THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11643, 3 May 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT.

>. VOYAGE OF THE OPHIB. INTERESTING PARTICULARS. WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright. Albany, May 2. The Ophir resumed hei voyage at six o'clock yesterday morning. The cruisers sailed later, after coaling. The administrator of the Government, on behalf of the Government and the people, sent a telegram to the Duke ard Duchess of York, conveying congratulations on their safe arrival in Australian waters. The Duke of York replied, thanking the Government and people for their kind message and greeting. Details of the Ophir's voyage show that the Royal party found the heat of the Red Sea and Singapore rather trying, but thoroughly enjoyed the trip. They are delighted with the enthusiastic receptions they meet everywhere.

The squadron called at Aden, where an address was presented by a Parsee gentleman, who subsequently dined with the Duke and Duchess on the Ophir.

! The visit to Ceylon was especially enjoyable. Among the festivities at Kandy was a display of lireworks and a procession of elephants. Colombo was lavishly decorated. Singapore was beautifully illuminated. Numerous addresses, with valuable and novel caskets, were presented, including one each from Hindoos, Arabs, Malays, and Chinese. The stay at Singapore was marred by the death of one of the Ophir's stokers. The body was committed to the deep, shortly after leaving, with full naval honours, the Duke and Duchess attending. The squadron crossed the Line on the 25th tilt. By the Duke's command, the old ceremony of Neptune coming aboard was carried out (in each vessel, and caused much amusement. A special correspondent of one of the Loudon papers and others who had not previously gone through the ceremony were ordered to do so, and were made sons of Neptune in the orthodox manner. PREPARATIONS FOR OPENING FEDERAL PARLIAMENT. THE. PROGRAMME. Melbourne, May 2. Final arrangements are completed for the opening of the Commonwealth Parliament. As members enter and take their seats, the " Old Hundredth Psalm" will be rendered, with an orchestral accompaniment. After the Duke of York has read his commission opening the Parliament, the " Hallelujah Chorus"' will be given, the proceedings closing with "Rule Britannia" and the National Anthem. On the following afternoon Lord Hopetoun will attend and deliver the GovernorGeneral's speech. lire warships Hansa, Noord, Brabant, and Gromoboi have arrived for the celebrations.

Sir Henry Parkes' two daughter? will be amongst the honoured guests at the Commonwealth Parliament celebrations. Mr. Seddon cabled to the State Premier inviting him and his colleagues, and also their wives, to visit New Zealand on the occasion of the Royal visit.. (Received May 2. 7.25 'j.m.) MKLIiOURN'K, May 2. The decorations, owing to the recent had weather, are not hi a very forward state, The city is crowded with visitors, and Soldiers" Bay presents a lively appearance with the foreign and British warships. The foreign nations are represented by 2ozG officers and men, and Britain by 2247 officers and men. The weather indications at present are not promising. (Receive;! May 2. 10.53 p.m.) Sydnkt, May 2. The Fiji visitors en route to Melbourne include the Huns. (!. Roils and 11. L. Atlardyce. THE NEW ZEALAND CONTINGENT.

ARRIVAL IN SYDNEY. (Received May 2, 10.53 p.m.) iSvDNKY, Maj 2. The Warrimco's contingent of New /aaluuders is considered a hue representative body of men. They were much admit'jd as they marched from the Union Wharf, hcvdeil by a baud, to the burrocks, where iliey wee entertained at dinner. They leave for Melbourne by special train late to-night. Th-\ had a couple of days' rough weather, and suffered, considerably from seasickness - . Otherwise ail was pieasant. Mfcil.ttOUiiKK, May 2. The Sew Zealand troops reach here tomorrow.

A WELLINGTON CEREMONY, [us usuaiH.U'ii. —iusks.s association.] VYr.I.LINuiO.N, Thursday. The Duke of (Joni .vail has rabid to the Governor that he will lay the found ilion stone of the Wellington Town Hall, but would like to be excused from attending the City Council luncheon.

I.) UNIT) IN. [l!Y TEIJSGKAI'U.—I'HESS ASSOCIATION.] Dcnkihn, Thursday. The Finance Committee reported to the City Council to-night recommending a guarantee of £2000 to the Reception Committee in connection with the Royal tour. The R-etuileiw' Association resolved tonight to illuminate their shops on three evenings during the Duke of York's visit, to assist the Reception Committee in providing for suitable decorations of the streets, and to observe June 25 as a whole holiday. It was decided to keep May 24 as a close holiday in memory of Queen Victoria.

