THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11644, 4 May 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT.

A NOVEL PROPOSAL. NIGH'! ATTACK ON THE FORTS. At a meeting of the Maritime Committee yesterday, Captain Archer, late R.N., who attended by invitation, suggested a novel demonstration on the night of the arrival of the Roval visitors in the shape or an attack on the Auckland forts. He said it would be a great novelty if the committer could arrange with the Admiral that a night attack be made on the forts. Ihe Admiral would, in all probability give his permission, as the attack would be drill to the crews of the warships. He (Captain Archer had seen such an attack as he suggested at Portsmouth, and it was a most impressive sight. There would be at least five warships in the harbour at the time probably six, and the Auckland Harbour had a favourable peculiarity, which was not to be found anywhere else'in Australasia, that, the fort*, the harbour, and the city were all within view of each other. The plan of operations should be that the harbourmaster should previously anchor position buoys in ample deep water, off the forte intended to be attacked. There should be placed three of these buoys off the North Head, two off Mount Victoria, and one off tussling s 1 oirt. About four p.m. of June 12, all the warships, except the Ophir, would shift their anchorage from the stream to the buoys that are placed in the position that is assigned to each respective vessel, and each ship to drop anchor thereby. At half-past eicht p.m. a signal rocket, fired from the flagship, would denote "commence fire,' the searchlights of all of the men-of-war to be turned on the forts they are abreast of, and blank charges to be fired for 20 minutes, or half-an-hour. The forts to respond to the attack by firing blank charges, and using their own searchlights. The Auckland torpedo boat to be exercised at the same time in presumably attacking the warships, but no dummy torpedoes to be discharged. On the flagship firing a second- rocket it would be understood as an order for ships and forts to " cease fire." Then the fireworks could be displayed by Messrs. Pain and Co. The committee thought the suggestion an excellent one, and agreed to send it on to the Executive Committee, with the view of application being made to the Admiral as suggested by Captain Archer. MAORI DISPLAY IN THE HARBOUR. The Maritime Committee have received a great deal of encouragement in connection with their proposal to have a Maori demonstration in the harbour on the arrival of the Ophir. So far the committee Have made no attempt to collect subscriptions, but a good number have been voluntarily offered for this special object, a large number of citizens being of opinion that inasmuch as the display would be typical of New Zealand, it would be much more interesting to the Royal visitors than anything else, that has so* far been proposed, while it would also be a ceremony of great interest to the citizens. The Maritime Committee met and considered the matter yesterday. The only difficulty that offers itself is'that the Government have refused to bring the Maoris and their canoes from the Waikaio free of charge. When the matter of a Maori display was first taken in hand the Government hoped to centralise all the Maoris at Rotorua, but the Waikatos have positively refused to go to Rotorua, and as some of their chiefs have, in conversation with individual members of the committee, indicated their willingness to come to Auckland, it is hoped that the decision of the. Government will be reconsidered, <and free transit to and from Auckland granted to the Maoris. Mr. Hobbs reported to the committee that he had seen the three local Commissioners appointed by the Governor. Their warrants had not yet been signed, but all three were in hearty sympathy with the committee in their proposal that the Waikato Maoris should be brought to Auckland to give a display in their canoes, and to receive the Royat visitors in Maori fashion. They had promised that when their warrants were signed they would urge on the Government to bring the natives and their canoes free to Auckland. Mr. Dacie said he was satisfied there would be no difficulty in getting, say, 200 Maoris to take part in the demonstration. Mr. Hobbs said he thought it would be a mist ike to limit the number to 200. They should have at least '100 to make a satisfactory display, and he thought that number would willingly come. Mr. Stone s;ud the committee should send an invitation to Mahuta as soon as possible. There was now very little time to arrange matters with the natives, and application for free n/ilwaV carriage should therefore be made at once. Mr. Hobbs said it was proposed to ask merchants in the city to contribute in goods or otherwise towards, the cost of keeping the natives while in Auckland. The committee then unanimously agreed, on the motion of Dr. J. Logan Campbell, to approach the three local Comma sioiirr», Messrs. Seymour Thome George, H. Brett, and J. McLeod. with the following proposal:—"'The native chief Parukau, acting on behalf of the Waikatos, having positively refused to go to Rotorua, and having agreed to come go Auckland, bringing his canoes and necessary followers to man them, this committee consider that it would be a gracious act on the part of the Government to grant free railway transit to said chief, his canoes, and followers, inasmuch as free transit would have been granted them to Rotorua. This committee therefore approach you, as representing the Government. to make an appeal to- His Excellency the Governor, to the effect that the railway authorities may be instructed to provide free conveyance, to the said chief, his canoes, and followers." Mr. Fred Trice, secretary to the Timing;*' Creek Sailing Club, writes to the editor of the Herald on the subject, as follows:—"At a meeting of the Turanga Creek Sailing Club, held on May 2, the subject of bringing the Waikato Maoris down to Auckland for the purpose of taking part in the welcome to the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, came up for discussion. I am instructed by the club to "write you that this club believe that a couple of large war canoes, fully manned by Maoris in their ancient war costume, would be the most interesting sight in the marine display we purpose making on the arrival of the Royal party, and that their Royal Highnesses would probably bo more impressed and interested by such a spectacle than by any other to be seen in Auckland. That the fact of the Government refusing to assist in bringing the Waikato natives, with their war cunoes, to Auckland, is no reason why this splendid addition to the Royal reception should be lost to the city. Let the people bestir themselves, and raise funds, so as to provide in the old-lime native display a sight for the Royal visitors such as tliey will no where else witness in their travels round the colonics. Your suggestion, Mr. Editor, in the Hkhu.d, to raise funds for this purpose by Is subscriptions, was considered a good one. Let the public be applied to without any delay, and the money will be forthcoming. The club unanimously voted £1 towards this fund, and each member present agreed to assist further by collecting shilling subscriptions for same." THE CITY ARCHES. The Art Committee finally resolved yesterday on the rough plan of an arch to be erected across Wellesley-strcct, neat the Free Library. The plan, which was prepared in the City Council oflice, from sketches submitted by Messrs. K. W. Pay ton and F. Wright, shows the frameworkonly without decoration. The style of decoration will be decided upon later on, but it is not expected that the completed arch will cost more than about £100. It was resolved to at once call for tenders for the framework of the arch, returnable in a fortnight. Mr. Pay Urn submitted a rough plan of a Maori arch, to be erected mar the entrance to Government House. The arch is in the form of the entrance to a Maori settlement, the uprights bearing a representation of Maori carving, with a figure on the top. This will occupy the greater portion of the street, and at cither side, right across the footpath, there will be a rough manuka fence, bound together with flax, in Maori fashion. The committee was favourably impressed with the idea, and resolved to erect the arch across Princes-street at the Jewish Synagogue. The committee decided that specifications be at once prepared and tenders called for the arch. The erection of the two arches having been resolved upon, Mr. E. Hartley pointed out that the cost of the arches would be much less than had been anticipated, and he thought the committee should arrange to have a Maori chare between the Waitemata and Thames Hotels. This, he thought, could be very

