THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4383, 14 June 1901, Page 5

THE ROYAL VISIT.

!TOU« OF THE HSIR-APPA.R- ---! Liir, j :■ ;; ;T.\ in • i GKi.AND. Ju: TO IHE HOT Ox ..i.'.UH. j .y Uur .Special Repot ter J j KOTORLA, June IJ. T!ie lii’.ai scene in me Royal domonhifai ion, as lar as Auckland is concerned, look place this morning, when their xv.yal Highnesses took Uicxr departure lor Rotorua. 'Alio streets were crowded wuh spectators as the Duke and Aluehc-as urovo through, and a large assemoiago ol people' lined the environs of the railway station to give a paining cheer and wave a last enthusiastic fnren oil. AHe Oorrnnor was early at the station, anxious that the transport arrangements snouid he complete in every detail, and the railway omciais, too, were buzzing around, with excitement and anxiety writ large on every lineament. The arrival ol their Itoyal High nesses was me sh'iiai for a great outburst of applause. Xiio baud of the escort played the National Anthem, and their Highnesses entered their sumptuously furnished carriage amidst cheers from a select assemblage on tlie platform. As the train (without sign dr signal; quietly issued from the platform and ran at a slow puce through Parnell and Newmarket, large crowds occupying coigns or vantage renewed tlie cliorus of applause, and vigorously waved flags in token of loyal sentiment and enthusiasm. Kailway men witn signal Hags wore stationed at intervals right along the line, but as the train steamed with accelerated speed into the country, t-iese watchful guarantors of Royal safety were spread out at greater and greater intervals. Tlie first .Maori demonstration was made at Mercer, where a large congregation of native men and women danced a haka of welcome to an accompaniment of much hand clapping, and other demonstrations of delight, which greatly amused and edified the spectators. The train ran quickly over the country, passing rapidly through townships and hamlets, all of which expressed by displays of flags and arches their sense of the importance of the flying visit which their Highnesses were making. At Frankton Junction the settlers provided a special demonstration, the railway station and buildings in the vicinity being elaborately decorated. Here the school children mounted on a platform, sang the National Anthem, and cheered the Duke and Duchess, who strolled about the platform, evidently keenly relishing the fresh pure air. At this point the Royal train caught up to its pilot, which contained a number of pressmen, members of Parliament, and other guests of the Government, and all auoard enjoyed the sumptuous luncheon provided in the local goodshed. Their Royal Hignnesses and the Governor lunched in the Royal carriage. They were much charmed with the peeps of New Zealand scenery which they obtained while the train was running through the fine pasture land of the Waikato, and also with the glimpses of the willow-fringed Waikato to be scon from the railway line. At Putaruru where the Royal express caught up to and passed the mail train, the railway station was smothered with evergreens and flags and the whole population turned out to try and get a glimpse of the Royal visitors, but were disappointed. The train could not stop, but rushed up the lull and into the hush land guarding Rotorua, wnore the luxuriant punga formed a beautiful foreground to the dense masses of vegetation which fringed the. line on eicuer side. Heavy showers of rain rattled upon the roof of the Roval carriage as the train rattled down the bill into Rotorua, completely shutting out the splendid view which is generally to be had from this point.

