THE CHILDRENS DAY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12536, 25 June 1901, Page 7

THE CHILDRENS DAY.

Yesterday morning was undoubtedly the children’s great day, and they turned out in thousands to welcome the Duke and Duchess from the far-off Motherland. One of the hardest frosts of the winter was succeeded by one of Canterbury’s perfect days of blue sky and bright sunshine. The little ones had determined to make the welcome historical, and they did so. From an early hour children begain to pour into the streets. It was a history-maJdng day, and will be remembered by those thousands of children as long as they live, for in years to come they will tell their children and their children’s children, how they welcomed the Duke and his consort to Canterbury. The word pour aptly expresses the coming of the children from all points of the compass, ibr they'came like a great tidal wave, and the sun smiled greeting upon them. From the far-off Kaikouras, from the plains that lie to the north and to the south, and from the coast where the white surf rises over the bar, the children came to cheer a welcome to George, Duke of York, and his sweet lady, and through them, to the mighty Throne of that England so lovingly designated the Motherland. 'What mattered it that some of. the boys’ trousers were fastened to their braces with little strips of flax, or that there were holes in their shirts—symbols of hard-won battles amongst the hedges and forests—-or that “decorations of the distinguished order, of the sun,” i.e,, freckles, adorned their faces. Their little rugged hearts were white, and there was no' “ blase conventional ” air about their cheering. The little girls were arrayed in their Sunday best, and sweet and pretty they looked. * From eighty-four schools they came, six thousand of them in all, iand surely the day was their blue day, a day to be remembered for all time.

When the first of the country trains arrived yesterday morning, the little visitors with their adult guardians, tqok their way to Victoria Square in little processions, and in almost every street one met these small armies under the command of one or more much-worried teachers, but no l worried look was on a single childish face. The trains from south, from Eaugiora, Sonthbridge and Lyttelton lines brought large numbers of children, and every inch of tile railway station platform bore its, weight of Canterbury childhood. Everywhere was a battle of shrill voices, and so' it was right up to the now famous Victoria Square. Adults in thousands also rapidly arrived, until all the streets were thronged by an ever-in-creasing tide of humanity. The effect was grand in the extreme, as all this loyal multitiide hunjied to pay homage to the Crown Prince of Great Britain. Upon arrival at Victoria Square, each complement of children was marshalled into place on the stands, and each child Avas supplied with, a toi-toi plume.

THE FUNCTION IN THE SQUARE. A fins winter's wind, which wag Ko ancderatJ "catrely bs sufficient to display bunting to advantage, the children’s function was an immense success. The Square was a scene of great animation. The marshals, Messrs P. J. Board and W. Bain, with the members of tbo Demonstration Committee, did their duty loyally, .systematically and well. Each school had its own. place allotted . to it, and there was neither hitch nor delay in arranging them, all having been so carefully mapped out. In this respect it must not bo omitted to give the greatest meed of praise to the Chairman of the Children’s Demonstration Committee, who was compelled to forego the pleasure of seeing the successful culmination of the work of so many week?. Mr M. Mruphy was compelled to leave Christchurch for Dunedin on Saturday on business connected With the Associatiori' ho is there representing at the Winter Agricultural Show. But he left some sturdy and well-trained deputies in the persons’of Messrs Board. Bain, J. M. Thompson, C. 11. Winny and all the teachers, who were fully alive to his desires to-aee the Children’s Demonstration to their’ future King, and Queen made a function tsMhffh *w« Haval ffiehne sses would have

occasion to look back upon with.' pride and pleasure. Indeed, if not treasonable to say so-, it is more than probable that a paragraph in one of T.R.H.’s Royal despatches to King Edward from New Zealand .may read somewhat as follows. —“ We have -already advised you of the many loyal and patriotic functions that we have attended, and at which the sentiments of love for the Throne -of, England have been fully and devotedly expressed. But on June 24, at Christchurch, we were pleased and more than gratified at a demonstration made in Victoria Square, where I had laid the foundation stone of a memorial to our late -respected Queen a couple of days previously. Here were assembled fully 6000 children from about eighty of the public schools in the Canterbury Education District, who presented us with an address and bouquet, and who by their vociferous applause convinced us that the rising generation in this flourishing colony is being tfinght all the (highest principles of loyalty and devotion to duty. Possibly the thoughtarose'' to the ; visitors that they were at the time separated by a wide expanse of ocean from their own beloved children, and, while casting the favour of their presence on those before them, they were inwardly looking forward to the time when their own little kith and kin would be with them again.