cheaply done, ami would he very effective. When "the Maoris landed from their canoes they could assemble round the whare. Mr. Hunt pointed out that it was proposed 'hatwhen the Maoris lander! they should five a dance of welcome on Queen-street Wharf, while the Ophir was mooring. It was decided to leave Mr. Hartley's suggestion over for future consideration. STREET DECORATIONS. The Art Committee decided yesterday in connection with the decoration of Queenstreet, that the Mayor and Mayor-elect consult with the superintendent of parks, and report as to the best means of procuring a large supply of greenery. The tender of ths Waitemwa Sawmills Company for 200 shields, to be erected on the poles in Queenstreet, at 7d each, was accepted, and Mr. .1. L. Holland agreed to paint six different designs for the painting of the- shields, for which tenders will subsequently be culled. The secretary suggested that the committee might te-fce stew to individually urge upon private individuals to decorate their premises, but it was decided that it was not within the scope of the committee duties to take any action in the matter, except to urge private individual* and hn«ne«w farms through the press, to endeavour to make the best display of decoration they possiblj could.

YACHTING DISPLAY ABANDONED. At a meeting of the Maritime Committee yesterday, Mr. Dacre reported that on inquiry he" had found it was impossible to get a dfct>lav „* yachts. The yachts were -Aa display yacnts. • xm- Itijnotjjkelj, rnadv bein" hauled up. It is not '^ e >>> «l. P refore that «. stay further seeps will be tS n the niter of the proposed maritime taken in the matter of the proposed maritime display by yachts and sailing and rowing display by yacnts ami „*..>u 0 boats.

THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER. It is expected that Mr. John -Holmes, the Government Executive Commissioner wU arrive in Auckland to-day to make further JmngeSeSi in connection with the Royal visit.

PLATFORM ACCOMMODATION. The Art Committee decided yesterday to recommend the Executive Committee to sell the right of erecting platform accommodation on an unused street running across the head of Philson's allotment. Ihe platform would run from Coburg-street to Lomestreet, and the occupants would have ail excellent view of the scene,.. Welbsley-st ice over the heads of the school children, ho it was anticipated will be assembled on Philson's allotment. SAFETY OF VERANPAHS. A special meeting of the City Council was ! held last evening for the purpose oi miming i a by-law to ensure against the overcrowding i of verandahs during the Royal visit. _ ILs ! Worship the Mayor (Mr. D. Goldic) presided, j and there were also present: Messrs. Liew- ! son, Disjoin, Glover, Rosser, Gamut, lianI nan, and Stichburv. On the motion of the i Mayor, it was resolved, "That the lowing I by-law be made, that public notice be given of same, and that a special meeting be held this day week to confirm the same:—l. Ao persons shall stand, walk, sit, or be or rei main upon the roof of any verandah or polti--1 co erected over any footpath or other portion of any street within the City of Auckland. 2. The above provision shall not apply to any person actually engaged in erecting, repairing, or painting any such verandah or portico, or any pan thereof, and who shall have obtained from the city engineer written permission so to do." The new by-law, as will be seen is absolutely prohibitive, but is is probable that when it comes .up for confirmation an amendment will be made enablI ing the Council to certify as to the safety of I verandahs, and their capacity to carry a I certain number of people. In the case of I such certificates being granted by the city I engineer, it is understood that the Council j will declare that they will be in no way I liable for accidents which may follow.

PRESENTATION TO THE DUCHESS. A meeting in connection with the presentation to the Duchess of York will be he-Id on Tuesday next, at eleven a.m., in Mr. Rattray's room. Mercantile Chambers. A full attendance of committee and collectors is requested. INVITATION CARDS. [BY TKCKOKACir. — PRISTS AMBOCI \TION.] i.'■•''• crux, Friday. Six thousand invitation cards are being prepared for issue by the Government in connection with the receptions of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in the four centres.