THE ROYAL ARRIVAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12535, 24 June 1901, Page 11

THE ROYAL ARRIVAL.

A WOMAN’S IMPRESSIONS. (By D.A.C.) ■ Tne .splendid rainbow that shone • jgainA the southern sky on Saturday morning raised onr flagging spirit-, rain was getting monotonous. Surely the Sry of the Royal tour in the north was not going to repeat 1 itself in our City X the Plains! Already we had almost despaired of our decorations, among three days of rain had wrought their work too ; well- But there was much promise in the rainbow, and the morning was still young and somewhat tearful when the t streets began to fill with people, who, m ■pita of their macintoshes and umbrellas, were optimistic, every one. ; . M ■ “ Rain? Not a bit! ■■ It as clearing beautifully !” said! someone in the crowd. And 1 that was the feeling of everyone. Presently hope/began to crystal!** into fact, and.to© sun 4one out in a speckless sky. Straightway the scene changed-, Drapings that had hung limply fluttered gaily in the -wind, flags flew bravely wherever flags could fly, thicker and thicker. the people pressed, ■ moving slowly along the streets, where festooned Venetian masts marked out-the streets along which Royalty must pass. Finishing touches had been put to-the itches during the early dawn, and . these found many admirers, for the bright sunshine with genial kindness made the most of the gay colours! , - As the morning wore on, ye we retail aiipfcpe with expectation, and it seemed long before the boom of the guns told that our illustrious visitors had reached Christchurch. Then indeed the town ' woke up. It cast off its,cloak of customary impasand was Ixurnan initsenio-tion. - ibousa-roofs seemed to [heave sway, lor wherever standing room could be had were people, no matter how high up or insecure their resting-place. And when the outrider appeared at last, , followed, by the Royal carriage, Christchurch cheered as it, never had cheered before, as we had l never hoped to hear it cheer. It was a never-to- \ be-forgotten'moment, and the eyes of many filled with-tears of emotion at the thought that this grave, courteous gentleman and smiling lady so simply dressed in black were kinsfolk to England’s Great White Queen, and were themselves our futureSovereigns. , ; ■ The moment was electric. A mysterious : something, half reverence, half, devotion, welled up in the hearts of all, and a spontaneous burst of shouting rose with one ac'cord. No wonder women waved their s handkerchiefs and men their hats! ■ They. ' could do no less, they could do no more, and- already tho carriage had swept on to the Provincial Chambers, where tiro official presentations took place. In the meantime those who had secured’ seats in Victoria Square hastened' there to await the, re- '* appearance of the Duke, and Duchess amid i the pealing of the Cathedral bells ringing out a merry chime. ' . The scene in the Square was a unique one. The large stands were simply a mass of faces; and wherever the eye glanced: were more faces. Every roof ■ near hy > ■ bristled with men, women and . children, S and then, before one had taken it all in, i ' 'heralded hy a roar of cheering which was; • gradually taken up as their carriage drew, : near, their Royal Highnesses , appeared. ' Instantly the vast assemblage in the stands rose with one consent, handkerchiefs.: waved, men dheered, then, waited while the -National Anthem floated through the air,; and cheered again. Then we saw the! -Duchess, a gentle, stately lady, with the •--most winning smile imaginably—-very like >the portraits one has seen of her-—but agreat deal'sweeter looking. . Her plain, tailor-made dress of black cloth was simply ,- - banded with black satih ribbon stitched on, j ' and her kmali bjqhb Of black ohiffOn'arid ; ■ : jet heightened her dedicate fairness and the i beauty of her sunny hair. She wore a black feather and chenille boa around her throat, and the only ornaments visible were the pearl-drops in her ears. She carried the. magnificent bouquet presented -to her \by; Miss Wayinouth, and her lady-in-waiting, the Hon Mrs-Derek Keppel, carried one of white flowers. ■ J Every eye followed the little of Royalty ‘down. the steps of the dais, over the crimson carpet to the foundation stone of the Queen' Victoria Memorial, ■ ’ which was truly laid! ? and then the people ■heard the Royal voice* amid a silence that might have been felt, as the King’s son read 1 his address to the people in a resonant and beautifully clear voice, which' was distinctly audible to those .seated near th# •dais. A few moments more, a busy com-, jd motion among the. men with cameras, and ij .then, the signal was made for the return! of the carriages. Scarlet- and glittering. r officers flashed about, there was a gleam of much gold lace,: a pause while the air of: the National Hymn rose again, a clatter of horses! feet, and the Royal carriages, followed by their escort, had disappeared amid more ■ cheering under the beautiful ferny arch at Victoria bridge. ‘ In the evening tha town was transformed. If the wind, rain and eun had- played havoc ‘with our decorations, at least' they could no* affect the illuimnations-, and , it .was a wonderful sight when out of the darkness . the Cathedral spire leaped! into light. Outlined fay , hundreds ,of jewelled fires, it thone far out to sea and the neighbouring country, and -when . the electric searchlight . was turned upon it' the effect was very beautiful. Everywhere illuminations turned , night into day, and showed streets packed with dense crowds, every man, woman and child in the place seeming determined to ’ miss nothing of the gay scene. People thronged everywhere,, and made progress to the City Hall, where the reception. was to be held—a matter requiring some time and a good deal of patience on , , the part of coachman and guest. , Once inside, one became conscious that a vast transformation had been wrought. . One passed along crimson carpetted corridors, where stately palms and beautiful orchids were reflected in tall mirrors, into the . ■ noble reception hall, to shake hands with , host and hostess and await the arrival of the guests of the evening. Qne could- not : help being struck on«a more with- the gentle womanly simplicity ... of manner in our future Queen, or with the, • serene courtesy, of our-future King,-as they conversed 1 with those who had the privilege of a presentation. In her trained gown of “ black 1 with folds of gleaming white on the bodice, and jewelled ’ coronet surmounting her sunny hair, the’ Duchess presented, a radiant picture. And ait her side, her con-' e-ort—tie son of a hundred -kings—seemed to recall history, to! make the past real. One was proud of the Empire, glad that ® a r ® was born on Englishwoman. ■ Ihe concert over, the Duke and Duchess presently rose from their seats on the dais, and wnile the music of a march was played, moved slowly through the hall among the guests—stopping occasionally to speak to one or two people who hod been presented to them, and presently departed, leaving, behind them a -deeper feel.ng—if that could be possible—of affectionate loyalty. The first day of the Royal visit was over, and we went home, filled with serene joy because the ideal which our simple colonial hearts had -formed of Royalty had been only heightened: by the brief glimpses of it so 'far vouchsafed 1 to us.