THE ROYAL TOUR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12537, 26 June 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR.

DEPASTURE FROM CHRISTCHURCH. THE DRIVE TO THE RAILWAY STATION. ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN. - INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY:

At an early hour yesterday, the route from To Koraha to the railway station was thickly lined with, people anxious to get a final glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of York, and to give them a “ send-off ” in keeping with the hearty welcojne they had received on their arrival in Christchurch. The way was kept clear by Mounted Police, and at the intersections of most of the streets there , were squad's of Mounted Rifles. "Soon after > 9.30 the carriage containing the suite . passed through the gates of the drive at the Royal residence, followed shortly after by the Royal carriage with an escort of Mounted Rifles and Mounted Police. During tire drive to 1 the station their Royal Highnesses were constantly cheered, and gracefully acknowledged the compliment. At the entrance to the railway station they were received by the Mayor and some of the Reception Committee, who were in waiting, and as they passed through the portico. three hearty cheers were given by the assembled crowd. THE LAST FUNCTION. SAYING “ GOOD-BYE.” THE SCENE AT THE RAILWAY , STATION. THE CITIZENS’ “SEND-OFF.” The last function took place at the railway station. Like all the other functions in connection with the visit, it was watched by large crowds of people, who took keen interest in every incident. Long before the time appointed for the departure of the Royal train the railway station and its environs were a ( scene of animation. At nine o’clock people had assembled, and special,interest was added by the arrival of corps of Volunteers, who were being taken to the station to take their departure home after the review in Hagley Park on Monday. Frost was on the ground, and a thick fog hung over everything, but it added to the attractiveness of the scene rather than detracted from dt. A quickly-moving mass would be seen dimly in the near distance, and as it drew closer- it would take the shape of kharki-clad soldiers, who were halted in front of the station before being marched off to the platform on the southern side, where they entrained. These picturesque little scenes were watched idly by the public for some time with more or less interest, bringing hack to the minds of many the marching battalions which had passed in review order before the Heir-Apparent the previous day, and the general topic of conversation was the splendid military display which had 'been made. “ The best thing of the land ever seen in the colony,” was the remark which was reiterated many times, while men who had seen reviews in Australia stoutly protested that none there could compare with that which took place in Christchurch on the occasion of the Royal visit. ' As the sun, rising higher in the heavens, began to disperse fog and frost, the crowd thickened. Final preparations for the last function in connection with the Royal visit to the city were pushed forward. Barricades were again erected, people were ordered hither and thither by policemen, courteous bub firm officios insisted on their orders being carried out, arid lanes o i f human beings were formed for the last Royal procession, probably, the city will see for many a day. Tall hats and frock coats mad© then? appearance on the railway platform among the crowd, and in the pavilion in front of the station. The platform was cleared of all but those who had a right to be present, and a guard of honour composed of men from the North Canterbury Infantry, under Captain Foster, formed up in front of the pavilion. At about half-past nine, the Premier, accompanied by Mrs Seddon: and the -*tss s Seddon, drove up, and Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon J. Carroll also arrived. Meanwhile the Royal tram, w.th the pilot train in front, was drawn up. to the platform. The floors of the pavilion and the passage leading from the main entrance to the platform were covered with crimson carpet, and a lane was made through the people on the platform to enable the Royal visitors to reach their carriage, ’ Shortly before ten o’clock cheers were heard: in the distance. The eound rolled on, increasing in volume, until it was blended with the strains of the National Anthem, announcing the arrival of the Governor. He was accompanied by Lady Ranfuriy, Lady Mary Captain Alexander, and other members