Reception at Rotorua. A STRIKING SCENE. Night was fast closing in and heavy rain was falling when their Royal Highnesses arrived at Rotorua Station. Before th G Royal train entered the precincts of the station shouts of Maori welcome could be heard,and directly the train slackened down, hundreds of frantic natives could be seen waving green palms, dancing and posturing, and yelling with excitement. His Highness descended from th o train wearing a dark morning coat and an ordinary boxer hat, and the Duchess a plain black costume and a black picture hat. The appearance of their Royal Highnesses as they left the vestibule of the railway station and entered an open carriage was the signal for a unique and blood-stirring spectacle. A largo number of chiefs, uttering cries expressive of great joy, swarmed round the carriage. Some were clad in choicest native mats, others wore the frockcoat and belltoppcr of civilisation; but there was not one who was not convulsed with enthusiasm. Different tribes had been stationed at different points along the line of route, and these first <ravo a vigorous song of welcome, and then, losing all sense of discipline at th e realisation of the long-expeoted, swarmed after the Royal procession, uttering strange exulting cries, waving meres and taiahas, and creating a babel of sound which construed itself into a weird, ever - varying, exhilarating scream of delight. In plain fact, the Maoris were intoxicated with a strange contagious joyfulness which communicated itself to th R beholders, making all hearts to throb, all pulses boat faster. Their Royal Highnesses were visibly affected by this strange dramatic scene, enacted in the growing blackness of a fast-descending night. The Duke did not merely bow his acknowledgments—despite wind and rain, ho held his, hat off, and gazed at the actors in this tremendous scene as one fascinated. As the carriages, close-pressed by the hurrying mobs of half-naked haka dnnp-'rs, swept into the precincts of th e Grand Hotel, a great array of poi dancers, some dressed in purest white, others adorned from head to foot with lyc.'podium, went through their graceful evolutions, emitting a _ strange chant, and speaking with their expres. sive eyes more haeremais than their tongues could utter. An aristocratic gathering of Maoris, under the leadershin of the Hon James Carroll, Native Minister, met the Royal party at the entrance to the Grand Hotel, and gave him a magnificent ovation. THE MAORI WELCOME. Their Royal Highnesses then descended from their carriage, and Mr Carroll, in fine sonorous phrase, voiced, in for. raal terms, th p sentiments of the Maori race in the following words; “ Welcome, welcome, welcome, O Son Welcome to these islands, Aotearoa and Te Wainounamu, and welcome to Maorilnnd. Welcome, thou who art of blood th P emblem of the mana and the majesty of the Empire under whore benign rule we are proud to abide. O Royal daughter, of princes joined to him who is son of our Lord the King, wo likewise greet you. We heard with our ears, and hoped that we might see. Now w G see with our eyes, and rejoice that this thing has come to pass in our day and generation. This is a great

clay—a day that will live in the memory of our race while God gives them existence. Yet it is a day of mourning. We mourn tho great Queen to whom our fathers coded by treaty the sovereignty over these islands; who was the guardian of --nr rights and liberties. Prom that time until she slept with her fathers, we, the humblest of her children, alien in blood, yet kin by law and allegiance, mourn the less of a mother who studied the good of high and low alike, why lovad peace, that by peace among her peoples they might rise yet higher in greatness. She was all that our fathers knew in their day. Pass, O mother, to rest with the mighty dead. Welcome, welcome, welcome-—ln the name of the King, your father, we hail the new King in your person. He has succeeded to the throne of his mother to bo our chief, our Lord and Sovereign. Hero, in the presence of your Royal Highness, we renew our vow of allegiance; we confirm the act of cur fathers ; and give all to Queen Victoria and her successors. Hear, O ye peoples! To-day wo make a new treaty—new, and yet old, inasmuch as wo confirm th 0 Hyaity of our generation and pray that our Sovereign and white brethren may give us their strength to live, strive with them, and join them. Hear, 0 Prince— From the far ends of the earth, from remote Hawaiki, across the groat seas of Kira, you have come to sec these lands and peoples. It is well, for by so doing you have drawn closer the bonds of love which do knit us together. Welcome and farewell! Farewell since you must pass on. We wish you a safe return to our King and his Queen, from whose presence you have come to gladden our eyes in this the most distant part of the Empire ” THE DUKE’S REPLY. The Duke’s reply was as follows: “To The Chiefs and Tribes of the Isles Aotearoa and Waipounamu, Greeting,—The warm words of welcome which you have spoken to the Princess and myself have gladdened our hearts. From the far ends of the earth, over tho wide seas, we have been sent by the great King, my father, to hear and behold in their own beautiful land his children, tho Maoris. The great Queen, whom your fathers knew and loved, and for whom you mourn with us and with all the nations and races under the rnana and majesty of the Empire, had, before she passed to her rest, decreed us to visit her peoples beyond the seas to tell of her gratitude for the aid of their brave young men in the cruel war unto which she, who ever loved and worked for peace, had been driven. Proud and glad Was the great Queen that the sons of her Maori children, eager with love and loyalty, longed to stand side by side with their brethren in the field of battle. The King, my father, though ms cup was full of sorrow, and the parting with us, his children was added to its bitterness, would not endure that her wish should pass unfulfilled, and I como in her name and on her behalf to declare to you the deep thankfulness of his heart for your loving sympathy in his loss and for the noble and tender words in which 3’ou speak your reverence and love for her memorj’. The words of the Maoris are true words ■ —the words of a generous and chivalrous people, who- are ready to make good with the hand the promise of the lips. To receive vour pledges of loyalty and to learn through me that you have her© renewed your oath of allegiance and confirmed tho act of-your fathers, who gave all to Queen Victoria and her successors, will give joy to my father’s heart, and will fill him with strength and courage for the freat work that lies before him. ’he heart of the King is warm to his peoples in New Zealand. He rejoices to see them dwell together in peace and friendship, and prays that they may continue to be united and to strengthen each other in the works of peace, in striving for the common good, and in aiding him to keep one and united the many people under his sway. If our visit helps to that end we shall be glad, and count as nought the sacrifices we have made in order to see your chiefs and you face to face in your beautiful country. Of our brief visit to Maoriland we shall carry with us lasting memories of the loyalty and love and the generous kindness of the Maori people. May peace, prosperity and every blessing abide with you and yours for ever.”

