THE ROYAL VISIT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2454, 27 March 1901, Page 22

THE ROYAL VISIT.

» IHE KOYAL COUPLE AT GIBKALTAK. USISG WIBELKSS TELEQKAPHY. LONDON, March 18. ! It is reported that the Duke of York is carrying with him £20,000 worth of presents for distribution, as well as a list of knighthoods as rewaids to the leading j federationists. King Edward's parting remark to the Duke of York was : " Make your mind easy ; I will take care of the children." March 19. The Ophir, at the entrance of the Bay of Biscay, exchanged signals with the West African steamer Orion on Sunday morning. (Received March 20, at 9.20 a.m.) The Ophir experienced rough weather in the Bay of Biscay. The children of the royal couple will refide at Marlborough House during the absence of their parents. March 20. The Ophir lias passed Sagres, south of Cape St. Vincent. (Received March 21, afc 11 p.m.) The Niobe, by means of wireless telegraphy, sent a telegram to Gibraltar con- ' veying t*ie Duke of York's wishes with regard to the reception there. March 21. The ladies at Gibraltar presented 4,he Duchess of i'ork with a splendid mantilla. March 22. The warships Diana and Andromena are escorting the Ophir to Malta. Bad weather caused the abandonment of most of the Gibraltar festivities on the occasion of the Duke of York's visit. March 25. When 100 miles from Malta the Ophir, with the assistance of the troopships Lyne and the Andromeda, by means of wireless telegraphy informed the Governor of Malta that the Duke and Duchess of York would land at Malta, at noon to-day. The passage from Gibraltar Las been stormy. MELBOURNE, March 21. Some fine designs have been drawn up for the arches it is proposed to erect. The chief arch will be th_e Queen's arch in Collins street. This will be surmounted with a» gilded figure of the late Queen, while statues of the King and Queen and the late Prince Consort, and one emblematic of Victoria, will surround the central figure. SYDNEY, March 20. The citizens propose to hold a concert during the royal visit, and to present their Royal Highnesses with views of the city bound in solid gold. The City Council propose to spend £300 on the casket that will contain the address of welcome. WELLINGTON, March 19. The Native Minister is asking each Maori tribe to send 100 representatives to the Nativa gathering at Rotorua during the Duke of Cornwall's visit, and all tribes that have yefc answered agree to do so. March 21. At the City Council to-night the Mayor reported on a deputation the other day to .the Premier with regard to financing the display on the occasion of the Duke of York's visit. After discussion, the council decided to refer the question of the reception of the royal party to a committee, which will report to the council after a, conjereiice with the eilkgii* .QOSftSWfcteSk '

i The Government have approved of plans . for new baths at Rotorua, to be called after the Duke and Duchess. j CHRISTCHURCH, March 21._ I A public meeting 1 , attended by between aO | raid 40 citizens, was held to-day to consider I matters in connection with the reception of j the Duke and Duchess of York. The Acting- \ Mayor (Mr J. T. Smith), who presided, eaid the cost of decorating the city would be about £1500, and it has been suggested that the City Council should find £1000 and the neighbouring local bodies the balance. The general opinion of the meeting was that the cost should bo borne by the Government, and on the motion of Mr W. ChrystaU it was lesohed — "That in the opinion of this meeting of citizens of Christchurch, called to consider what steps should be taken in connection with the reception of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, all expenses attending such reception should be borne by the consolidated fund ; that the chairman be requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the Premier, and that this meeting be adjourned until the receipt of his reply." ' It was resolved to send a copy of the resolution to the roayprs of pbher, cities asking thsm to co-operate in the direction indicated. March 23. The deputy-mayo? had a private interview with the Hen. -€). H. Mills- thi3 forenoon respecting the financial arrangements for the reception of the Duke and Duchies of Cprnwall. Mr Mills promised to lay before the Premier the state of public opinion here on the subject. THE PREMIER AND THE WELLINGTON COUNCIL. (Fbom Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, March 22. At last night's Meeting of the City Council ' the