of the suite. A few minutes later, punctually at ten o’clock, the cheering was-renewed with increased vigour, and amidst a great outburst of enthusiasm their Royal Highnesses drove up. They were received at the pavilion by the Mayor, the Commissioners (Messrs H. F. Wig-ram, G. G. Stead, and: R. Allan), the Government Commissioner (Mr J. Cassidy), and Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Allan, one of the Royal Commissioners, bade the Duke and Duchess “good-bye," and sard he hoped they would have a safe and happy return to the dear Old (Land. Their Royal Highnesses expressed the great pleasure they had derived from their visit to Christchurch. As they ascended- the steps from the pavilion to the main entrance further cheering arose. On the station platform the Royal visitors were met by the Premier and Mrs Rhodes. There were also present members of the Reception Committee, the City Councillors, the Town Clerk (Mr H. R. “Smith) and City Surveyor (Mr A. D. Dobson), the Mayors of suburban boroughs, Bishop Julius, the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr F. Way mouth), and other gentlemen who occupy public positions. As the words of the National Anthem, sung by those present, died away, the Mayor’s little son. Master Tabu Rhodes, came forward and presented to the Duchess a handsome bouquet of violets, tied with a heliotrope ribbon. He was rewarded with warm thanks, and pleasant smiles , from both their Royal Highnesses. The Duchess said that although die understood Master Tabu was a few months younger than her own son, he was slightly taller. The Duke thanked the Mayor heartily for the reception which he and the Duchess had been given. The Royal visitors shook hruKts with the ■Mayor and Mrs Rhodes and the Premier, and stopped on the platform of the carnage. Further cheers were acknowledged by the Duke with raised hat, and by the Duchess with smiles and bows. Beiore the cheering had ceased, the train moved off. ; A few seconds later the boom of th? guns was heard. It was the E Battery, under Sergeant- Symes, with three guns, firing a Royal salute from the South Belt, and announcing that Royalty was passing, and that the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Christchurch had come to an end. Along the line as far as the Colombo Street crossing, and further, and 'away up the Belt, crowds of people had, _ gathered to see the departure of the city’s illustrious guests, who left the confines of ■ Christ-

church with the hearty cheers of its citizens ringing in their ears. When the train had l disappeared from sight, those on the platform gave cheers for the Mayor, Mrs Rhodes, and Master Tahn Rhodes. AT ASHBURTON. It is 1 estimated that fully 7000 people witnessed the progress of the Royal train through Ashburton yesterday. The station was tastefully decorated, and- a platform festooned with greenery had been specially erected to enable the Royal visitors to inspect the school children, of whom there were about a thousand. The Royal train steamed into the station at 11.20 a.m., when the Duke alighted, followed by the Governor, Captain Alexander, and members of the Royal suite. , The Mayor’, Mr W. H. Collins, having been presented, read the following address: —“ As loyal subjects of our most gracious King, we, the councillors and citizens of this town and district, most heartily welcome your Royal Highness and .her Royal Highness, and we earnestly that Almighty God may ever guard your Royal Highnesses from all harm.” The Duke having received the address, Miss Helena Gytha Collins presented to the Dudhess a handsome bouquet, after which the following citizens were presented to his Royal Highness by the Governor:— Mr and Mrs C. J. Harper, Mrs W. H. Collins, Mr Hugo Fiiedlander, Mr J. Snodgrass, Mr M. Stitt,' Mr and Mrs E. G. Wright, Mr C. Reid, Mr R. Alcorn, Mr J. W. Timmins, Mr J. Orr, Mr H. M. .Jones, Rev Woodthorpe, Mr H. Davis, Mr R. Clark and Mr H. Gates. The Duke and- Duchess' then stepped to the end of the platform, when one verse of the National Anthem was sung by the assembled school children, after winch three hsarty cheers were given. The Duke and Duchess conversed for a few minutes with Mr Gates, the conductor, and expressed satisfaction at the way the children had been trained. The Royal visitors also returned thanks to the Mayor for the hearty welcome accorded them in Ashburton, and in response to' a request made by Mr C., J. Harper, chairman of the County Council, agreed to stand on the platform until the train reached the Ashburton Bridge. Many thousands of people were ranged