ARRANGEMENTS IN DUNEDIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 71

ARRANGEMENTS IN DUNEDIN.

Mr T. E. Donne, superintendent of Government tourist and health resorts and secretary for industries and commerce, who has in hand the making of all arrangements for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, apart from their public receptions, has been in Dunedin for the past two days, and with characteristic energy has completed various essential matters in connection with the visit of their Royal Highnesses. He has accepted the offer of the manager of the Fernhill Club, and the royal couple will stay ' there during their visit to Dunedin. He ha 3 also accepted the offer of Mrs J. Stephenson's residence, near the Ciub House, to accommodate those members of the suite -who cannot find room in the Fernhill Club. The houses of Messrs J. K. Sinclair and G. L. Denniston are also under offer, and will be utilised if required. The houses of Mr John Roberts and Mr George Roberts at Littlebourne were also under offer, but it was found that these commodious residences could not accommodate «H the members of the staff. Arrangements liavc been made with Messrs Scoullar and Chisholm for renovating and refurnishing the (Fernhill Club, and the work will be put in hand at once. Mr Donne has also secured a carriage and the necessary horses for their 'Koyal Highnesses from Mr Bacon, and has aLo engaged a dozen carnages for members of the suite, Messrs Bacon and Jeffs furnishing four each, Mr Gough two. and Mr fXValdren one. Mr Donne is completing \-arious ether matters in connection with the royal visit. We learn from Mr Donne thai, v.ith the exception of Christchurch, all his arrangements in connection with tlie royal -visit are nearly completed. At Auckland he has •secured the Grand Hotel, in conjunction •with Government House, for the -use of the party. At Rotorua the Grand Hotel and another large house hive been secured. In connection wi(h the visit to Rotorua, it may fee mentioned that their Royal Higlmeiseß

will drive from Rocorua to Wpiotapu, where the}' v, ill parwiko of luncheon at F-smona'^ Hotel. Attcr inspecting tho \anous sigl-ts, the party will dri\ o back ro Rolorua the same e\enuig.

Mr Donne on Wednr-day recphed the foi lowing telegram from the Hon. J. G. Ward : "Re date of arrival of royal party at Dimedin. it is piobablc that it vili be on the 25th. The 2bth was stated by his Excellency on the assumption that they wcro goaig by sea from Christchurch on the afternoon ot the 25th, in which ca&c they would havo arrived at Port Chalmers on the morning of the 26th, but it is very probable they will go by special tiain from Cbristchureh on the morning of the 25th, m which c?se they will arrive in Dunedin the Fame evening." Mr John Holmes, the Government Executive Commissioner, telegraphed to his Wor ship the Mayor on Wednesday asking that he should be informed by telegraph of the num•ber of arches and other decorations it was proposed to erect, also the line of route for the procession of the royal \mtois. Hit Worship replied as follows.- — ''Utterly imposjible to comply with your request. Committee here proceeding energetically and methodically to work with the full deteimination to have all arrangements completed as soon as po-sible. As shrewd business men, however, they recognise that to suitably arch asji decorate our city means an expenditure of a considerable sum of money, and that full consideiation of the matter is necessary before finally determining the number of arches or extent of decorations. Rest assured that decisions of committee on points referred to in your telegram will be forwarded at the earliest possible moment."

Yesterday his Worship the Mayor telegraphed to the Right Hoi» the Premier a? follows: — "Your telegram to me of the 19th March re the royal vwit was explicit. It reads: 'It has been definitely arranged that iheir Royal Highnesses leave Chribtclum-h for Dunedin on the 25th June, and arrive in Dunedin the fame evening ' I took this to m'-an clearly that they were coming by train. The secretary of the Harbour Board informs me this morning that he was waited upon by Mr who informed him that their Royai Highnesses were coming to Port Chalmers by etearner. As all the committees are setting to work energetically, you can readily understand that it is of the utmost importance that there should be no misunderstanding on this point, as their airival by train or steamer must determine the nature of the arrangements in connection with the reception on their arrival I will therefore be pleased to hear if my reading of your telegram is correct."

The reply sent by the Hon. Mr Seddon ia as under .-—"The present position is that their Royal Highnesses have been recommended to go by train from Christchurch to Dunedin. In one communication it was mentioned that the royal visitors would go by steamer from Lyttelton to Port Chalmers ; but this was prior to the programme being sent to hii Excellency the Governor. The present arrangement is -to leave Port Chalmers on the 27th. not to arrive there. Of course, we must be prepared for pny contingency, but I am of opinion that in the meantime your arrangements should be made on the lines as recommended, by Minister and approved by his Excellency.- — R. J Seddon."

A conference took place on Thursday between the executive of the Dunedin and Suburban Schools' Conference and the superintendent of railways (Mr Gaw). when the latter made it clear..- that the exigencies of the Railway department would be of such n nature during the royal visit a3 to leave the department no option but to insist, if the proposed children's demonstration is to be a provincial affair, on the bulk of the children being railed to Dunedin on Saturday, June 22, and Monday, June 24, and to be conveyed back to their homes on Thursday, the 27th. It is considered impossible, therefore, for the country children to take ipart in the demonstration if it has to be held on the afternoon of the 27th

Mt T. E. Donne, superintendent of Government tourist and health resorts, who is making arrangements in connection with the visit of the royal couple to the various centres, left for Inyercargiil yesterday, but the nature of his mission is not known. In giving particulars of those from whom carriages had been secured for the royal %isit to Dunedin, Mr Donne inadvertently mistook that ,of Mr John Gore, who supplies three carriages, for another name. The PremieT has promi-ed to send Mr Holmes, the organising commissioner, on a tour of the various districts of the southern half of the *Cbrth Island, with the object of inducing them to make special decorations in Wellington for the royal visit

Tne Royal Route Committee will recommend at the meeting of the executive on Wednesday night that the route to be followed on the occasion of the drive of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York through the city bo the foliating : — From Fernhill Club via Manor place, Princei street, the Octagon, George street, Frederick street, Great King street (past the hospital), Hanover street, George street, Princes street, and Manor place, back to Fernhill. At a meeting of the Illumination and Arch Committee on Thursday evening amongst other matters decided on, it was resolved, if the route of the royal procession recommended by the Route Committee is adopted, to suggest that the Go\ eminent Arch be erected in the Octagon, provision to be made in the erection thereof for leaving the road and pathways open for traffic to the full width. "With a view to making thp reception of the loyal \i«utors a provincial one it was resolved to request the co-opera-tion of Oamaru and Invprcareill in the erection of two arches, to be placed in prominent positions on the route of processior. The committee, being of opinion that an effective bonfire display can be made on the many heights around tbe c.ty and suburbs, resolved to ask the \arious local authorities to arrange for bonfires to be lit on the night of the general illum.iua.tion of the city.