mayor spoke out very plainly in regard to j the Premier's attempts to browbeat the citie3 j into providing the funds for the reception of | the Duke and Duohes3 of Cornwall. Mr I Aitken said: — "The committee appointed 1 went to interview the Premier of the colony to find out v.hether or not it would be possiblo for him to pass or to give us a definite ■ promise that he would pass an Enabling Bill empowering us to spend more money in wel- | coming their Royal Highnesses than is at our | disposal just now, and to learn also whether , it would be possible to look to the Govern- j ment for n. £1 for £1 pubsidy on money spent i by" the council for that purpose. In reply to I the committee, Mr Seddon did not make any i definite promise that he would indemnify the ; City Council for any money spent over and j I above the £250 allowed by the Municipal j Corporations Act. He made a general statement that if he found it necessary it could be done, but he did not give any definite promise that it would be done. On the second point, a« to a. subsidy, he w,i3 not only emphatic, but to borne rxterit insulting; not | only insuK>ng 1o Hie City Council, but to the i Mhole of the citizens of Wellington. He said a xery great deal about the citizens that I do not wish to repeat, but I think it right and proper that this council should know that j certain remarks were made by the Premier to j the detriment of the City of Wellington a3 a j whole. He practically gave Wellington thej name of being the very xneanest city in the j I whole of the colony, and he held up Dunedin j ] and the other cities, but particularly Duu- | odin, as affording a bright contrast. I saw j I afterwards that he liad previously given ; { Auckland the rame of being the meanest city J •in the colony. 1 suppose Auckland had mended its ways since then. It is now aßovo Wellington. Some other members of the de- 1 putation ore here. I think I have fairly stated what occurred. — (Hear, hear.) Personally, as mayof Cf this city, and as a member of tms council, from what took place at the interview with the Premier on Monday, I could not advise this council to spend more than £250. Ido not think that the Premier of the colony, or anyone elto, has any right j to expect that any member of this council should render himaelf liable to be sued in a court for a very large sum of money.* THE GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONER. AUCKLAND, March 22. Mr John Holmes returned from Rotorua to night, and reports that the people of Rotorua are enthusiastic in arranging for the reception of the Duke and Duchess of York. A large public meeting last night decided to send round a subscription list to defray the whole cost of the reception to the royal visitors. Mr Holmes leaves for Wellington, on Sunday, arriving on Monday night. DEFRAYING THE COST. ATJCKL \ND, March 25. A special meeting of the City Council was » held to-night, when the question of contri- j buting a sum from the, city treasury towards ; | the celebrations in connectipn with the visit [ j of the Duke and Duchess of York was dis- j | cussed. One or two members of the council I objected to the moneys of the ratepayers : being diverted to such a purpose, but the ; majority favoured the proposal, and it was i ultimately agreed to vote a third of the cost of the reception, but not to exceed £1000. Mr J. Holmes, commissioner for the royal reception, left for Wellington by the Ngapuhi on Sunday. I

Mr Frank Bodle has written to the Premier suggesting tint census collectors be authorised to receive shilling subscriptions for the royal reception fund WELLINGTON, March 25. The Premier 13 advised from Auckland that the mayor states that it is assured tho funds for the reception of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York will be provided by the corporation, supplemented by^ handsome private contributions, which will be more than sufficient to make a brilliant display worthy of Auckland and the colony, and that Auckland will try and outshma tho other cities in genuine hospitality and loyalty. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. At a meeting of the City Council to-nighfc a resolution was carried that all the expenses of entertaining the 'Duke and Duchess of York ought to be met out of the consolidated fund. GENEROUS OFFERS. We are informed that an offer will be made to hand over the Dunedin Club's house and beautiful grounds at Fernhill for the use of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and suiter during their stay in Dunedin, and that in addition Mrs Stephenson has generously agreed to place her commodious house in Lees street, immediately opposite the Club grounds, at the disposal of the royal party. 