along the railway line, and they cheered lustily ais the Royal train proceeded on its journey. The Royal guard of honour was formed by detachments of the Ashburton Guards and Ashburton Mounted Rifles, under Captain: Dolman and Lieutenants A. A. Rooks and J. Studholme, juni. All the public buildings at ; Ashburton were illuminated 1 last night in honour_ of the Royal visit, the most tasteful being the Borough Council Chambers, although the illuminations at the County Council offices were also , excellent. ■. A num-. her of transparencies were shown from the new Post Office, and the railway station was brilliantly lighted. AT TDIAEU. . Their Royal Highnesses had a magnificent day for their train'ride through South Canterbury, though there was enough keenness in the air to make a slight use of the gas stove in the drawing-room compartment not unwelcome. The preparations made for the Royal; visit at Timaru, in the way of decoration of the station were of ai simple character, and do l not call for further comment than that good use was madebf very simple materials. The passage-way to the special platform built on the street side of the railway station,;and the platform itself, were* neatly arranged, the abominably rough plank platform and the temporary work were covered with coir matting, and the woodwork of the walls and the platform roof were neatly draped, while fern-trees from Dunedin and pot plants from the local conservatory of Mr G. J. Sealey were efiectively used. Messrs Ballantyne and Co., who attended to the drapery decorations, also supplied some handsome drawing-room chairs, but these were not used. The railway carpenter’s staff made use' of an insufficient quantity of cabbage-trees and other greenery about the verandah posts, and a wide band of the puke’s colours was run along under the eaves of the verandah. The trains arrived punctually, the first being run forward 1 and side-tracked in the south-end of the shunting-yard. The crowd began to assemble an hour and a half before the Royal -train was due, and school children began, to muster in an enclosure in front of the Royal platform soon 'after noon, and finally became a large party, representing all the Timaru schools, Temuka, Washdyke, Gleniti, Kingsdown and the Arowhenua Native Schools. It was unpossible to get the totalrrrumhers, but there were many .hundreds ' of children. The Maori children were given a front place, and next them the smaller ones. Thu wait was utilised by Mr Sydney Wolf, conductor, to rehearse the verse of “ God Save the King,” which the children were to sing without accompaniment, and this practice proved valuable, as when they came losing it for their Royal Highnesses the children gave it with a vim, as they also did with their cheer. The crowd that asembled numbered some thousands, and comprised ap-. parently, most of the townspeople and a great many country residents, who had driven i® for the purpose. A small party of members of local bodies and their wives, invited by the Mayor, had a place assigned them on the railway platform, where, however, they probably saw less of the Duke and Duchess than the crowd outside. The City and Timaru Rifles furnished a guard of honour. : On .alighting from the train, Mrs Macintosh, the wife of the Mayor, presented the Duchess with a handsome shower bouquet, and Naumai Guinness (a little girl of two years), presented a hutton-hols to the Duke, The Mayor and the Premier introduced a few of those present. Their Royal Highnesses then moved forward to the other platform, and were received with hearty cheers, and the children sang their verso. Three girls, duces of the Timaru schools, presented to the Duchess a bouquet provided by the schools, and were very kindy received by Her Royal Highness. The Maoris present gave their Native welcome, and Mr Heatley, the schoolmast- ; er, presented to the Duke, on behalf of his school, a carved staff, and Mr Kahu gave him a small feather-mat. The party remained some little time on the platform in view of the crowd, chatting among themselves, and then retired, amid more cheers and the song of the children. The Duke and Duchess and his Excellency the Governor, lunched in the Governor’s car, while the rest of the party were provided for in the refreshment rooms, which were nicely decorated by Messrs Ballantyne and Co., and the tables very well laid out by Mr Budd. The Royal party left , at 1.38, or twenty minutes late, and received a hearty cheer from the crowd at tlie station, which was continued by a line of people along the railway for a mile or so from the station. I • - - AT OAMARU. [Pee Press Association.] Preceded by » pilot engine and train, wblcU travelled fifteen minutes ahead, the

