THE ROYAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 91, 7 May 1901, Page 3

THE ROYAL VISIT.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received 6 11.36 ».m. Melbourne, May G. ' Lord Hopetoun visited the Ophir i and welcomid the Duke and lloyal party, wto are in good hed h. " Yfsttrday Sabbatarianism received a rude shock, as thousands upon thousands paraded the principal thoroughfares, inspecting the preparations. Workmen were grafting at high pressure putting on the finishing touches. This morn : ng looking from the Treasury and Parliament House, at the • op of Collins and Bcurke streets respectively, there is a bewildering ma-s of colours, brokea at inter vals by stat ely archts. On Hobsn's Bay, the Royal yacht ; and the l.umercus war v*s c e's of Britain and other Powers fcim a f-trikirg np p-aiancp. The Dutch vessel is the . small st of the fore'gn rtp e ent Signals pvs between the different ships, atd prepiralions are made to make an effective landing of the Royal Pritce. At an eirly hour t v o popuh ce began to stream into the city, and in the matW of cumbers it is safe to predict that Melbourne will cu-stripthe Sydi ey record at the inaugural ceremonies. Noce but mounted troops will take part in the Royal pageant, which will be 2000 yards in length, and the rouie seven miles in 1 noth. The present pro.'ramme p'aces a ' division of the New Zealand troops immediately in advance of the ftoyal escort, the ba'anca forming a part of ths rear guaid. At 10.30 this morning the 0 vernorGeceral, the Litutecant-Govenoiv, and Federal S'ate Premiers visited t l e Ophir and were presented to tl e Duke, Received 6, 9.33 p.m. Melbourne, May 6, The morning brpke fine and e'ear,' and tie people set a v out joyously making mo*t of a grest cccu>;oo, It has b«na fair triil of speed between the two greit Aus'r.ih'an capitals in making the imitation of federation, a toever to-be-fi rgot'en event. The city has bet B converted into aeeenictu'umph, St. Kildp, with i's pvolty beach and esplanade, «as the spot chosen for the landing. The pier waß richly carpetf d along its leng h. A heavy haze along t v e sky line caused the line of c liven war ships to stand out i<i great distinctness. On the pier head ttond a floral canopy, snpprrfced by eigh chas'ely-designed pillars, rflieved wMi silver and gold ornamentation, and decorated with bannerettes of the Duke's cokrs, ted and blue. An inscription sutmounted the pillars bearthe words, " Welcome to Australia's Shores." hhoitly before the landing the officials passed underneath the pier and examined the s'nirtiires. On the pier h ! ;ul the attend rci was res'ricied to Fedeial State Ministers arcl a few pi ess repie>entativcs. At two o'clock i ho wni ships fired royal salutes. The torida- Hygeia flipped away from the Oph'r with the i'lus ' triou* visitors and npid'y appro.che-'d cht> pier between a, (1 tilla of gigs from the wni ships. T.o (1 Ilopeti un, accom--1 paiiied by Admi'al Beaumont and staff, ' came down tiro pier, and as the Hygna steamed ;ilon<rtide, 'lis f-ma'l party ' on the whaif cheered the 3i y-.l • co'iple. A few mirwnfs later a gaily i d(-c.'i"'t'd sang"ay n'x nui nbonrH, > and the Duke re '. wded, fol'owed by • ilie Duel e--, Lord Hops'ou;■■ receiving ■ them and ir.'n.di:;ing tl'e-ri to the Mi' inters. T!'« D :ke was dr?ssod in i .full admiral's uniform, the Duc-hes-s rVing qui* tly a't red in a plain tigt.t- - fit'ii g black coat and skirt, with b'ack tocjue trimmed with jet egrets, The

' quie l ; e'aarm of her maimer impressed , all. Her features are animated and l plemnt. The patty walked ashore to where the Poyal equipage was waiting. The tronps line! the bridge, the Maori io_.tinger.it being drawn up opposite ( the Royal carriage. As the Duke i landed a bat'eiy of Victorian Artillery fired a Royal salute. The Mayor of St. K'lda we'eomed the Duke and Duchess, who entered the carriage. Preceded by brilliantly adorned postil-lions-and outriders, and followed by two Life-guardsmen, tbe jo'.rrey citywards commenct-d in the following order: Mounted Hides, Naw South Wa'es Mounted Hides, Queeoslard Mounted Infan'ry, South Au-itia'ian Mounted We t.in Australian Mount d L.f;intry,Ta«mau : an Mounted Infnnhy, New Zealand Mounted Infan'ry, A.DO. to Governor-General, three staff carriages, "Orr'erlySerg aot of Kscrrt, advaree party of tWr Royal Highresses escort, Military Secretary, Chief (f Staff to Governor General, outrider, tt eir ]loyal Kighnosses carriige, ffju ny of necii d in command of escfi'% ilHki' commanding eacoit, and naval aud rnidtuy commandants, l'n tho r.a>- of the party was a similanr occasion to that in advance. Pa sing along Fi'zroy-s'rfiet; the cavalcade swept under t he sti iking imitat'on s'one work arch, accor.ling a welcome t) the' Royal gupsts from the miuucipal ti'es (f St. Kilda and Prabran, Oil Piincpfs bridge ihe procession was r«ce : ved at tho city end of the c'vic preh by the Mayor and aldermen in robes of office,.and presented with an nddie sof welcome. The Duke, in npljing, thanked the citizens for the very cordial welrome accorded 'o bimslf and the Duches", and expressed their pleasure in visiting the magnificint ci'y which he saw 20 years ago. Crossing Flinders-streat, Swanßtonstreet is entered, and cheering throngs lined tbe Bide walks, balconies, and tiers on tiers on stands, every window being occupied. Passing the Cathedral the first of the Governm nt arches is reached—the King's arch—gorgeously but heavily dr.ped with marcon end gold, having alcoves containing gilt statuettes of Prince Consortand the late Que-n. Collies-street was filled with a mas 3 of hntnanity, most of whom had been in portion from an early hour. The Governments' nob'e tribu'e to our dead Sov.rsign is where Collins and RuseH-st.ee'B intersect. In a ring ab va the centre of the dome u a cuvo'a shelt< rig a golden s'atue of Qiecn Victoria, with the in£ ript>on "Victoiia, Quean and Empress, she wrought ter p ople la-ting good, God gave her pe ice, etc.'' Up to the Treasw y buildings th<. route was brilliant with red and yellow bmnrrdltes. Along Spring s'reet to Parliament llouee the decorations were almost eotirely fl ral. The return journey to Government commerced by way of Bourkeatreet. The first archway passed was that erectd by the ritizecs, the two p : ers I be ingsur mounted with burnished copper | cupulas with an inscriptin of welcome.' Under the Duke's arch, one of the O.iental des'gns, elaborately gilded, surinounted with a model cruiser under s'eam, the precession pssed on to' the section devo'ed to New Zealand where ven.tian masts supported the Maoriland cca* of arms. From El ; z ibeth ttreet to-King street stretched the) aveßue where Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Belgium, and other nations disported their r. sp ctive coats of arms and nation il colours. Entering Collins s reet again a striking feature is the German bu.t.r arch. The Chines. tre.ted a pigodajikestruc'ure in Litt'e Bouike stieet. Ete ing n str.et the procession repressed Prinre's btidgennd entered Govarnm nt Housp, thus ending the most enthus r astii. reception ever witness d in Aus'.ral'a. Tbe fine ptiys'que of tho N9W Zeahnd troops attract d much a'tention. The proc ssion was vi-wed by ov<r half-a-million p op'e. No acci 'ents wi re re ported