TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11679, 14 June 1901, Page 6

TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME.

ARRANGEMENTS UPSET BY THE WEATHER. WAIOTAPU TRIP ABANDONED. Although the weather on the journey up was fairly pleasant, it had been unfavourable at Rotorua all day. and as the night set in it grew worse, the rain falling'" in torrents. As soon as the visitors arrived, the Governor was informed that the roads were in a bad condition owing to the heavy rain, and as it poured continuously during the whole evening all hope of the Waiotapu trip coming off was abandoned before dinner. Nothing else was definitely fired, and the whole of to-day's proceedings will depend on (lie weather. If at all favourable, a trip to Hamurona Spring and Tikitere ma)' be substituted for Waiotapu. but at the time of telegraphing the outlook is anything but bright. GUARD OF HONOUR. Yesterday morning, before his departure for Rotorua, the Duke of York conveyed, through the Commandant, his thanks to the mounted infantry (dismounted) for supplying the guard of honour. The guard was supplied by the Hokianga Mounted Rifles, and the Mongonui Mounted Ritles, under the command of Captain Henderson.

THE AUSTRALIAN SQUADRON. The flagship Royal Arthur, with His E? cellency the Commander-in-Chief (Rear-At miral Beaumont) on board, leaves for We lington direct this morning to await the a rival of the Royal Squadron. The rest ( the ships of the Australian Squadron leav for Lyttelton on Sunday morning. THE OI'HIR. The Royal yacht Ophir was thrown ope 1 for public inspection yesterday afternooi j and, notwithstanding the very iriclemen I weather, a large number of visitors took ac i vantage of the opportunity to inspect th : fine vessel and her appointments. On I o'clock was the hour fixed for the yacht t I be thrown open, but long before that hou i the Queen-street Wharf was packed with large crowd anxious to get 011 beard. Ur til the time of closing (five o'clock) th Ophir's decks were crowded with eager sight seers, who were treated with the utmos kindness and courtesy by the officers an. crew. THE ESCORTING WARSHIPS. H.M.s. Juno was thrown open for publi inspection yesterday, and was visited by ; large number of sightseers, who were take! off in steamers of the Devonport Ferry Com pany. The weather was, however, not si favourable for visiting the warships as couh be wished, but those who went off enjoyci their trip. The St. George will be throwi open, this afternoon, and steamers Mill leav I the ferry tee at short intervals from tw< o'clock. A PLEASING INCIDENT. On Tuesday morning, while the Roya yacht Ophir was anchored off the Nortl Head, Miss Muriel Alison, daughter of Mr Alexander Alison, of the North Shore, pullec off to the yacht in her dingey, and sent 01 ] board a large bunch of beautiful arum lilies | to which she attached her card, bidding HeRoyal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall am York welcome to New Zealand. Miss All son received the following letter vesterday; —"H.M.s. Ophir, June 11, 1901. The lady-in-waiting is desired by Her Royal High ness the Duchess of Cornwall and Yrok t( thank Miss Muriel Alison for the kind mes sage of welcome and the bunch of aruir lilies which she sent to Her Royal Highness.' THE ENGINEERS OF THE OPHIR, The engineers of the Royal yacht Ophii were taken for a trip round the country yesterday by the Auckland members of the Aus tralassan Institute of Marine Engineers, and the local engineering firms and other connected with the maritime interests of th« port. The guests were: Mr. Grey (chid engineer). Mr. Lees (senior second engineer), and 10 of the other engineers. About 5C marine engineers beloging to Auckland were present, and the local firms representee were Messrs. Masefield and Co., George Eraser and Sons, Seagar Brothers. Dunn, Smith, aud Co., Massey Bros., W. A. Ryan and Co.! and Henderson and Co. Mr. Bruce Lloyd, representing the Union Iron Works of San Francisco, was also one of the partv. Mr. George Gow represented the Northern S.S. Company; Mr. Edward Alison, the Devonport Steam Ferry Company ; and Mr. W. A. McGregor, the McGregor S.S. Company. Three traps we e provided, in which the party left the wharf and drove to the top of Mount Eden. The weather was line and clear, and a grand view of the city and surrounding country was obtained, the guests being greatly