SOUTHERN PREPARATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11680, 15 June 1901, Page 6

SOUTHERN PREPARATIONS.

THE WELLINGTON ARCHES. [BY TELEGRAPH. — OWN COJIUESI'ON'IiKXT.] Wi;i,i,;-;(;ii;'.;, Fliday. Though the preparations for the Uo\al visit to this city are well advanced, a great deal yet remains to be done in the t'n.-e working days now left, and it seems highly probable that the coming Sunday will he spent in Wellington, as last Sunday was in ''Auckland, to the sounds of the women's hammer. The coat and goto arch especially is m ■'. backward state, end its this will be by ar the largest of the 11 arches every effort will have to be made i; it is to be icady in time. This arch, built on Law') on Uuay, is to represent the c'niii i;ni>;.-. ot ine West Coast, ami ;s being erected by .he Wesipo-.t Harbour lioaid. Tiie i oumiiuiii v of West Coast:. in Wellington arc manifesting great, pride in the gre"! siruet'.ne, and one o: lie sights of reception day will be the gathering of the elans .'rom ail over the coast at the special stand raised in- idem near the coal and gold audi. Huge paiais of coal, sent by the Westport C-a! (.( mpany, ate to be shown on pedestals t-Ut high on both frontages, and at the sides of the arch and above the coal trophies will be ingots ; imitation gold, about ?ii in lenqtu. The r.ei.'.es of the coal and gold bearing autre:, >•' tie West Coast will be probably displayed, and the arch is to be decorated with nil-ru'. ■■■ :d mamal:u from the Wes 1 , Co:,st. The ;.■ Litter arch, erected by 'he National Dairy Association, will also be one of the feat'.i.t; of Lambton Quay. I he idea is similar to that tarried out in Melbourne, but the Wellington each will be of much more handsome design, decoiative effects being introduced to relieve its otherwise formal character. Native foliage and trophies of flags are to be used for this purpose. 'Jhe ends of butter boxes are to be shown, but not throughout the whole of the arch, as they weie in Melbourne. The ends of the boxes, as in Melbourne, will show tho brands of the subscribing factories. The citizens' arch, on Jorvois Quay, the first- on the line of route, is of the Roman and Doric character, but it.: classic lines ■will be relieved by free decorative treatment. It is of three spans, and will lit- surmounted by the anus of the Wellington Corporation. One of the most, novel arches of all will lie that erected by the Wellington Woollen .Company outside their premises on Jervris jgu&y. pi is composed of red, white, and

i blue blankets, and white scoured wool, built j upon a wooden frame. The pillars are made lup of long rolls of blankets. 'Ihe parapet is | of blankets rolled and arranged in battlemented forms. Blankets are used as flags, and across the face of the arch runs the appropriate inscription: "See the Warmth of our Welcome.' 1 There us to be a cereal arch at the corner of Cuba and Inglesbie Streets, subscribed for by the Marlborough district and various suburbs of Wellington. It will be covered with oats, wheat, and barley, and adorned with scythes, hayforks, arid similar agricultural implements. The Consular arch, at the coiner of Willisstreet and Lambton Quay, is severely simple in style. It is to bear 11 foreign shields, arranged in alphabetical order, according to international etiquette, and will display also the flags of the nations represented. The Government is responsible for three arches; of these the principal one is at the Government Building on Lambton Quay. It is in the Tudor castellated style, with octagonal ba-ttlamented towers separating the three archways. These towers— the raking battlements and the turret ed loopholescare suggestive of some ancient Norman keep. A Maori arch, representing, a Maori whare, and a handsome "oral arch at the entrance to Government. House gates are also being built by the Government. The Chinese are busy with their arch.

The influx of visitors has begun in earnest, The Rotorua. which arrived from Picton and Nelson yesterday, was a crowded ship, and there is every prospect of an unprecedented invasion from the country districts .surrounding Wellington. [nr TKLKcr. \t'H. — PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Wellington, Friday. The Chinese of Wellington propose to present the Duke of Cornwall with an address. SUGGESTED VISITS TO NAPIER AND GISBORNE. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] Napier, Friday. The Mayor has received a reply from the Premier that the Duke of York cannot. deviate from the programme- to make a call in Hawke's Bay. GISnORN'E, Friday. It is definitely announced that the Ophir will not visit Poverty Bay. FRICTION IN DUNEDIN. [RT TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] Dunedi.v, Friday. Soreness is being felt at the pushing aside of the Mayor in connection with the reception function. A special meeting of the City Council is convened for Saturday to consider the situation, which is becoming very strained.