They were preceded by other carriages, in the first of which rode the Eight Honourable the Premier, whose arrival on the ground was welcomed'by a burst of juvenile applause, which evidently gave him great pleasure, as he acknowledged it with beams on his good-natured- countenance. In the next carriage, which -was preceded by a mounted escort of the Studholme Mounted Rifles, came his Excellency the Governor, the Earl of Ranfuxdy, at whose .side was seated Mrs A. E. 6. Rhodes, and 1 opposite to them the Countess of Ran'furly and the Hon, 0. Hill Trevor. The cheers for Mr Seddon were outclassed by those raised for the illustrious occupants of the vice-regal carriage, and these were continued during the time occupied by his Excellency and party in alighting and 'ascending the dais. Meanwhile,the Stanmore Band under Bandmaster Search played the National Anthem, but its strains were fairly deadened by the lung power of the ( children. Excitement rose to its greatest pitch, however, when a strong detachment of mounted soldiers came prancing over Victoria Bridge as an advance guard to Royalty. Then a cheer arose which might have been heard on the highest peak of the Port Hills as the Royal carriage containing their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York and H.R.H. the Prince of Teck swept into the Square. The Duke was in his military uniform in preparation for the review, but his overcoat, a necessary portion of his wearing apparel on so keen a morning, hid from view its gorgeous mountings. The Royal party was greeted by the National Anthem, in which the children joined lustily, until, at a signal from his Worship the Mayor, silence was obtained. Then.the four little girls selected by a ballot to represent the schools in tho Canterbury 'district, were introduced. to her Royal Highness the Duchess. They were lhe&Misses Ida May Reese, of the Sydenham School, Gladys Walker (Addington), Lucy Hatch (Richmond), and Madge O’Malley, Sacred Heart High School. Mrs A. E. >G. Rhodes accompanied them to the Royal carriage, where they made their curtseys 1 , and Miss Reese, to whose lot it had fallen to present the bouquet) handed it to her Royal Highness, saying, “ I have the honour on behalf of the schools in tho Canterbury district to ask you to accept this bouquet, and to wish 'your Royal Highnesses every happiness and to offer you a very hearty welcome to Canterbury.” Her Royal Highness', who had remained seated in the carriage all the time, graciously accepted the handsome shower bouquet of white flowers from Miss Reese’s hand’, find with a genial smile said, “ Thank you, my dear.” As the girls curtseyed and! withdrew backwards towards the ,dais' ; Mrs Rhodes called for three cheers for their Royal Highnesses, which were again given forth with a youthful zest. Then' the band again struck up the National Anthem,and the Royal 'carriage, started. What with the cheering, the band playing, and _ the toi-tois waving, the scene was an impressive and pleasing one. Shortly afterwards his Excellency’s party, the Premier mid the other distinguished guests departed, one by one, cheers being called for by Mr Rhodes for Lord and 1 Lady Ranfurly and the occupants of the other carriages as each left, and 1 , as Mr Rhodes himself departed, Mr Board called for three cheers for* our popular civic magnate, which were heartily given.

The Children then dispersed. Mast of the children assembled in Victoria Square Avere then mustered up jn order by their respective teachers, and, in accordance AA r ith the terms of the invitations issued, proceeded to the Canterbury Hall, where an abundance of all things calculated to appease the‘juvenile appetite was proyidted, to Avhich ample justice Avas done, Mr Rattray Avas the caterer, and he and his assistants had a busy time. There Avas no hitch, and the youngsters appeared to thoroughly satisfy any cravings of the inner man, and judging by appearances the pocket was not forgotten. As most of them were anxious to see some portion of the revieAv, the hall Avas clear very shortly after the clock struck twelve. )• " FROM SQUARE TO PARK.

At the conclusion of the ceremony their Royal Highnesses left the Square, and, Avith the escort, proceeded to the Riccarton Road gate of the North Park, AVhere the Duke left the carriage and mounted his handsome chestnut charger. Over .the gate an arch had been constructed of evergreens, palms and ferns, and the roadway had been fenced off , to (allow of the Royal party reaching the stand. Both sides of this avenue were lined Avith spectators, and as his Royal Highness oame in sight he Avas loudly cheered. Tire Duchess and suite, wit'll Lord and Lady Ranfurly and the Ministerial party, AVith the exception of the Premier, avlio had been delayed, took their seats on the dais in front of the Gob vernment stand. His Royal Highness, attended ’by Prince Teck, took up his position. at the saluting base, and aftervackiwnvledging the Royal salute, proceeded with the inspection.