THE ROYAL VISIT

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4331, 15 April 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT

VOYAGE OF THE OPHIR

ARRIVAL AT COLOMBO. LONDON, April 13. The Ophir, with the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall on board, has arrived at Colombo. The voyage across the Indian Ocean from Aden was perfect. The fetes held in honour of the Royal visiters at Colombo and at Kandy, the former capital ;of Ceylon, were a brilliant success. Decorations and illuminations were on a lavish scale, and there were enthusiastic crowds everywhere. Sympathetic addrese.s were presented to their Royal Highnesses by -the principal public bodies. The Duke and Duchess are in the best health and spirits. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NEW ZEALAND TOUR.

Mr T. E. Donne, Superintendent of the Government Tourist Traffic Department, who returned from Christchurch on Saturday, has now completed the arrangements in all the centres for the transport, accommodation and victualling of the whole of the Royal party. On their arrival in Auckland, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall will proceed to Government House, and the suite will be accommodated at the Grand Hotel, Princes street.*’ The Duke and Duchess will stay at the Grand Hotel while at, Rotorua, where_a large board-ing-house-is to be secured for the suite. The programme at Rotorua will include a drive to Waiotapu. In Wellington the Duke and Duchess will stay at Government House, and their retinue at Searl’s Hotel. The whole party, while in Christchurch, will reside at Coker’s Hotel. In Dunedin’ the- Duke aifd Duchess will stay at the Fernhill Club, and the suite at the residences’ of Mrs Stephenson, Mr Sinclair and Mr J. A. Park.

Searl’s Hotel is to be re-furnished, a work which is to be undertaken by Messrs Strange and Co., Christchurch, who are’also to re-furnish Coker’s Hotel. Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm will probably see to what is necessary in this respect in Dunedin. In Auckland the Grand Hotel has been renovated and re-furnished recently, and will therefore require very little preparation. It is estimated that the Royal partywill number from- eighty to ninety, including servants, and exclusive of the Government party, for whom separate accommodation will be provided. The arrangements for victualling will of course be left largely to the staff of the various establishments interested, but these staffs will be temporarily strengthened by- a number of servants accompanying the party, and the Duke’s chef will take charge hr each centre. 'The tender of the Colonial Carrying Company has been accepted for the transport arrangements. Captain Popham is to supply the carriages required in Wellington.

A JUBILEE MEMORIAL. . : ■ 'CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. It has been decided to fall in with the suggestion cf the Premier, that His Excellency should ask the Duke of Cornwall to lay the foundation-stone of the Jubilee Memorial in ’Christchurch; The memorial will commemorate the Queen as i well as the South African Contingents. So far only £I4OO is available, hut the amount wanted is £2OOO. The Executive of the Wellington Reception Committee is to meet this morning, when the question of the route to be followed by the procession will he further considered. His Excellency the Governor, wishing to meet the citizens as far us he can in this matter, has stibraitted another proposal which the Mayor is to lay before the committee today ~ .