THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11637, 26 April 1901, Page 6

THE ROYAL VISIT.

THE HARBOUR BOARD ARCH. The sub-committee of the Harbour Board, appointed to carry out the Board's share of the decoration of the city during the Roval visit, met yesterday to consider the designs for the arch sent in by competitors. Sixteen designs .were received, and that or. Mr. Ashley J. Hunter, C.E., under the motto of " Harbour Lights," was selected The successful design is very chaste, and consists of two lighthouses, one for either side of the wharf, spanned by an arch, OM wide and 15ft high, inside measurement The lighthouses are each designed to stand 45ft high, and are finished off at the top with weathercocks, in imitation burnished crold The total width of the structure is 50ft The shape of the houses at the base is square, and thev gradually taper off to balconies, above which appear glass enclosures with domed roofs. The houses and arch are designed to be painted in stone colour, and the domes in saffron. False entrances are placed at the ground level ot each house, and these are surmounted by shields and flags, artistically arranged. Above these again, and just beneath the balconies, appear the Board's monogram and seal. The interior span of the arch bears the Maori word, " Haeremai." The summit of the arch is flat,' in the form of a balcony, on the railings of which are hung lifebuoys, whilst in the centre is a shield, with flat's grouped on either side, on short staffs, and surmounted by the words, " God Save the King." in gold letters. The aspect is the same from both sides. The whole design promises to be most effective, and is expected to come well within the stipulated cost (£200). . MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. The Finance Committee for the Royal reception met in the City Council Chambers yesterday forenoon, His Worship the Mayor '(Mr. D. Goldie) presiding. There were also present: Dr. Logan Campbell (the* newly-elected Mayor), Messrs. J. H. Witheford and Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R.'s, Wesley Spragg, A. C. Caughey, C. Ranson, and N. A. Nathan. Authority was given to the Art Committee to call for tenders for poles, shields, and all materials in connection with the decoration scheme, the tenders to be submitted to the Finance Committee. It was decided to request the City Council to grant the right to erect platforms on the Queen and Quay Streets footpath, up to the Waverley Hotel, and also on the vacant space adjacent to the Wellesley-street; school. In the event of the request being granted lenders to be called for the privilege of erecting stands on those sites, tenders to be alternate, either a lump sum, or a percentage. Messrs. Holland, Bartley, and Hunt (secretary) were appointed to draw up conditions of tender, and approve specifications and plans. The same committee were appointed to confer with Mr. Vickerman re tendering for the Royal reception platform. It was agreed that Mrs. Philson should be asked to give the use of the vacant allotment in. front of the Municipal Buildings for the school children's demonstration and other purposes. On the motion of Mr. Spragg, it was decided to apply to the City Council for permission to hire out the Municipal Buildings' western windows on the day of the procession.

On the subject of the proposed Bureau of Information it was thought that the suggestion that the Council office should be used for the purpose, was out of the question. It was decided to call for applications from persons prepared to set up such a bureau free of charge. A formal resolution was carried agreeing to the expenditure of £150 upon fireworks. The treasurer (Mr. N. A. Nathan) reported the following state of finance : Subscriptions to date, £479 16s; subscriptions promised, £65 13s 6d; Thames Borough Council, £25; Grey Lynn Borough Council, £25; Epsom Road Board, £l 0 10s; City Council subscription (voted), £1000; Imperial troops' reception fund (voted), £260; Mr. Geo. Fowlds (subscription paid in room), £20. PREPARATIONS FOR AMBULANCE WORK. At a meeting of the Auckland Centre of St. John Ambulance Association last night Dr. Dawson stated that during the festivities in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, the Auckland Bearer Corps anticipated that they might have work to do, and they were anxious to have the assistance of some volunteers to take up positions along the line of route in case of .accidents. Ladies who were willing to volunteer should give in their names to Mi. Rattray, and Mr. Pilkington, secretary of the Bearer Corps, would receive the names of male volunteers. Dr. Dawson also stated that the Bearer Corps desired to bring up their strength to 50 members before the festivities, and wished volunteers. THE WELLESLEY-STREET ARCH. The Art Committee in connection with the Royal reception met yesterday and considered ten additional designs toi the proposed arch at the junction of Wellesleystreet and Queen-street. None of the designs received were considered suitable, and Mr. E. Bart ley pointed out that the designs brought before the committee had emphasiaod the impossibility of getting an arch to span the four corners of Queen and Wellesley Streets within the sum at the committee's disposal. He stated that so far as he could gee, the only way to get over the difficulty .was to erect a pole in the centre of the square as a support tor the framework of the arch. The committee viewed the ground and adopted th*. suggestion to erect a centre pole and construct the arch diagonally from the corners. A sketch of pedestals lor the street corners was submitted by Mi. P. Wright and adopted by the committee, and Mi. Wright and Mr. "Hartley were requested to consult with Mr. Wrigg, city engineer, to-day with the view of getting the details of the scheme worked out. The committee also resolved to " rescind the resolution not to pay a premium for any design, and that the sum or £5 5s be paid to the ownei.' ot design 'Waitemata' as some little recompense for the labour bestowed upon it, the committee at the same, time regretting that the cost of working out this design was altogethei beyond their means." The lettei attached to " Waitemata's" design was opened,, when it was found that Mr. Dittmer was the owner. Mi. Dittmer was awarded the five guineas accordingly.