THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11685, 21 June 1901, Page 6

THE ROYAL VISIT.

THIRD DAY IN WELLINGTON.

LOCAL FACTORIES INSPECTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington*, Thursday. After a preliminary shower, the weather turned fine, and the sun shone out for almost the first time this week.

Owing to the rain, and the fear of slips, the projected trip over the Ritnutaka was j abandoned, and their Royal Highnesses paid I a visit to the factories at Petone instead. j They inspected the woollen mills (this be- | ing the first time the Duke had seen one). I Gear Company's meat works, and the rail--1 way workshops. At the meat works, they I not only went through the freezing chami bers, but tasted the preserved meats. A , number of presentations to officials and j others were made. The Woollen Company ' {.resented the Duchess with a rug, having her arms worked upon it. The Royal visitors appeared to take great interest in all that they saw. The residents assembled in great numbers to welcome the part?, and received them with hearty cheers. Great precautions were taken that there should be no accident on I the line, no less than 400 men being emj ployed on special service for the occasion. It may be mentioned that the Royal party j were greatly pleased with the musical proS gramme at the reception last night, and the I Duchess specially complimented Mr. McLaughlin, the conductor, on the result of the performers' efforts. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. The Duchess drove out to the Wellington Hospital, in company with the Countess of i Ranfurly and two members of the suite, and the Duke visited the Ohiro Benevolent I Home.

AQUATIC DISPLAY AND FIREWORKS. [BY telegraph. —PßESS association.] Wellington', Thursday. For the general public in town there was an aquatic display, arranged by -Mr. J. Moore, of the Missions to Seamen, principally on behalf of the men-o'-warsmen. The programme contained boat races of various kinds, and comic displays, and was watched by a large number of spectators froin the shore. Three submarine explosions formed part of the proceedings. Two boats and a beer-barrel were blown up with gun-cotton, and the performance was voted a great success. Thousands of people thronged the harbour frontages to-night to witness the tireworks display, which was carried out from the hulks lying off Queen's Wharf and from the Government steamer Tutanekai. The display from the hulks was provided by the local Reception Committee, and, although lacking somewhat in variety, proved very successful. The fact of it being a fine calm night contributed largely to the enjoyment of the scene. Later on in the evening the streets were crowded with people viewing the illuminations, which were again in full swing. it is generally conceded that the illuminations .surpass anything that was expected, and visitors from outside, including people who have seen displays on a large scale at Home and elsewhere, are loud in their praise. STATE DINNER. [BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. His Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Ranfurly gave a dinner at Government. House this evening, to which the following had the honour of being invited to meet their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York:—His Serene Highness Prince Alexander of 'feck, Lord Wenlock, Commodore Winsloe, Major the Hon. Derrek-Keppel, the Hon. Mrs. Derrek-Keppsl, Canon Dalton. Sir Arthur Bigge. Commander Wemyss. Lady Mary Lvgon. Lady Katberine Coke, Mr. Sydney Hall. Sir Robert and Lady Stout, the Bishop of Wellington and Mrs." Wallis, the Hon. Captain Russell and Mrs. Russell, Sir Arthur and Ladv Douglas and Muss Douglas, Mrs. Collins. His Worship the Mayor of Wellington. Mis. Newman. Mrs. Balfour, Miss Richmond, and Captain Alexander. NEW ZEALAND SCENERY. [BY TKLKURAI'!!. — SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. After dinner Mr. Malcolm Ross had the ho'ionr of showing and explaining to their Royal Highnesses and the House party a fine collection of views of New Zealand scenery, more particularly of scenes in the. Southern Alps and the volcanic belt. A number of views secured during the recent annexation cruise of H.M.s. Mildura in the Pacific Islands were also shown by means of ii,-- optical lantern. Their Royal High- I nesses were keenly interested in the views, | manv of which were of country which the lecturer had explored for the first time. Afterwards Mr. Ross had the honour of being presented to the Duke and Duchess, who. during a conversation about New Zealand scenery and other matters, thanked j him cordially for affording them such a treat. PRESENTED TO THE DUKE. ! [lIY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Sergeant F. Neale. who hat recently returned horn South Africa, where he served with the New Zealand contingents, was presented to their Royal Highnesses to-day. Sergeant Neale was formerly a trooper in the 17th Lancers. While in South Africa he did some campaigning with one of the Princes of 'J'eck, a brother of Her Royal I Highness, to whom at a time of great danger he was of great service. BRITISH JOURNALISTS ENTERTAINED. [IIY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. The English journalists at present in Welling, and Sir Donald Wallace, of the Ducal suite, were entertained by the local branch of the Journalists' Institute to-day. The visitors expressed themselves highly delighted with the attention they had received in New Zealand, and feared they would be killed with kindness before they left. Some of them, to their surprise, found old acquaintances among those present. They avowed considerable surprise and pleasure at the high state of the newspapers in the colony. THE CHRISTCHUROH ! | PREPARATIONS. | [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CnRiSTCHURCH, Thursday. It is announced here that the Ophir will Wive Wellington at four o'clock to-morrow ! afternoon, and will steam along at twelve j knots an hour. She is expected to be off J Cape Campbell at about half-past seven, i and the first of the long line of coastal bon- | ! 'ires will then be lighted at the Cape. Rain j j has fallen off and on all day, and the de- { | corations present o bedraggled aspect. Work ■ '. in connection with the special displays made ! ; by the Westland province and the shipping, , j frozen meat, and agricultural and pastoral j industries, is being pushed on. It is antici- j ; pated thai outside these displays and the j : Government arch the public decorations will i not be very successful. So far there have | been practically no attempts at private de- ; corations. A feature of the visit, however, I will be the large number of illuminations, ! both public and private. It is expected i that the illuminating of the Christchurch | i Cathedral will be the best thing of the kind S | seen in New Zealand. * THE COMING RECEPTION AT CAPETOWN. (Deceived June 21. 12.41 a.m.* Capetown, June 20. Cape Colony will spend £100,000 in welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. People are flocking to Capetown from districts ' tricts a thousand miles away. I