Royal train arrived at (Jasmins et « quarter to three this afternoon. The Mayor, Mr ~<) Eedley, welcomed the DnLe and Dudwjl to the flown, and Ms dlaxfcghter, Mi&• He-dley, presented the Du on-ess with a bofr quet. The children sang the NaliionaT them and there was cheering. The u(V- , ooedings did not exceed much sboto than ~ the stipulated five minutes, as there WHM I* speech-making. ■ , ;; m’ THE JOURNEY SOUTH. ; INCIDENTS ON THE "WAT. ; [From Oub Coehespokde ntTJ ' DUNEDIN, June SB. Starting away in a bright, keen morni®®, , blessed with Nature’s most bountiful hi** and gold, the trip of Royally news* Canterbury Plains was undertaken under’ most amh pdcious conditions. The Southern Alp*, snow-coated to the lowest pieic*dthe blue vault in vivid gplemiour, *®d , “the good, gigantic smile of the brown earth,” beamed responsive to Nature'* genial caress. The first brief stay at Ashburton if**' marked by an enthusiasm whjeli was exceptional, even for a wayside where the energy of days has ten be oral*' , med into minutes. All too the train ,; ,- was slipping on its way, Has! dug pai* * country stations, where the same unvary-] . ing enthusiasm was displayed it! it* diverse forms as has attended the overland journeys of the Duke and! Duchei* throughout their colonal tour. At Timaru the usual formal reception wa» held, but only as a preliminary to the much' more interesting one of a substantial lunchThe allotted span of half an hour proved all too little for this function, and it was ■ fifteen minutes after time when they train again pulled out of the station. Tins was - a big deficit.to overtake, and Mr Ronayne wore a truly worried look as, stcp-warbdh in, hand, he counted off the reeling :niles. “ By the mark 44,” he cried, leadsman like, with ■ t satisfied smile, as Studholme Juiction. flew, past, and presently, almost to tone, the White Stone (By was reached. - The brief , function here was exactly a para llel to that . at Ashburton, and amid the first Otagan! , cheers the journey was. resumed. At Shag Point another stoppage was made for a few brief minutes. On the plate- j. form stood Sir John M’Kenrie and Lady ' M’Kenzie, and Miss MKenzie. .Che knight, the once strong, man physically, os well aa otherwise, of his party, gaunt and white now, a mere flickering shadow of me, former self, was assisted into the ducal carnage, where he was warmly welcomed by then . - ; Boyar Highnesses, whom he w eicomedto Otago with true Scottish fervour. Th« Duke addressed a few kindly woi.da to item, and handed him the order of knighthood Vwhich had been conferred upon him, ana , Lady M’Kcnzie and Miss M’Kenzxe having . ; been presented, the veteran statesman too* his leave amid the heartiest and most affec- ; tionate farewell of his old colleagues. At Palmerston South, a halt was mad* until afternoon tea was placed on the train. The Palmerston Bauch, assembled on the -4, platform, played the National Anthem, whilst in good Scotch’ welcome over the station door beamed the legend, Bette* 8 lo’ed ye canna be. Will ye n® coma , back again?". Skirting Blueakin dark was, - falling, and bonfires began to gleam upon tlis shadowy hills, until of a Porfc ■ »■ Chalmers gleamed spectrally below. Tbs train was slowed down passing the Port, and, apparently at a given signal, tbs littlf ' town burst into a blaze of light, andi rea ant blue fires flared out at every point of van/ . tage. On Flagstaff Hill a giant bonfir* roared and! rockets climbed bissmgly skywards. Every house gleamed with window lights, bells rang and steamem shrilled a . sharp accompaniment. The people cheered. themselves' hoarse, and almost before the full picturesqueness oii tho scene could bh gathered! it waa gagner-edi and stored among the reminiscences. It was the welcome at i the portals of Dunedin, arid it prefaced an enthusiasm which promises to provide a . ; record of warmth. “ Quite tho most picturesque sidelight of the town,” was one visiting pressman’s verdict-. - Bonfires gleamed upon l the .waters of the . - bay from the -peninsula, and tho big eye of r a watchful searchlight, mounted l upon the , /. Union Company’s buildings, sought the jlrain out almost balefully, as punctual to-, /. the tick, it slipped into the station at Dun- ? edin. The station was tastefully decorated;tern pink and white, with graceful greenery, ■ and" the reception function was quietly but ] impressively unobtrusive. At k its close the . Duka inspected the Dunedin