A QUIET DAY AT WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 28

A QUIET DAY AT WELLINGTON.

WELLINGTON, June 20

Their Royal Highnesses Hie Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York were supposed to be resting to-day, but, all the same, they managed to crowd a good deal into the daily routine. Owing to the long &pell of wet weather, the railway trip to the Wairarapa district was wisely abandoned and a trip to Petone planned in its stead. Their Royal Highnesses made a tour of inspection of the Wellington Woollen Company's mills, the Gear Company's works, and the railway workshops. The visit was not made in state, and the party was confined to a few besides the suite. There were included: — His Excellency the Governor, the Premier, the Minister of Railways (Sir J. G. Ward), the Hon. C. H. Mills (Minister of Customs), Mr T. Wilford (M.H.R. for Wellington Suburbs), Mr T. E. Donne (tourist commissioner), and M' 1 T. Ronayne (general manager of railways). The Thorndon railway station had been very prettily decorated, and a large crowd had gathered to see the royal party take their departure. The engine of the royal train, too, had been appropriately adorned, on the front being the Prince of Wales's feathers. Before leaving the woollen factory his Royal Highness expressed the pleasure with which the Duchess and hira.«el{ had witnessed the interesting processes carried on in the mill, which, it would appear, is the first his Royal Highness has seen.

Her Royal Highness was presented by the chairman of directors with a handsome travelling rug, specially made at the mill and with her arms worked upon it — a gift with which she seemed pleased. As the royal party left the building, Miß3 Annie Taylor, tha youngest girl employed in the mill, presented her Royal Highness, on behalf of the employees, with a beautiful bouquet of white flowers. Amid a renewed outburst of cheering the royal party drove through the streets to the Gear Company's works. The 'inhabitants of the towni had turned out in large numbers to see their distinguished visitoro, aud gave them a hearty welcome. They wf>re conducted over the works by Mr W. H. Melward, secretary of the Gear Company, and not only went through the freezing chambers, but tasted the preserved meat which is manufactured at the works. The cn~ployees also assembled and gave them three hearty cheer 3.

At the railway workshops the hands were drawn up at the entrance, and ga\e the royal visitors a hearty welcome. Mr Gibson, foreman of the works, was presented- to their Royal Highnesses, who then inspected the complicated machinery with great interest. Sergeant E. Neale, who has recently returned from South Africa, where he served with the New Zealand contingents, was also presented to their Royal Highnesses. Sergeant Ncale is a nephew of Mr Peterkin, and formerly was a trooper in the 17th Lancers. While in South Africa he did some campaigning with one of the Princes of Teek, a brother of her Royal Highness, to whom, at a time of great danger, he was of great service.

In the afternoon t?>ere was an aquatic carnival, a feature of which was a submarine explosion on a somewhat large scale.

The Duchess drove out to the Wellington Hospital in company with the Countess of Raufurly and two members oi the suite, and th.2 Duke visited the Ohiro Bene\olent Home.

THE THIRD STATE DINNER

Hio Excellency the Governor and the Countess of Ranfuriy ga\e a dinner at Government House this evening, to which the follow m^ had the honour of being invited to meet their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York : — His Seiene Highness Prince Alexander of Teek, Lord Wonlock, Commodore Winsloe. Major the Hon. Derek Keppel, the Hon. Mrs Derek Keppel, Canon Dalton, Sir Arthur Bigge, Commander Wemyss, Lady Mary Lygon, Lady Katheraie Coke, Mr Sydney Ball, Sir R. and Lady Stout. Dr Wallis (Bishop of, Wellington). Mrs Wallis, the Hon. Captain Russell and Mrs Russell. Sir Arthur and Lady Douglass and Miss Douglass, Mrs Collins, his Worship the Mayor of Wellington. Mrs Newman, Miss Balfour. Miss Richmond, and Captain Alexander.

VIEWS OF NEW ZEALAND.

After dinner Mr Malcolm Ross had the honour of showing and explaining to their Royal Highnesses and the house party a fins collection of view, of New Zealand «cenery, more particularly of scenes in the Southern Alps and the" volcanic belt. A number of views teoured during the recent ;>nnexatioii cruise of PF.M.S. Mildura in the Pacilic Tplaiicls were ai^o 'liuim by means of I'ie optical lantern. Their Rovpl Highnesses were keenly interesced in the views, many of which wpie of a countiy which the lecturer had explored for the first time. Afterwards Mr Ross bad the honour of being presented to the Duke and Duchess, who. during a convei«sation about New Zealand •-copery and other matters, thanked him cordially for affordina them such ft tieat.