COMMENTS OF THE ENGLISH PRESS. (Received June 14, 0.34 a.m.) LONDON, June 13. The English newspapers, commenting on the Duke of Cornwall’s visit to New Zealand, refer to the spontaneity and intensity of the enthusiasm whose freshness and impromptu features have marked each stage of the proceedings. MOVEMENTS OF THE SQUADRON. AUCKLAND, June 13. The Royal Arthur leaves for Wellington to-morrow. The rest of the warships sail on Sunday. SUPERVISION AT HOTELS. Correspondence between the Police Department and the City Council, in regard to supervision at hotels next week, was read at last night’s meeting of the CouncilInspector Pender wrote as follows on the 6th instant:—“l have the honour to inform you that I am directed by thte Government to draw your attention to tjhe necessity for special supervision at all hotels within your jurisdiction during the visit of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess or Cornwall and York, and to suggest that it would be well if firemen were told off for each, hotel during such visit.’’ The Mayor replied as follows: —“I am in receipt of your communication of the 6th instant, fin'd in reply, I do not at ‘an. agree with the suggestions made. I think it .would bo a very bad arrangement to have our firemen scattered all over the town, instead of at the Fire Brigade Station ready to equip the engines if called upon to do duty. I would suggest that the A.C.’s be employed in the work you mention. We have only a limited number of firemen, and they will certainly be required to be in attendance in case of need.” Inspector Pender, writing on the 10th instant, said: “’I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th instant, re stationing firemen at hotels during the Royal visit, and um directed to inform you that the suggestion having been, brought under your notice the matter must rest there, it being one entirely for your consideration.” Councillors expressed approval of the letter written by the Mayor. Cabs for the Receptions. A deputation from the cab-proprie-tors’ Union waited upon the City Coun-

cil last night with respect to the route to be taken by carriages hired for the receptions next week. The Mayor informed the deputation tliaT. it had been arranged that carriages from tho Te Arc end of the town must pass along Taranaki street cr Courtenay place, down Taranaki street into Victoria street, along Hunter street, along Fcatherston street to the Government Fiailway Station, and thence by way of Mulgrnvo and Sydney streets to Government House. There would be no difficulty in regard to carriages from Thomdon. The deputation expressed satisfaction with the arrangements outlined. Its members mentioned tiiat cab proprietors had received orders to take persons round to see the illuminations. The Mayor said that traffic would bo suspended in the principal streets on Tuesday night. The deputation said its association had. been advised by Dr Findlay that traffic could not be stopped. The Mayor gave a reminder of the Council's power in respect of cab drivers’ licenses, and the deputation retired smiling. ROPING THE STREETS. The Mayor informed the City Council last night that a request from the Defence Department, that the Council would rope the streets on the occasion of the Royal visit, had been declined, as had a verbal request to the same effect from the Public Works Department. Councillors expressed their approval of tho answer given. <- We are not living in German)’” was one of the comments made by Councillor Devine. TRANSPORT OF VOLUNTEERS. Following are the steamship arrange, ments for the transport of the Volunteers and Cadets from the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough provinces and tho North Island:—The Corinna leaves Greymouth this morning and Westport this afternoon with Volunteers for Wellington and Cadets for Lyttelton. The Cadets will transfer to the Tarawera, sailing from hero on Sunday on a .special trip for the purpose. The Rotoiti will leave Nelson on Sunday morning and Picton the same afternoon with the Nelson and Picton Volunteers. The Corinna will leave Nelson on Tuesday afternoon and Picton on Wednesday morning with the Nelson and Blenheim Cadets, and will proceed on to Lyttelton