Navels, who \- were drawn up in Mae on the station. This he did with a good deal less of pcrfunct- ■ oriness than usual, whilst the Duchess, ■ standing chatting to members of the committee, was graciousness itself. Indeed, , I all down the Inna the Royal pair were seen -' to much more advantage than on 1 soma more pretentious occasions. As they left the station, as though conscious that tho proprieties had been satisfied, the assem- - hied crowd outside broke into warm cheering, which was renewed again 'and again, as their Highnesses drove off. , 1 It was, except lor that wild memorable':-!' night of min and storm at Rotorua, the 1 1 ■ firSt night arrival of the tour, and it cc-r- ' tainly was tho mosv picturesque entry. The city, clad in lull evening dress, gleam- i p ed and sparkled from a hundred flashing Jjfaces, and something m the very atmiai-■ X phere bespoke a warmth of welcome second v to none. It was cloudy and mild after the: ■ frost, and, as if remembering-' a, forgotten ’[■ intention, or et-riving after”-an established- ! precedent, there was just a juspidon of rain as the Royal pair alighted, but on*, could almost liave counted the drops, and' it was certainly not enough to alarm t' Scotchman, The quidnuncs cannot alto • ’ gather confidently'predict fine weather foj’. the morning, but Dunedin fine weather in any case is, of course, a question of point of .view. ■ ” .To-night the streets were alive, and pro- 1 gress through them is much more difficult ’ of accomplishment that even in Auckland, which hitherto claimed the palm in this re- - : spect. The illuminatioaiß, are r on « inert elaborate scale, private individuals having ' largely reinforced -the efforts at public hd offices. The Town Hall and Union Oom- . pany have specially effective displays, and; - 7’the arches, which by night ©now e\eiy promise, are also finely illuminated. Thera . is a good deal of soreness over curtailing the visit, and Commandant Winsloe, who by the way, seems to have earned an un- ‘ enviable reputation among visitors as weE ■ as in the colony, is vo-nighb ii the proud ' position of being, so far as Dunedin is. > concerned, the- least liked :nan ■in the colony. The disappointment, however, has been sunk in the general desire to make the , brief visit of Royalty an emphatic success. [Per Pejsss Associatiijn.] - , . DUNEDIN, June 25. The Royal progress through Canterbury and Otago was one unceasing display of , loyalty. Every station was thronged with ; children of the State Schools, lined up, ,1 cheering, and there-were throngs of settlers. ’V on,horseback, who had ridden miles to sea . the Duke Duchess. The Nations were decorated throughout tho route. ■ l . i*f,^ • The train • left Christchurch at 10 a.m., ■> and made five stoppages. ’A, Ashburtoa ■ for engine purposes, at Timaru for lunch, ■ - at Oamaru for engine purposes, ot Shag Point to see Sir J. M’Keiizie and at Palmerston for afternoon tea. At Ashbartoi the Duke and Duchess alighted from train, and were received; by, the Mayor, Mr W. H. Collins. Miss I [den Colline • presented ai bouquet, hlr Cj J. - Harper ] ■ {chiairmani of the County Couiioi!), Mr £L < Friedlander, Mr E. G. Wright, and othen) were presented, The Ashburton Mounted Rifles and the Ashburton Guards formed b a guard of honour. The cJaldren drawn up and aang the National There was a stay of only five: minutes, ; At

eimdlan* programme was followed. The ■ , train arrived: at Timaru at 12.50, and the 1 Royal visitors were received by the Mayor, Mr Charles Macintosh. Miss Rita Macintosh presented a bouquet, and Miss Naumai Guinesa presented the Duke With a. ' button-hole. Three duxes of tie State schools—Misses Nellie Sutherland, Clara ’ Wilkes, • and Jessds Gow —presented, a bouquet. The Timaru City Rifles provided a . . 'guard of honour. The train arrived at Oamaru at 2.45, and was received by the Mayor, Mr A. Hedley. ‘' Miss Lizzie Hedley presented the inevit- . . able bouquet, and the WaHaki-High School cadets formed a guard of honour. Mrs * r >": Billings, the first white child born in Oamaru, presented the Duchess with another bouquet. The children, who were ill armed with flags, waved them vigorons- , y, and sang the National Anthem. Amid vociferous cheers the train left ■ samaru. The next stopping place was • Ihag Point, where the train remained three f ninutes. Sir J. 