interested. The party then drove through to Onchunga, where they were mot on arrival by the "engineer's friend," Mr. Daniel Neilson, who, with his niece (Miss Neilson) gave them a. cordial welcome and entertainment. After a stort stay, and thanking Mr. and Miss Neilson, the journey was resumed, the drive being across Mangere Bridge, round to Howick. where the party sat down to an excellent luncheon at the Howick Hotel, Mr. Bennett, licensee. Mr. James Melntyre, A.1.M.E., was chairman, and Messrs. Blackwood (Government inspector of machinery) and Win, Laird (superintending engineer of the Northern S.S. Company) the vice-chairmen. Mr. Grey (H.M.s. Ophir) sat on Mr. Mclntyre's right, and Mr. Lees (H.M.s. Ophir) on his left. After luncheon the following toasts were proposed, and heartily responded to:—"The Kin:,'." "The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York," "Our Guests, the Engineers of the Ophir," "The Northern S.S. Company," "The Devonport Steam Ferry ompany," "The McGregor S.S. Company," "The Marine Engineers*' (proposed by Mr. Grey). "Absent Friends," " The Host and Hostess." The time was pleasantly passed in song and story, and the word "All" aboard" came too soon. Owing to the heavy rain setting in the visit to Mr. and Mrs."Thomas Motrin. at Wellington Park, had to be reluctantly abandoned, and the party reached town early in the evening. On arriving, the whole of the guests, at the invitation of Mr. Laird, visited the offices of the Northern S.S. Company, in Quay-street, where the health of the popular manager of the company (Air. Charles Ranson) was proposed, and enthusiastically received with "three times three," and an extra one for Mrs. Ranson and family. The guests, after cordially thanking their entertainers for such a pleasant excursion, were driven down to the Ophir, and parted, with the sincere wish that all would meet again in the near future. The whole of the arrangements were excellently carried out, and those interested are to be complimented upon lie result of the trip. To-day, at the invita--lion of Mr. James Reid. the engineers will go down to Motutapu for a day's shooting, Mr. A. Alison having kiudJv placed a steamer at their disposal for the trip. A GISBORNE SUGGESTION. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION-.] GisnoKNß, Thursday. The Mayor of Gisborne has despatched the following telegram to the Premier: — " Gisborne desires to convey to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York congratulations on their safe arrival in New Zealand, and to venture to suggest that as the squadron is passing so near Poverty Bay, they should make a detour and view the land 'first sighted by Captain Cook." The matter was mentioned at Ihe Council meeting yesterday evening, and the Mayor stated that he had not received any reply to his telegram. He thought it would be. a novel sight, nt least for the residents of Gisborne, to view the Royal yacht md squadron in the boy, even if no landing look place. By making the suggested delour the party would not lose more than an 'lours time. SOUTHERN PREPARATIONS. [BY TKLEUBVI'IT.— ASSOCTATtOX.] Onrt.-.s-rnu-HOH. Thursday. Arrangements are being made for an exensive display of bonfires and beacons in •onneetion with the Royal visit. It is prolosed that as the Ophir is steaming down he coast to Lyttelton from Wellington, on Friday evening, June. 21. bonfires should be ighted from Cape Campbell to Banks' Pennstila. A large number of settlers along he coast have agreed to co-operate in the dea, and others have been written to. The Mayor has sent awa.v an inouiry an to when he Ophir will be off Cape Cam'nhell. The irobable lime will be announced, and those n charge of the bonfires at other points will ie asked to calculate the time when the Iphir will be opposite. On the evening of he arrival of the Royal visitors in Christlinreb it is proposed to have a long line of ion/ires extending from IToon Hay. southwest of the city, to Lyttelton, and on to Akaroa. Settlers arc talcing tip the idea .villi a good deal of enthusiasm. ITIE ENGLISH PRESS ON THE VISIT. Jy Telegraph. -Press Copyright.. (Received June 11. 13.34 a.m.) London-. June 13. The newspapeis, commenting on the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall's visit to SV.v Zealand, refer to the spontaneity, inensity of enthusiasm, and the freshness and mpromptu features of each stage.