WELLINGTON IN MOURNING

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4264, 25 January 1901, Page 5

WELLINGTON IN MOURNING

. In accordance with Government proclamation, the public offices in the city were closed yesterday, as a mark of mourning for the Queen. They will also be closed to-day and to-morrow. Holiday hours were'obseirved at the General Post Office and the other pest offices yesterday. At the Supreme Court vacation hours were kept, the reason given bding that the office could not be closed altogether unless under statute. The City Council Chambers and professional offices were closed, but very few places of business. The weather was wet and depressing, and the demeanour and conversation of many of the citizens showed that their minds were on the departed Sovereign rather than on every-day affairs

Outwards signs of mourning were not wanting. The Royal Standard at Government House, New Zealand ensigns at the various departmental buildings, national flags at the consulates, the Corporation flag at the City Council Chambers, the Harbour Board’s flag at the Board's office, the flags on the shipping, and those on warehouses, shops, hotels, factories and private residences were all hoisted half-mast high. The flags were not draped, but the flag-pole at the Government Buildings lhad streamers of black and a black rosette at its cap. It was noticed that, as on Wednesday, some of the flags were flying after sunset, which is not in accordance with rule.

When the Royal_ salute was fired at Pipitea Point, beginning at noon, the Union Jack was flown at half-mast on the staff at the battery. The General Post Office leid the way in making recognition of the sad event. The front elevation of the building has been draped with black and white. The materials used are India linen cloth and black sateen. Of these about 1100 yards in all are employed. The materials are sewn on roping i and have been interwoven in festoons. There arel three rows of festoons, each parapet being traced in black and white, A painting of the Royal Arms, draped with black, is placed over the main entrance. The British and New Zealand ensigns, draped, cover the pillars on either side of the entrance. A very effective display has been made, and when the wdather clears it will look still better. The work of arranging for the draping of the building was done by a comparatively small but very energetic committee of the head office staff. The chimes and hour bell in the clock tower have been muffled.

A staff of workmen yesterday began to drape the Liambton quay elevation of the Government Buildings. Most attention will be paid to the central portion of the elevation—the portion which contains the main entrance and portico, and is surmounted by the clock and the Royal Arms, All the architectural features and the windows are being draped with black and white material, which being used in festoons, streamers and rosettes. The pillars of the portico and the adjacent lamp-posts have been coVer* ed. with black. A gable draped in the mourning colours mentioned is’-being erected over the portico. Underneath the portico there will be a -canopy of black and white, and curtains’ of the same colours will bo hung in the windows of the entrance doors. There will be festoons of Black along the whole front of the building. The mourning will remain in position until after the Queen is buried. _ On the principal mansard of the roof o: the Government Insurance Building streamers of black and white cloth have been crossed. Some of the principal drapery establishments are draped in black. At other shops mourning is indicated by the raising of one or more shutters, which are -in some cases 'enveloped in black cloth. In many shop windows portraits of the Queen are exhibited, with the frame hidden by crape. Some of the warehouses are displaying tokens of woe. A Jervois quay warehouse has over its entrance a memorial portrait of the Queen painted in neutral colours. At many private residences yesterday the day of mourning was observed, and blinds were lowered as they would have been for a family breavement. Some ladies in the streets were noticed to be wearing half-mourning.