THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, 12 March 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT.

NEW PRIVY COUNCILLORS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright,

London, March 11. The King has appointed Lord Hopetoun a Privy Councillor. Ho will be given an early opportunity to be resworn in England.

The King has authorised the Duke of York to hold a Council in order to reswear the Australian Privy Councillors.

[.BY THLKQBAVn.-—VBSSS ASSOCIATION.) Wklunoton, Monday. Mr. John Holmes, who acted us Govern* meat Commissioner through Britain and America in 1897-1898, has been selected by His Excellency the Governor as official organising Commissioner in connection with the forthcoming visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke, and Duchess of Cornwall. The Commissioner will visit the four principal cities in the colony. He leaves for Auckland to-morrow to interview the local bodies with the view of discussing and arranging the best programme for the reception of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.

Dissatisfaction prevails among volunteers owing to a proposal to merge the Mast encampment it.to a icview during the Royal visit. The volunteers looked ■'forward to an excursion to Palmerston North as some compensation for their great unpaid : or services. Another objection to the review is that it Mould take place in midwinter, Ctntisroiumcii, Monday. Dr. Byrnes, health officer for Canterbury, has written to the Lyttellon Borough Council asking it to continue the poisoning of rats on the wharves, and to keep a number of ferrets for .the destruction of rats, Dr. Symes also asked the Christehurch City Council to resume the system of payment for dead rats.

His Worship the Mayor lias convened a meeting for Thursday afternoon, at three o'clock, to take steps'to accord a fitting reception to the Duke and Duchess of York on their visit to Auckland. The Mayor su<H't'sts, wo understand, that natives should be brought from Fiji and Rarotonga to Auckland, as the Duke and Duchess of York will have no opportunity of visiting those islands. The scheme of entertainment in Auckland will be subject to the approval of His Kxeellecy the Governor. We understand that the Grand Hotel has been reserved for the sole use of the Duke and Duchess of York's suite during their visit to Auckland,' also for the Right Hon. the Premier, Mrs., and Miss Seddon, the Hon. J. G. Ward and Mm, Ward.

The- latest arrangements for the coming visit, of thoDuko and Duchess of Cornwall to tho Thermal Region say's the Rotonia Chronicle) are as follows -The Royal party will reach Rotorua about Juno 13, Some hours will be spent with the natives, after which the whole party proceed to Waiotapu, and possibly to Wairakei, or the Spa, returning via Rotorua to Auckland, whore they will embark and leave at once. The whole of the Grand Hotel, Rotonia, will be engaged for three days, and the house closed altogether to the public during Its occupation by the Roval party and suite, which will consist of 70 persona in all. The hotel is to bo renovated and redecorated, 'One apartment in particular will be most elaborately furnished and hung with the choicest silks as a. boudoir for the Princess, The native gathering is expected to be the largest: ever witnessed. From far and near they will como, to welcome their future King and Queen, and spare, no effort to make the event a memorable one in the history of Maoriland,