CHRISTCHUECH. [BY TELKOItAI'H. — I'IIKSS ASSOCIATION.] Ciuus'iciunion, Thursday. The Education Board has agreed to expend up to £50 in entertaining the children present at the reception of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.

T.HF GOVERNMENT PLATFORM. The general secretary of the Reception Committee (Mi. LI. R. Hunt) yesterday received a telegram frt-m Mr. John Holme.-, Government Commissioner, in reply to one from Mr. Hunt conveying the Executive Committee's decision to adhere to their original plan of erecting a platform to accommodate 200 guests of the city. Air. Holmes suited in his reply that the Government had decided to erect a platform tor 350 guests, and thai Mr. Vickennan had been "instructed"to enlarge upon the original plan for 200 gnosis. Accordingly, .Mr. h'dward Hartley, who was deputed by the committee to arrange the matter with Mr. Vickerman, has conferred with that gentleman as to the erection of a. joint platform on the enlarged wale. It will rest, however, with the executive to decide whether the city's portion of the platform shall be enlarged or not. ALTKKATIONH IN TIIK PROGRAMME. Mr. John Holmes wired to Mr. R. R. Hunt yesterday to the ell'ect that the official programme, as published in the newspapers, had been slightly alien .1. It was, be stated, now arranged that the review of the troops tit Potter'* Paddock should take place alter the presentation of the adores*, on June 11. The .lav's shooting had been fixed now for Tune 12, on which day the Government hindi to old veterans would also take place at the Choral Hall, as welt as the evening iceeption by the Mayor. From tins it Will be seen that the Government have no knowledge of any al'.e.ratii having been made in the date of arrival of their Royal Highnesses, and consequently the rumours to that effect would appear to have no foundalion.

THE HARBOUR BOARD ARCH. At a meeting of the Harbour Board Decoration Committee held yesterday afternoon, seven tenders were opened for the supply of materials and erection of the Board's mam arch at the Queen-street end of the wharf, according to Mr. Ashley J. Himrvs accepted design. The tender prices ranged from £200 to £350, and that of Mr. "C. NewHon, at £213. was accepted. The tender of the Auckland Gas Company for the lighting of the arch was also accepted, the price for erection and supply of fixtures, etc.. being £, 7 with an extra charge I'm gas according to the amount used. PRIVATE ARCHES. Probably with the view of suggesting thai; something similar should be dyne in Auckland. Mr. John Holmes vc-teidiv telegraphed to His Worship the. Mavor (Mr. D. Goldie) to the effect, that the Wellington Woollen Company and the National Dairy Association, as well as towns in the pro"vincial districts, had under consideration the erection of special arches in Wellington, and that some had already agreed to erect such arches. THE PROPOSED MAORI DISPLAY IN 'INK HARBOUR. The sub-committee appointed by the M iri tints Committee to deal with the proposed Mi.-u-i war-canoe display in the harbour, and consisting of Miosis. R. ITobbs, C. B. Stone, Sanderson, and O. C. Dacre, met in the office of the last-named gentleman yestern afternoon. King MaLuta's representative, Paruka.u, who is the chief warrior in charge of the war-canoe, was in attendance. He informed the sub-committee that King Mahuta and his men were preppied to come to Auckland, from 500 to 800 strong as desired, if invited to do so for the purpose of greeting the Royal couple on landing, on condition that arrangements were ma.de for the payment of their fares and their maintenance whilst here. Parukau stated that tha tribes represented considered it their duty from the point of view of etiquette to meet I heir Royal Highnesses at no other place than Tamilki (Auckland). He would, he said, bear a letter to Mahuta from the committee inviting the Maoris to come. On being invited Mahula would sav what he waa prepared to do. It was decided to call the Maritime Committee together this afternoon to report upon Parnkau's statement and to recommend to them the desirability of the lellev being scut, In the Maori King. With regard to the expenses in connection with the" proposal, it was thought that the three gentlemen recently appointed as commissioners by the Government, could be imbued to urge the Government to bring the requisite number of natives to Auckland free of charge. Mr. Hobbs undertook to sec these gentlemen, and Mr. Dacre stated that Dr. Campbell (the newly-elected Mayor) had also arranged to confer 'with them. Failing Government assistance in this direction, the Maritime Committee •will be a*ked to authorise the sub-committee to collect subscriptions to defray the cost, it being felt that the Maori demonstration is not only popular with the natives themselves, but also with the general public of Auckland. Mr. Dacre mentioned that at the meeting of the committee of the. Harbour Beard that afternoon the sum. of £25 hud been voted to the Maritime Committee towards the cost of the Maori display. In addition, he had received offers of subscriptions amounting to about ten guineas, so that he anticipated no difficulty in raising the required funds. He suggested that food supplies might be obtained by sending round a collecting cart. As to the transport of the natives in the harbour and to and from the place selected for their encampment during tlioir stay, the Ferry Company had undertaken to arrange this. |It was arranged that if the Maritime Committee agreed to invite King Mahuta and his tribes, the letter should be sent to Parukau, at Tuakau, from whence he engaged to take it at once to the King.