after taking on a number of Wellington Cadets. The Mararoa,* sailing for Lyttelton oil Wednesday, will take down the balance'of the North Island Cadets. The Waihora, Westralia, Upolu and Flora on Thursday, and the Corinna and Tarawera on Friday, will take the Wellington Volunteers to Lyttelton. REHEARSAL OF THE ODE. Through a misunderstanding, only half of the Garrison Band put in an appearance at St. John’s Schoolroom last night, when the first full rehearsal of the Ucl e to be sung at the laying of the foundation stone of the Wellington Town Hall by tho Duke of Cornwall, took place. Under the circumstances, after consulting with Bandmaster Herd, Mr Maughan Barnett asked the large body of singers present if they could attend on Monday night, at eight o’clock. The response to the conductor’s inquiry was immediate and gratifying—every singer present answering in the affirmative. Th e Ode, the words of which are by Mr S. Clarke Johnson, while the music has been composed by Mr Maughan Barnett, was tried over, with satisfactory results. The Ode opens in a jubilant, triumphant strain, and the singers call on the fair and prosperous Zealandia to arise and greet the son and daughter of the King. The Royal hands ar e then invoked for aid in raising a stately fabric designed to serve such noble purposes. The Ode ends in a magnificent outburst of prayer.. HOME FOR INCURABLES' BAZAAR. The committee ot the Maoriland Home for Incurables’ Bazaar hopes to secure the services of the band from the Royal yacht Ophir to perform at the bazaar one afternoon. The Duchess of Cornwall has broken through her rule, and will attend the bazaar, tehe will be conducted by Lady Ranfurly, and accompanied by members of ner suite. The stallholders have been working with great energy and the stalls will contain an immense amount of material, including articles of use and interest to suit all tastes and purses. The object of the bazaar is a praiseworthy one. The committee is proceeding on strict business lines, and the whole of the proceeds of the bazaar will b e devoted to the cause. If the public responds to the appeal, and gives its support to the undertaking, there is little doubt that within a vear there will be provided a thoroughlv equipped and adequate hospital for tho reception of chronic cases of disease. Without this the philanthropic institutions of the city are incomplete. The Dresden Piano Company has provided, free of cost, a piano for use in the cafe chantant of the bazaar, and the D.1.C.-has gratuitously furnished the miniature theatre. Mr Wickham has presented a Singer’s sewing machine, which will be awarded as a prize in the guessing competition. Gifts in kind or cash will be thankfully received by the secretary, Mrs Newman, Hobson street. At the Parliamentary reception the library will be thrown open, but all the “stack” rooms and staff rooms will be closed. The newspaper room is to be used as a ladies’ cloak room, and the writing room will probably be used as a smoking room. The main reading room upstairs will be thrown open. Messrs Baker Bros, report that their Register now contains accommodation for considerably over 2000 persons. To meet the demands expected by the influx of country visitors on Saturday and Monday, a_ second edition of the printed list is being prepared. It is desired to impress upon householders, who have their names placed upon the “Official Register,” the urgent necessity of at once informing Messrs Baker Bros when they have filled up their vacancies. Much annoyance and trouble have been givn to strangers, who have found on being sent to an address, late at night, that the accommodation has been already taken up. without Messrs Baker Bros, having been notified of the fact. An application from the Dresden Piano Company for permission for the Garrison Band to play under the verandah at its premises on Tuesday, the 18th instant, was last night granted by the Citv Council. The preliminary programme of the aquatic sports to be held on the 20th instant under the directorship of Mr James Moore, of the Missions to Seamen. contains seventeen events, including boat races for crews from the warships and merchant ships in harbour, novel competitions and competitive displays.