'M’Kenzie, looking in-u-m, was waiting on the platform. He ! • ras greeted by, Mr Seddon and Lord Ramjlurly led him into the Royal carriage,. rhere the Duke and Duchess shook hands. . ’. Hhe Duke presented the old statesman ; . , rith the insignia of -knighthood. There '■ - - ras no investiture. The insignia: was sim- ,'/■ » fly handed to Sir J. M’Kenzie, who re- " i •} eived congratulations from everybody presnt. The Palmerston welcome, inscribed ~ ‘ the station, was “ Better lo’ed ye canna Will ye no come back again.” The pi iijlayor, Mr J. C. Gow, received the visit- : . v'/ip, and the Rev J. Clarke and Rev Father y were presented. As no special stage v*id 'been erected for them at Palmerston . . n at other towns, their Highnesses walked ‘ -everal times the whole length of the pliat- ; ' crm to afford the. public an opportunity -J,. . rf seeing them. “d Nearing Port Chalmers, a number of ; i.-iorcfires were lighted on the hills. At the v‘i‘i -Nwt station, the train slowed down, al- , sort stopping. The welcome afforded by be Port was the' most unique of that of . '■'‘my of the towns. A« the train : came in [light, the whole town was luridly lit up. sfire, rockets, and fireworks made a display. All the steamers sounded their whiadee, bal'le pealed, bands played, and f the crowds cheered. It was a most impr»«mve welcome. I-.. ’The train reached Dunedin at 6 o’clock. . The city had already been illuminated. train was received! in _perfect silence uf 't the station until their Highnesses had ?. l>*lighted, then the bands played the Na- ’• iioiral Anthem and cheers broke out. The . Tuke inspected the Dunedin Navals, who I ;ormed a guard of honour. The Mayor, ■' Mr G. L. Denniston, in his robes of office, j.-”. was introduced by Lord Eanfurly first, then ' ;he City Councillors, the Royal Commissioners and members of the reception committee! Miss Vera Chapman presented the , , iixth bouquet the Duchess received to-day. .Colonel Penton was on the platform to ■ receive the visitors. Then the party proceeded through a vestibule decorated with i 'fine artistic taste, and entered their carnage and drove at a: trot to the Fernhill ’ Club. 'Banda played along the line of -. route, which volunteers lined'. The Otago f Hussars and North Otago Mounted Rifles , formed an escort. ■ The city illuminations produce a magnificent effect. The Octagon was one blaze of electric lights. The marine arch, with tall towers, occupying a commanding position ; x Princes Street, showed its fine illumina■ion to advantage. The Chinese arch in Bmth Princes Street-is a bizzarre struc■ji consisting of a red transparent ooverg illuminated frhm within. The Town ■ Hall is probably the best display. The j whole building and spire are outlined 1 -and i -a festooned with electric lights. The Union 11 .Company’a offices blazed with lavish illu--1 ■odnationa. The railway station, “Daily ; 2 punoß ” office and a host of other build- ’ jogs were outlined in fire. ; The Duke presented Mr Seddon at Christ- \ church with a magnificent silyer and gold > vA-Maind. To-day Mr Seddon received a ; fetter from Sir Al. Bigge, on behalf of -i : their Royal Highnesses, thanking him for - \o hospaUflity shown them: while in the i #oionj, which the Duke and. 1 Duchess fully ’ ir"' A CARRIAGE •ACCIDENT. ■ HARROW ESCAPE OF THE PREMIER. [Pm Puss Association.] ; 1 DUNEDIN, June 25. . ’ - - Jnmwctetely after leaving the citation, the ~beecing startled the' horses drawing the - arriaga containing Mr Seddon, Mrs Sedion and:-the Misses Seddon'. The horses ;k fwlted and turned down Prluoea Street * . south instead of continuing along High t‘ Street to the Grand Hotel. There was ■ , serious danger to the crowd and to the. occupants of -the carriage. Mr Seddon* shouted “Somebody get to the horses’ ’ . he*ds.” Mr J. W. Blackwood rushed from the crowd, seized the traces, and saved* the carriage from going over the crest of Princes Street, when serious consequences '' might have happened. The horses were controlled gmfl the carriage returned to the ; Grand Hotel amid hearty cheers. THE LADIES’ PRESENTATION. : The presentation from the women of Can- . ferbury to the Duchess of York, for her eldest son on his seventh birthday, having been made on Sunday, the function was purely of a private nature, only the , Duchess, and Mesdames Rhodes and Wigi ram being present. Mrs Rhodes has now ' received the following letter of thanks from - her Royal Highness:— “To Koraha, Christchurch, “June 24, 1901.' ‘“Dear Mrs Rhodes, —I am desired by i Aeir Royal Highnesses the' Duke i' ud Duchess of Cornwall and York _.to ear how very much touched 1 both their Boyal Highnesses were at the | t kind thought of the women of Christchurch in giving them such a beautiful present for their son: end beg you to convey, as far ;> , Mis possible, their .Royal Highnesses* warm - - thanks to all those who Joined in it. The Duka and Duchess were specially touched . . .by the kindness which prompted the gift to j! Prince Edward on hig seventh ‘ birthday, I and it was ft great pleasure to them both to accept it. Believe me, dear Mrs Rhodes,— ,Vours sincerely, “MARY LYGON.” •- PRESENTATION TO THE MAYOR AND i;'.