STREET VERANDAHS. The question of preventing the use of rep',. verandahs by persons to view the procession was raised at a meeting of the Art Committee some time ago. The Mayor has since obtained the opinion or the city solicitor on the mutter, and Mr. Cotter having advised that the Council can only deal effectively with the matter by making a new by-law, a meeiing of the' Council "lias been convened for Jive. p.m. to-day to make !-. by-law. "the alternatives to lie decided ■/•ill be whether the ii« of verandahs should he prohibited id together, or whether a limited use of verandahs should be permitted by such number of persons as the building surveyor may certify the verandah is strong enough to carry.

CITY COUNCIL PERMITS.

At last night'.'- meeting of ha City Council a letter was rear! from Mr. 11. IT Hunt, secretary to the Reception Committee, asking permission for the erection of a platform which will 'dock the mouth of Quay-street West. i.Jie right to use the. pathway between the comer of Queen and Quay Streets and the V.'avcrley Hotel for a platform, the enhance- to the railway station to be kept clear; also the right In erect a platform in Welleslpv-slrset East, above the Wolleslevstreet school. '! he Mayor said, il: would be we l ! for the Council to ascertain their legal position before they granted any powers of (his kind. The matter was referred to the Legal Committee, with power to act.

THE NORTHERN MAORIS.

In connection villi ihe Maori demonstration at Ilolorua, Mr. Hone Hike. M.H.R., who is at present in Auckland, has been making arrangements with the Ngapnhi and other Northern tribes for their shave 'n the retention. About 400 or 500 of these natives are expected lo t ike part in the Rotoruti gathering, | ly.ln; through Auckland en route. The Northern tribes to be represented include the Aor.-.-.'.fis. and the people from the 1'..;-- of Islands. Hokianea. Whartgarei, and Kaioira. They will he led by 'Mr. Mono Hike and oilier chiefs.

PREPARATIONS AT ROTOt'.UA

Activity is being displayed in the preparations for 1 he unique gathering of Maoris at .Rotorua. The jiloughiu',' and sowing in oats (if 20 an.', on ..lie racecourse has been completed. Thirty-live thousand '•.et, of timber for the construction of the pavn'oU and seats have been, ordered from the Mountain Rimu Timber Company. Captain Mair is selecting working parties to build the houses repined. The Maoris will 1 egin to assemble at Rotorua about the £oth inst., and all are expected to be there e-ii'lv in June.

in the meantime, the natives of the ?.'e\.titura tribe are arranging to forward 200 tons of firewood, whilst the other hupus aie. cutting poles and raupo for building materials, as well as preparing native delicacies as food for visiting tribes. The members of the Ngatipikiao tnbe have expressed their willingness to i-s.-.'st in the construction of the whares, whilst the Urewera tribe* from Te Whaiti to Waikaremoaim have signified to Captain Mair their readiness to assist in the demonstration, to allow of which, however, the Commission now sitting in the Urcweva country will have to be adjourned, and this will probably bo arranged.