1 ' Should the accommodation in these two resii denccs prove insufficient, Mr G. L. Denniston, whose residence adjoins that of Mrs Stephenson, will likewise gladly place his house at the disposal of our distinguished visitors. If those who3e duty it is to make suitable arrangements for the Duke and Duchess and their retinue see fit to avail themselves of the use of the Dunedin Clubhouse, it will be a somewhat curious coincidence that it was there the Duke of Edinburgh took up his abode on the occasion of his visit to Dunedin in 1869. THE COST OF THE RECEPTION. Tho Mayor yesterday despatched the following reply to the wire received by him. from tho Premier: — "Thanks for telegram with dates of the arrival and departure of their Royal Highnesses. lam sorry you die? i not reply to my further questions — viz., if I the Government,' a 9 reported in local press, . having definitely decided not to grant any, j assistance towards defraying expenses inj curred in connection with their Royal High1 nesses' visit, do not intend to pass at the ' earliest opportunity an Indemnity Bill inak- , ing legal any amount voted by local bodies I for that purpose, and are mayors authorised to frank all correspondence relating to business in connection with tfie said visit." THE NEW ZEALAND PROGRAMME. Mr John Holme 3, the Government Executive Commissioner appointed to make arrangeI ments in connection with the visit of the Duko and Duchess of Cornwall and York, has givenl the Auckland Herald particulars of tha V itinerary through New Zealand. It is ex-Zj t pected that their Royal Highnesses will arriva'" ■ 'at Auckland on the morning of Tuesday,,.^ I June 11, when an address of welcome will ba>% ! presented in the name of the citizens. A pro- j j cession through the city will follow. At Go^ j vernment House it is contemplated to ar- ! range for a gathering of school children, who j will sing the National Anthem when the royal > ■ J party roach the entrance hail. With a. view,. J however, to avoiding accidents, it will bo necessary to minimise the number of children' who will be present by selecting those who*, arc to attend from special standards. In the* evening his Excellency the Governor will give a special reception at Government House, afc which leading citizens as well as the heads of the Government and others will be present. On Wednesday, Juno 12, there will be a re* view of volunteers in the morning, and a citi-, zens' reception in the evening. On Thursday, 1 I June 13, the royal party leave for Rotorua. about 2 p.m., and on Friday, 14th, their Royal 1 } Highnesses will view the wonders of that district, On that day there will also be a reception by the Maoris, which will perhaps excel in grandeur and numbers any previous demonstration of the kind by the Natives o£ New Zealand. It is anticipated that there will be upwards of 3000 Natives present, who will 1 receive their future King and Queen in a, manner that will leave a lasting impression; in the minds of the royal visitors. After visiting some of tho wonders of the Hot Lakes ! district Auckland will be reached on the j evening of the 15th. The Ophir will arrive' at Wellington ori Monday, .Tune 17, and theiv Royal Highnes=es will land about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, receiving a presentation/ from the citizens through his Worship the Mayor of the Empire City. As has already, : been noted, only one address in each city, that from the corporation, can be received; and replied to by the Duke at the time. Others will be acknowledged and answered in the course of post. On Tuesday, June 18, there will be a review of volunteers in Wellington, the laying of tho foundation stono of the Town. Hall, and a reception at Government House in tha evening. Their Koyal Hig-hnesses are ■expected to devote Wedne3dav, June 19, tovisiting places of interest in Wellington, and on the evening of that day the Wellington 1 1 citizens' reception will take place. On Thursday, June 20, the royal party may make a