- MAYORESS. ; - On Monday evening Mra A. E. O. Rhodes was the guest of their - Royal Highnesses at dinner at Te ' Koraha, and the Mayor, who was dining at the Christchurch dub, with some of the suite, was summoned to tie Royal if ! iesidenoe, where tho Mayor and Mayoress ■let their Royal Highnesses in the Duke’s / iitfang-ioom, and were presented with auto--1 ’ -graph portraits of the Royal couple. The Duke also presented Mr Rhodes with a very band soma malacca stick, with a chaste head & silver and gold, the top being composed «f a medallion of the heads of the Duke and •‘V Duchess. The Duchess presented Mra Rhodes with a handsome cut glass scent bottle with a gold top set in diamonds. a-Vpofch their Royal Highnesses expressed their |‘!r •ppeciation of the efforts of the Mayor and 1' ’ dnzens to entertain them, and spoke in the t highest terms of the reception given to them this province. They also thanked Mi 1 ‘«nd 'Mrs Rhodes for having placed Te i 1 joraha at their disposal, and eriogised the arrangements. The Mayor, on behalf of the people of Canterbury, thanked their Royal ;■, Highnesses for their kind remarks. f ’’ £ f . PRESENTATION TO THE DUCHESS j ; OF CORNWALL. 'h During the Journey of the Royal train j- from Christchurch to-day Mrs Seddon pre- , seated the following address to her Royal Highness from the wives of the Cabinet j' i»yiiri«tara of the colony: *1 ■' To Victoria Mary, Duchess of Cornwall r Mid York.—'May it please your Royal High-

ness, on behalf of the women of New Zealand, we desire to express our gratification at the visit of your Royal Highness to our colony, in which our sex enjoys rights which widen its sphere of usefulness without interfering with perfect home life and domestic felicity. In common with women throughout the Empire, we deeply lament the loss of our late good and revered sovereign, Queen Victoria. As Queen, Empress, wife’and mother, she has left behind her a glorious and saintly example, which will ever bo cherished in the hearts of her people. The women of this colony are loyal to the throne and person of his Gracious Majesty the King, and feel proud to have sent our sons to South Africa to fight for the- Empire. We fully appreciate the great sacrifice you have made in coming so far from home, and leaving your loved children. You have, however, the consolation of knowing that they are in good hands, and will be guarded with fond and tender care. We sincerely hope and trust that you and his Royal Highness, your husband, -will be pleased with what you see in New Zealand, and it is our earnest prayer and hope that you may return safely to the dear old Motherland, and carry with you agreeable memories of vour stay among us- We have the honour to be, Madam, your Royal Highness’s most obedient humble servants, —Janie Seddon, Katherine Walker, Heni Materoa Carroll, Theresa Ward, Rosalind Hail-Jones, Maggie Mils, wives of Ministers of the Crown for the colony of New Zealand. THE ROYAL REVIEW. THE COMMANDANT’S PRAISE. Colonel Pole-Penton has issued a general order, in which he expresses 'ms appreciation of I the excellent manner in which all ranks acquitted themselves at the Royal Review in Ha.gley Park on Monday. DEPARTING VOLUNTEERS. Some 1200 Volunteers, from Wellington and other parts of the North Island, left by the s.s. Manaroa shortly after noon yesterday, en noute for, their homes. On Monday evening 'the memoers of the N Battery entertained the visiting members of the -Auckland Coast Guard- Artillery at supper, at the Canterbury Hotel, Lyttelton. Sergeant-Major Suiter, of the N Battery, presided, and proposed the health of the visitors, to which Fieutenant Lees responded. The latter proposed the health of the N Battery. Alter supper the members ot tb® Lyttelton corns escorted the Auckland men to the wharf, .and saw them off by the steamer. The N Battery and the Auckland Coast Guards are the only two artillery corps m the colony which are classed .as Garrison Artillery, hence there is a strong feeling of comradeship between them. , Yesterday about 3000 North Island, Nelson and Westland Volunteers were do-, spatohed from Lyttelton in the Union Compa/nv’s steamers. Some 1200 left in the Mararoa, 250 Cadets in the Pukaki, 260 Cadets and 