VISITORS 'I'D POTOItUA

xiiere will no doubt be a general desire to see the Maori display at Rntorua, as it will bo the last sight of the kind. No occasion v, ill ever arise in the present generalion in bring about such a gathering, and. indeed, in a few years, wish a new generation 'if natives', a, d 'the more complete merging of the Maoris amongst the European population, such, a gathering, with the accompanying display ni ancient dancing and songs, will be. tpi'ito impossible. There is likely, indeed, to be an inilux of visitors from the other colonies to see this remarkable sight, and considerable numbers will assemble from all pails of New Zealand. No intimation has been made from the Government of any extra provision for the conveyance of people to Roiorua. indeed. seeitij; thai at the time there will be a large traJlie from the country districts to Auckland, and that the lloy'al parly and the numerous suite and baggage will have to be taken to Uolonia, and brought again r.o Auckland, some ' extraordinary arrangements, of which there is as yet no si;, wool;' have to be made to convey any number of the nubile to I'o'oriu. On inquiring from the railway emhorilies as to'the HiTtiiigeitiuiM.; for (he visit of the, Duke and Duchess ik Yolk, and as to l Lie housing for the crowd of visitors which may lie expeeled a: liotoru.i. at the cr< at native m.v-t-I i:; (■•'. th.' ov'cavioii of tr.eir visit to that sanatorium, w" have been informed that the railway authorities have

not yet been definitely advised, further than that the Duke and Duchess of York go to Eotorua on Thursday, June 13, and return to Auckland on .Saturday, June 15. Some of the Wanganui people, it. is understood, are endeavouring through their member, Mr. Willis, M.HR., to get the Royal visitors to go via Tolcannu, down the Wanganui River to War.gHnui. and thence to Wellington by rail. The railway authorities are making no provision for housing people at Rotorua. All the accommodation, it is understood Gas been bespoken, and the railway authorities have not been approached on the subject. 1 I . THE RECEPTION FUND. Mr. N. Alfred Nathan, treasurer of the reception fund, acknoweldges the following additional subscriptions : Dr. McDowell.; £2 £'■:•; Singer Manufacturing Company. £2 2s: Ralph Kissling. £1 W. H. Webbe, 19s 6d. * Collected by Messrs: R. Salmon and Geo. Fowlds: Master Butchers' Association, £10 10s: Amburv and English, £2 2s: W. bedding, 10s;*W. Winn. 10s 6d; W. Buchanan. £1 Is; W. C. Hutchinson, 10s; J. Brndstrert, 10s 6.1; M. Walker. 10s; M. Gribbin, lUs 6d : M. T.vslon, £1

Is; Mrs. Fawcett, 10s: W. Maud. £1 Is: Geo. Warren. £1 Is; T. Wallace. 10s: Chas. Bloomfield, 10s; H. W. Batkin. 10s 6:1: Brown Brothers, 10s; Mrs. Samson, Is; J. Clarkson, 2s 6d; R. Barber. 2s: Captain Metealf, 2s 6d; J. C. Morton. ss: M. Walters, ss: Powell Brothers. ss: M. Young, 2* 6d; M. Harrison. 2s 6J: M. Garry, 2s 6d; R. G. Cox, ss; Mrs. Smvtheman, Is fid: E. A. Bruce, ss; S. S. Clark, s';: J. Duling, Is: Sarney, 5--: Price. 2s 6d; Morgan, is: Friend, Is; Mrs. Felton, Is: Mrs. Evans. Is; Miss Pearson, 2> fid; Henderson. ss; F. Moore. 2s 6d; Mrs. Botterell, Is; Sankev, ss; D.M.. ss; J.0.N.. 2s fid ; Kelly, 2s;' Mrs. McCabe. 2s 6J; A. M., 2s fid: C. Nicholson. ss; IT. A. Coates. 2s 6.1: Eiggs, 2s fid: F. 'arsons. ss: Robinson, ss; R. French. ss; Miss Garrett, 2s fid; J. Fits, 2s; J. 8., Is; Friend, Is; II"., Is; Prosscr, 2s fid. Previously acknowledged, £653 9s 6d. Total. £687 ISs. MISCELLANEOUS. The Art Committee will meet this afternoon to receive and consider the city engineer's plans of the two municipal arches. A. meeting of the Mjaritiffi" Committee will also bo held in the afternoon. The Finance Committee have been called together for Monday next. The Harbour Board Decoration Committee at their meeting yesterday afternoon arranged the details in connection with the illumination of the wharves.