 , ' and Bro R- - • p n ’ ■r W (} M Bro Rev 0. E. Ward, P.u.jvi., £?K MeSdith, F.G.M.. M.H.R., and Bro W. Prndhoe, P.G.M., were presented the R.W.G.Mr- presenting ad 1 illuminate address to his RoyaT Highness. i Th© •dress was as follows• To your Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Ycrk—May it please your Royal Higgses, -We. tbe Executive Council of the Grand OrangeLodge of New Zealand, Middle Island loyal subjects of te Most Gracious King Edward TIL , desire to approachjour Highnesses and offer you, on behalf of our noble Institution, a most sincere and hearty welcome to the Middle Island of New Zealand on this your first visit to our distant shores. We beu to express through your Highnesses our deep and fervent loya y_ his Gracious Majesty 'King Edward. VII. and to the Empire. We do not claim any monopoly of loyalty to the Crown,, hut we do claim that-it is our object on all occasions (and under any circumstances) to advocate and maintain those cavil and religious liberties which we possess in common with! other colonists. We trust that the ties which bind us to the Mother Country as exemplified in the South African crisis, mav never be severed; that peace and prosperity, concord and unity will flourish amongst the nation ; and-that nothing may tend to mar the unity which at present exists. We pray that his Majesty, your RovaL father, may long reign over a - loyal an<l law-abiding people, and that your Highnesses’ visit to this distant part of the dominion may still further cement th© bonds of allegiance and loyalty. In. again offering a right hearty welcome to your Highnesses, we pray that th© Most/High will watch over yon and guard yon from all perils and‘dangers, and grant you a safe and pleasant voyage.—-W© have the honour to remain, your, Highnesses’ most faithful and obedient servants, Henry J. Ranger, R.W. Grand Master; William J. Noble, R.W.D.G.M.; /Jqhn' Mathers, R.W. Grand Treasurer; Fred E. Willis, R.W. Grand; Secretary; Alex. Greig, P.G.M. ; Geo. Mangin, P.G.M.” The. old age pensioners were next announced, and Mesda-mes Bruce and Du Fen and Messrs T. . Weir (late , of H.M.I 17th Regiment) and E. Scott, representing the old age pensioners, presented the following “To his Royal Highness George Frederick Ernest Albert, Duke.of Cornwall, Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, Baron Killamey, K. K.T., K.P., G.C.M.G.—May it please your Royal Highness, we the recipients of old ago pensions in the Christchurch district of the colony of New Zealand, tender to your Royal Highness and to her Royal Highness 1 the Duchess of Cornwall and York a loyal and affectionate greeting. Although many years lave elapsed since we left the dear Old Country, our recollections of our beloved Queen Victoria and King Edward are 'brightened by ; your Royal Highnesses’ visit to this colony. We feel sure that th© loyalty of our children and their attachment - to the throne, will, if such be possible, be strengthened , by your visit, and that the evidences of this loyalty and , attachment in the greetings tendered to your Royal Highnesses ’during your brief stay in New Zealand will remain a pleasing remembrance. We wish your Royal Highnesses a safe return to the Mother Country, long life, and all the happiness Divine Providence may be pleased to bestow upon you and yours. Signed on behalf of the Old Age Pensioners of the -Christchurch (New Zealand) district.” v Tha following is the text of the address handed at the railway station to his Royal Highness:— “ We, the Mayor and Councillors of th© City of Christchurch, as loyal subjects of our Most Gracious King, desire warmly and respectfully to welcome your Royal Highness and her . Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall 1 amd York, to our city and th©? provincial district of Canterbury. We are deeply grateful to his Most Gracious Majesty th© King for the special favour conferred on us in sanctioning the visit of your Royal Highnesses to this the most distant part of hia Empire, and to your Royal Highnesses for so willingly and' cheerfully incurring the fatigues and inconveniences of such a lengthened journey to our shores. We recognise in this visit of your Royal Highnesses the great regard that his Most Gracious Majesty has towards all parts of his Empire, and we feel assured that it will be the means of further strengthening that bond of union and affection which attaches us to the Mother .Country, to which it is onr -pride and) boast to belong. W-e sincerely hope . that the visit of yonr Royal Highnesses to our city may be as much a source of satisfaction to yourselves as it is of gratification to us in bidding yon welcome. We earnestly pray that Almighty God in his good providence may ever guard your Royal High-