322 adult Volunteers m the Mapourika, and 650 Volunteers in- tne Tarawera. ■ About 650 Cadets are to leave to-day by the Te Anau. THE SOUTHERNERS’ RETURN. The excursion train returning to Timaru on Monday night lost an hour on the way, owing, it was said, to tho numerous grain trucks, used as passenger, cans, dragging heavily. There was a sharp frost, and the occupants of these trucks complained that they were horribly cold, because the doors on each side were fixed at half-open with .a bolt and nut, bo that there was a free draft through them. Yet these occupants complained, also, that _ they were incommoded by people crowding into them from the canvas-covered bogie trucks, which they said were still colder. The excursionists, however, declared that what they had seen during the day was good enough to make them oblivious of the cold trip each way. The trains conveying the southern: volunteers and cadets -were all behma time at Timaru. Two trains which started from Christchurch near each other lost most time, because the first was delayed by hot boxes. Two cars were cut out at Timaru on this account, and one before reaching Timaru. Several of the volunteer pasaengers said fchis on© was left *behiind, damaged by a following-on collision at some station- unknown to ‘them, but the guard said that was incorrect. At 1.15 the first of three trains, ‘loaded chiefly with cadets and mounted infantry, reached Timaru, and the boys were supplied by Mr Quill with hot tea and sandwiches and biscuits. The lads were unconscionably overcrowded 1 . In some cars there were at least half as_ many more than there should have been; dn one case there were about seventy in a halfcar. They were too thickly packed to be very cold,; While the troopers, in covered trucks, were chilled through. In the case of the open-door vans, a spanner was brought into use, and the bolts that 4 held the doors half open were, in many cases, removed. The last train, with tho Timaru infantry and cadets, arrived at 5.20 a.m., all the vehicles being trucks but one, and the lads wore, as one of them said, “ frozen mutton.” Nevertheless, they all agreed that they had had a good time in'Ohristohurch, save that the. “tucker” was cooked in too! great a hurry. "When the Duchess of York arrived at the Royal'dais at the review on Monday, she was presented with a handsome bouquet by Miss Lulu Bean, a granddaughter of the Premier. Her Royal Highnetss received the bouquet with a gracious smile, and congratulated the young lady on the manner in which the presentation had been made. The Mayor intends calling a meeting of the Royal Visit Executive at an early date, in order to wind up matters connected with the celebrations, and it is particularly requested that all accounts against the committee should be rendered at once. A very large number of people availed themselves of the permission to visit the Ophir yesterday. The crush at the barrier and the gangways across the wharf was tremendous, and many people climbed or were assisted over ’the barrier in order to relieve the pressure. One lady fell and was slightly hurt in doing this. Those who got on board the vessel did not se© very much beyond what is to be seen on any large firstclass passenger steamer. The Royal apartments were closed, and could only be inspected through the windows. The scene around the Lyttelton Railway Station was very similar to that on New Year’s Day. As .large crowds of people were standing awaiting the train, rope barriers were erected along the lines to prevent crowd getting in front of the trains. During the day 5700 people were booked at Christchurch for Lyttelton. One of the most hard-worked officials in connection with the Royal visit celebrations was Mr E, J. Righton, secretary to the Executive Committee. Air Righton, although having a very arduous and difficult task to perform, acquitted himself very creditably and to the entire satisfaction of his committee and those with whom he had dealings. A PRESENT FOR THE KING. [Pee Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, June 25. The nugget presented by tho Government to the Duke of Cornwall for King Edward is a solid, waterwom lump of gold from the Barton River, Nelson. It weighs nearly 4oz, and the gold is worth £4 an ounce. It is beautifully polished and enclosed in a casket. PREPARATIONS IN TASMANIA. United Press Association—By Blectno Telegraph—Copyright. HOBART, June 25. Preparations for the Royal visit are being pushed ahead. The streets will be spanned with arches and lined with decorations at the various stages of the Royal procession.