ehprt journey by rail to the country, probably to'the Wairarapa or Otaki. The royal visitors embark for Christchurch on Friday, June 21, arid arrive at Oteistchurch on Saturday, 22nd, when there will be the presentation of an address, the citizens' reception taking place in the evening. On Monday, June 24, there will be a review of volunteers in Christchurch, and on Tuesday, June 25, the royal party arrive in Dunedin. and receive an address. The reception by the citizens of Dunedin takes place on the evening of June 26, and on the evening of June 27 their Royal Highnesses take their departure from New Zealand, leaving Port Chalmers for Australia. His Excellency, together with the Premier, members of the Cabinet, members of Parliament, the consuls for the various foreign countries, the special commissioners ap pointed by the colony in connection with the visit, and other representative gentlemen, will receive the royal visitors in each city. No effort will be spared to make the reception one triumphal march from Auckland to Dunedin. In connection with the decorations in the cities, the Premier suggests that the outlying districts should be invited to make some display in the nearest city. For instance, Auckland might well invite the co-operation and assistance of Tha-mes, Waikato, Gisbcrne, and other places, each of which might be _ represented by a distinctive arch emblematical of the special products of their own districts. Wellington might invite tho assistance of Napier, Wairarapa, and Manawatu, while Ohristchurch would no doubt get Timaru, Ashburton, and other parts of Canterbury, and Dunedin would invite the co-operation of such enterprising districts as Oamaru, Balclutha, Milton, and the Taieri Plains, as well as of some of the Southland district?. By tfcis means the display in each city would be made a great provincial representation. At a meeting of the Royal Reception Committee, at which the Mayor presided, it was resolved to ask the City Council to vote towards the cost of receiving the Duke and Duchess of York not less than £1500, and that the Premier be approached with the view of getting a bill of indemnity passed when Parliament meets. It was also resolved, as the matter concerned the whole district, that all local bodies should be asked to contribute towards the reception fund. It was then resolved that the executive cpend on the royal reception a sum not exceeding £3000. ; Tho Harbour Board will probably spend about £SOO. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs that Mr T. E. Donne, superintendent of tha Tourist department, acting under instructions from the Government, has secured ! the new wing of Searl's Hotel, which is to j be reserved exclusively for the accommodation of the euite and servants of the Duke and Duchess. The royal visitors will be the guests of Lord and Lady Ranfurly. •In the hope of getting dsSnito information about the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Dunedin for the public meeting to be called next week, his Worship the Mayor telegraphed to the Premier as follows: — "As it is -essential , that 3 should convene a public meeting of citizens at the efl-r-Uest possible date to consider what steps should be taken to give «. fitting reception to the Duke and Duchess of York, Mil] -you kindly inform ,jne if cti /thing definite tas been arranged as to the date of tho •visit to' Dunedin, how long their Royal Highnesses will remain here, and the ratjjrs oi the functions that will te approved, aad&leo whether the Government propose to render any assistance?" jEis Worship has received the following Teply: — "It has been definitely arranged that their Royal Highnesses leave Christchurch for Dunedin on tbe 25th, and arrive in Dunedin the same evening. They will probably lold a reception on Ihe 26th, and leave on the evening of the 27th." His Wovshjp the Mayor has roceived the following telegram from the Deputy-mayor ©f Christcli'.vvph:-- " A public meeting directed me to forward the following resolution, and to ask your city to co-operate by urging the Government to give effect to the same resolution : 'That in the opinion of this meeting of citizens of Christchurch, called to consider what steps should be taken in connection »^jth the reception of the Duke and DufclieES of Cornwall, all expenses attending •upon puoh rsception to be borne by the concoKoated fund, and that the chairman be requested to forward a copy of such resolution Io thß Premier, and that this meeting stands adjourned pending his reply.' " Mr ChisJiolm ha* replied to the effect that the public meeting is to be convened, not for Wednesday n^xc, as eitsr^estod, because on that night there is to be a ppeeial meeting of the council and al%o of the Tramways Committee, but on Thursday of next week, to consider the wbole ouesfion, at which meeting the telegram from. Christchuroh will be read.