nesses, as He has hitherto don®, from all perils, either by land or eea.—A. E. G. RHODES, Mayor; H. R. SMITH, Town Clerk.” His Worship the Mayor was then- called forward, and his Royal Highness, addressing him and those assembled, said: “Mr Mayor and Gentlemen, —On be- , half of the Duchess and myself, I thank you sincerely for the hearty welcome you have offered to us in the name of 1 the citizens of Christchurch and the various bodies you represent. “I am specially * interested in the greeting accorded to us by the old age pensioners of the district. The working of the system which has been established in New Zealand, is,,being closely watched in the Mother Country, and I am glad to be able to gather some information respecting it during our visit. It is a great pleasure to us to come amongst you, andito see . for ourselves something of. the remark- . able progress which has been made by , this city and district since the Can-"-terbury pilgrims landed here fifty/years • . ago. Favoured though you are' by a splendid climate and rich and fertile soil, that progress speaks volumes for the courage and perseverance of the 1 pioneers who peacefully wrested the province from the wilderness, and also for the intelligence and resource of those who followed them. You have here established a new England, bound to the old by a three-fold cord of love and affection. And the-deeds of your sons have proved that they have nobly learned the lessons of loyalty taught them by their fathers and mothers. “In the name of the King, I thank you for the renewed assurance of that • loyalty. We also thank you for your kind wishes and expressions in regard to our voyage. We shall always cherish grateful memories of the warm and , hearty -kindness and generosity everywhere met with in New Zealand, and it is our earnest prayer that the progress and prosperity you now enjoy may continue to grow from day to day.” Those assembled were then each called by name, and presented to the Duke and Duchess, shaking hands with each, after which the Royal guests were conducted from the Chamber to their carriage, while three cheers were given by the gentlemen who had been presented. Their Royal Highnesses acknowledged with a bow. THE DRESSES. The dresses worn by the Duchess and suite ami Mrs Rhodes were as follow: The Duchess of Cornwall and York wore a handsome dress of rich black satin, with train, bodice with white satin front, over which was crossed the broad 1 white ribbon of the Imperial Order of India, coronet of diamonds and emeralds, rich parure of diamonds. The Hon Mrs Derek Keppel wore a blade trained gown of satin, diamond -ornaments. Lady Mary Lygpn wore a rich .black silk dress with train, and diamond ornaments. Lady Ranfuriy wore a handsome black satin; diamond ornaments. The Mayoress, Mrs A. E. G. Rhodes, wore a handsome trained dress of black sequined net over satin, and diamond ornaments.

The following is a list of those presented ; /

Executive Committee of the Royal visit: —Messrs A. E. G. Rhodes, Mayor of Christchurch, chairman; Charles Lewis, M.H.R.; H. G. Ell, M.H.R. ; W. 1 .-W. Tanner, iU.H.R.; G. W. Russell, M.H.R.; W. W. Collins, M.H.R.; G. Lanrensbn, M.H.R.; T. 0. Field (Mayor of Lyttelton), C. Bean, W. H. Cooper, W. T. Thomas- (May or of Woolston), E. W. Roper, B. P. Manhire (Mayor of Sydenham), A. B.‘ Morgan (chairman. Avon Road Board), W. Roliitt (Mayor of Sumner), W-m. Wood (president of Chamber of Commerce), T. HI Davey (Mayor of St Albans), C. H. Winny, G. M’lntyre (Mayor of New Brighton), P. Campbell, H. Pearce (Mayor of Linwood), J. ’ Sanscin (Mayor of Rangiora), H. Oottexill, G- TBooth, F. Graham, F. J. Board, W. Bong (chairman Riccarton Road Board), A. W. Rutherford (chairman Amuri County Council), John . Petti grew; (chairman Akaroa Connty Council), John Deans (chairman Drainage Board), J. T. Smith, M. Murphy, Wm. Harris, R. C. Bishop, G. Harper, A. H. Turnbull, A. 1 Kaye, G. Harris, H, J. Beswiok, W. D. Meare’s, John Anderson, 0., M. Gray, F. Waymouth, B. M. Macdonald, A. W. Beaven, and Drs Levinge and Jennings. | t Reception Committee: —'Messrs H. F. Wigram, G. G. Stead, R. Allan (commissioners of the Royal visit) and J. A. Cassidy (Government Executive officer). City Council:—Councillors J. M. Taylor, H H. Loughnan, H. Wood, G. Paylmg, W. E. Samuels, J. Clarke, G. Simpson, C. D. Morris, H. B. Sorensen, C. M. Gray, R. M. Macdonald, and Jf T. Smith and the town clerk, Mr H. Smith.