THE WELLINGTON FUNCTIONS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11702, 19 June 1901, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON FUNCTIONS.

LAYING A FOUNDATION STONE.

I PEtt PBBBS ASSOCIATION.!

- Wellington, June 18. — In the afternoon their Royal Highnesses drove from Government House to lay the foundation stone of the Town Hall in Lower Cuba- 1 street. The route was again thronged with people. At the site thousands of people were accommodated on public and private stands, and all contiguous streets were crammed. On the platform were the Admiral, members of the Ministry, Councillors, Judges, members of Parliament, Consuls, and other notabilities, with many ladies. The Royal Party were received with the National Anthem and a volley of cheers. An ode specially written for the occasion was sung by the choir, the Garrison Band supplying the instrumental music. The Mayor, who, with the Councillors and acting Town Clerk had been formally presented, then 3tepped forward and invited the Duke to lay the stone. Mr Aitken said he duly appreciated the sacrifice made by the Sovereign in allowing them to come so far. He need not dwell on the loyalty of New Zealand, as he felt we were part of the Great Empire, and ware as much attached to the Mother Country as if living there ourselves. Up to now there had beea no Town Hall, but "us tbe^town had developed through various stages from a village to a city of considerable dimensions, he thought the time had arrived to change things, and they seized the opportunity afforded by the Duke's presence to ask him to do them this great honour.

The Duke was' then presented with a , trowel of greenstone and gold with a silver blade, a mallet of New Zealand Woods with a gold inscribed plate, and a level of gold with greenstone pendent. After going through tho forms pres1 cribed-on such occasions the Duke said " I declare this stone well and truly laid." The Duke then delivered a brief address ! in which he made 1 reference to the coincidence that the difficult task of arranging dates for so long a voyage should Jjave brought them to Wellington on the Anniversary of Waterloo. He was glad in this way, the new hall would be spec ially associated with tha 'great Duke's memory, and with the glorious victory, that was the corner, stone of his great career. The Dnchess' artd he would always remember the splendid reception given them in -Wellington. • .... The. Duke's speech was received with grea< applause, ' and afcer fhe Rev; Mr Patterson^ .had offered up a prayer the function ended. ' " ' ' ' " ' ' After'iayin^ the Town Hall Joundatiori. stjne. their Royal Highnesses visited, the fete \r« aid of, the . Home .for Iricurabl63. They remained for 'about minutes", and after partaking of afternoon tea made numerous purchases. The. Duchess was presented with a botfquet, and appeared very pleased with the^pro- 1 ceedings. " .< \

LUNCHEON- TO VETERiNS. \ l ■ The luncheon .^jgiven' ' by" the Government to the veterans ~ and returned, contingenters was a magnificent success^, over. 800 being present, including the Premier, Sir J. G..Ward, K.C.M.G, .the" Hons. W. C. Walker, C.M.G.j Mills, Colonel Pole Penton, Lieut-Colonial Newall, and officers of the returned oonti. gents, including iKEajor Haddock and Captain Chaytor. Sir Donald Wallace, and other members of the Duke's suite were also present, and among the veterans were men wea, tig tecorations for pro- , bably every war Britain 7 has been engaged in for the past half century.- Most of them were' hale and' hearty despite their years. The returned South African Contingents received a great ovation on entering the hall. , The Premier proposed ~^the "onljjr toasts,receiving a. storm of applause in proposing "The King." He said it was a great proof of the love her late. Majesty had for the colonies and the'unselfishness of King Edward in carrying out the late Queen's wish that the Duke should visit the colonies.; ' In proposing the toast of "The Duke and Duchess ." Mr Seddon said he Was commanded to apologise for their absence from the function on the ground that they ,w,ere absorbed with a number of other duties/ and to state thathis Highness appreciated highly the' work 'that the veterans and South African Contingen.ta had" done ~fpr the Empire. In proposing the he'ajj^pf. the Governor, tho Premier said he had also been commanded to apologisefor his Abaende. . He said &t yfas due to Loid ltanfurly to state that he had sought out the veterans and wished to do them honour. - The colony- had been singularly in' the representatives her lateJ nJlajesty feent opt, . but in none more so"! i than the present OoVernorj who'had grave' cast' upon him,- but who, as far as possible," carried bat his duties I in a manner rto meet the" wishes^ of the people. ," The Veterans and' : Beturued j Contingents'*" .was also 'proposed by the. j Premier, who ' said the' behaviour and | achievements of the New Zealand Con; , tingents in houth Africa had called forth ' the commendation of the greatest British ' General, Lord 'Roberts. He believed if an emergency again" arose,- their services^ would be available. The proceedings closed with the National Anthem.