RECEPTION OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

Southland Times, Issue 745, 4 November 1867, Page 3

RECEPTION OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

(From the Argus, October 26.) At a meeting of the Royal Reception j Commission, held yesterday, in the Executive Council Chamber, several details of the programme of the intended denonstrations on the arrival of His lioyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh vere considered and dealt with, as well as on that of the entertainments proposed to be provided for the occasiou. The arrangements are nor nearly settled, and the publication of the whole may be looked for in a complete form in the course of a few days. , With regard to the subsidies to the township of Geelong, and to the boroughs of Ballarat, East and West, Castlemaine, and Sandhurst, it was determined that the contributions of these several municipalities should be supplemented to the extent of £h for i every £1 subscribed and expended, on [ the conditions already stated, instead of to that of £1 to every £2, as formerly resolved upon. Subsidies of £100 each were also passed to the boroughs of Emerald-hill, Sandridge, and Williamstown, on the same conditions as those to the country boroughs. It was arranged that the Sandridge address should be presented to His Royal Highness at that point of the railway pier near which the Royal carriages will 1)6 stationed. The necessary provision for the' control and safety of the large crowd of persons who may be expected to gather on this spot has been attended to, and now only awaits the approval of the military authorities. The commission have decided to accord their patronage to the Melbourne Philharmonic Society for one grand concert, at which the Priuce will be asked to be present. While giving precedence to this society, a desire was expressed by the commission that, in so far as would be compatible with its position, the society should act in unison with the Victorian Musical Institution, | in producing a really grand musical entertainment. The secretary was author- \ ised to ask Captain Scott to undertake ! the marshalling of the procession froai I Sandridge and through the streets of the city. With regard to the preparations for the illuminations, they are all in an advanced state, the contractors being actively engaged in carrying out the works. The only two important public buildings which remain to be dealt with are the Parliament-houses and the Treasury, and the contracts for these will be let in the course of to-day or Monday. The committee of the corporation, have | awarded the prize for the best design for the decoration of Prince's bridge ■to Mr Ealph Wilson, whose plans, with some modifications, will be carried out by the civic authorities, The great hall, the rotunda,' and the other apartments of the Exhibition-building in the hands of the Eoyal Commission have undergone a thorough repair, and are now ready for thejupholsterer and decorator to commence their labors. A suggestion has been made amongst the promoters of the free banquet, that the feast, instead of being held in the Eastern Market, should take the form of a monster picnic, to be held in one of our parks. At present the idea only j exists in the form of a proposition, which still awaits consideration and discussion. The grand stand to be erected by Mr J. Calder on the piece of vacant ground he has leased at the corner of Collins and Spring streets is likely to prove a great convenience to those desirous of obtaining a good view of the oflicial reception of the Prince in front of the Treasury. The area to be covered is about 140 square yards, and the erection will rise from six feet in the front to over thirty feet at the rear, so that all the occupants lean have an "uninterrupted view. The plans have been submitted to and approved of by the building surveyor of the corporation, so that every guarantee ia offered aB to security ana safety. The platform is &rrt«§s4 &t* twQ dro&ioas* namely dress-

circle and reserved seats, and the number that can be accommodated is about 3000 The structure will be suitably decorated with flags, evergreens, &c, and, to prevent confusion, wide approaches and passages have been provided. Waiting-rooms, with attendants, will be at the disposal of ladies who patronise the dress-circle. The total cost will be about £1000. The Sandhurst people having decided in favor of a burgesses' pic-nic, on the Camp Eeserve, in preference to a public banquet, the proposal is receiving an extensive support, and contributions are flowing in most liberally. The mayor of Sandhurst has received a communication from Ballarat, suggesting that delegates from each of the up-country boroughs to be subsided by the Royal Commission should proceed to Melbourne, to ascertaia *?*%*s, s^ws"? places jt* •> ue colony, in order that they might make their arrangements, and requesting the co-operation of the Sandhurst borough. At the same time, it is intended that the deputation shall endeavor to obtain more liberal conditions in the granting of the subsidy by the Royal Commission. "That the Duke of Edinburgh will not be here in time to start the Woollen I Cloth Factory on the banks of the B irwon is now," says the Geelong Adver- ! User, " tolerably certain ; the company, I however, should do something to keep the first woollen cloth company ever established in Victoria in his remembrance and we suggest the first tweed made be converted into a shooting suit for His Royal Highness."