THE ROYAL TOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 7 May 1901, Page 3

THE ROYAL TOUR.

I&Sted Press Association—Per Electric Telegraph—CopyrigS^. LANDING OF THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES. TTTFI PROCESSION IN THE STREETS OF "M K) /BOußNiii.

Received 7.33 p.m., Ma/ 6th.' 'MELBOURNE, May 6. Melbourne eti a Sunday is, as a rule, the quietest city in Australia, but yesterday Sabbatarianism received a rude shock. Thousands upon thousands invaded the city from all quarters, and paraded the principal thoroughfares inspecting- the preparations for the reception ef the Duke of York.

In every direction the sound of the decorator's hammer could be heard. Workmen ware busy at high pressure putting on the finishing touches. This morning the city presents a magnificent spectacle. Looking from the Treasury and Parliament Sense at the top .of Collins and Bourke streets respectively, a vista of an imposingly beautiful and bewildering mass of eokrars, broken at intervals by stately arches, greets the eye. The movement of innumerable varicoloured pennants in the gentle morning breeze gives a kaliedoscopie character to the picture. On Hbbson's Bay, too, there is evidence tbat the day is one of unusual interest. The Royal yacht, with her warlike escorts: and the numerous war-vessels of Britain and the other Powers, form a striking spectacle. The huge form of the Russian battleship Groiaohoi, bristling with, guns, is really a formidable object, together with the fine specimen of naval architecture sent by America to honour" the yonng'hation, dwarfs the British, vessels "which lie" lower in the water. The Dutch. vessel- is the smallest of the foreign representatives. Signals pass between different ships and preparations are made to make an effective Tanking of the Royal Prince.

At an early hour the populacd began to stream into the city. Admirable as the Victorian suburban rail and tram system is, iij will be taxed to the utmost to day. In the matter of numbers, it is safe to predict that Melbourns will outstrip tie Sydney record at the inaugural ceremonies. Every precaution has been taken against i accident. Despite the wide streets, the authorities deemed it wise to place bur- ! to keep the public. from encroaching on the route the procession takes, aud none but mounted troops will take part m the Royal pageant, which will be 2000 yards in length, and the route will be seven miles 5n length. Lord Hopetonn visited the Ophir and welcomed the Duke of York and the Royal party, who are in good health. The present programme places one division of tiie New Zealand troops immediately in advance of the Royal escort, the balance of the men forming part of the rearguard. At 10.30 this\morning the Uovernr-r-General, the Lieutenant-Governor, and the Federal State Premiers visited the Ophir, adi were presented to the Duke. The weather prophets having succeeded during the past few days in making Melboumians a miserable people with their doleful predictions of bad weather for the landing of the Duke and Duchess of York, turned out to be a set of false prophets. When the morning broke fine and clear, the heart of the people gave a sigh of relief, and set about joyfully to make the most of the great occasion. The splendid carnival, so anxiously looked forward to and so ardently prepared for, commenced under the most auspicious circumstances. The result has been a fair trial of speed between the two great Australian capitals to make the initiation of Federation a never to be fbrgott-en event in their history. " Get a good make up, and the part plays itself" is an axiom which was also not forgotten. The city is converted into a scenic triumph. The "Mise en Scene" is complete. The plaudits of the multitude testify to the brilliant success. St. Kilda with its pretty beach and esplanade was ■tie spot chosen for landing. The pier was richly carpeted along its length. The view from the pier disclosed a fine naval spectacle. The sun shone brightly, the sea was smooth and sparkling in the sunlight. A heavy haze along the sky-line caused the line of eleven warships to stand out with great distinctness. On the pier head stood a floral canopy supported by

eight chastely designed pillars, relieved with silver and gold ornamentation, and decorated with bannerettes of the Duke's colours, red and blue. An inscription surmounted the pillars bearing the words " Welcome to Australia's shores." The greatest precautions were taken by the authorities. Shortly before the landing was effected, officials passed underneath {lie pier and examined the structure. On St. Ki'da, pier-head the attendance was absolutely restricted to the Federal State Ministers, one representative of each leading journal, and the representative of the New Zealand Press Association. Just on 2 o'clock the warships opened fixe in Royal saiutes, the Russian was the only vessel using smokeless powder. Amid the heavy booming of the guns and the rolling smokfe-cloud, the tender Hygeia, with the Royal standard at her masthead, slipped away from the Ophir with the illustrious visitors, and rapidly approached the pier between a flotilla oft gigs from the warships. As the Royal salute on the waxships commenced, Lord fiiopetoun, accompanied by Admiral Beaumont and his staff, came down the pier. As the Hygeia steamed alongside, the small party on the wharf cheered the Royal couple. A few moments later a gaily decorated gangway was run on board. The Duke descended followed by the Duchess, 'Lord Hopetoun receiving them, and introducing them to the Ministers. The Duke was dressed in a full Admiral's uniform. The Duchess was quietly attired in a plain tight-fitting black coat and skirt, with a black toque trimmed with jet egrets. The quiet chaxm of her manner impressed all. Her photo-, graphs do not do her justice. Her features are animated and pleasant. The Duke's bonhommie will make him popular

in the colonies. The party walked ashore to the''spot where the Royal equippage was waiting. Troops lined the bridge, the Maori 'Contingent being drawn up opposite the Royal " carriage. As they landed, a battery of Victorian Artillery fired a Royal salute.' The Mayor of St. Kilda welcomed the Duke arid- -Duchess, who entered the carriage, l ■ preceded 'by brilliantly adorned postillions and outriders, and followed by two -"Lifeguards. ' The journey citywards commenced in -the following order:—Assistant' Quartermaster-General of the Victorian Mounted Rifles* New South Wales Mounted "Rifles, Queensland Mounted Infantry," South Australian Mounted Rifles, Western Australian Mounted Infantry, Tas--manian "Mounted Infantry, New -Zealand Mounted Infantry, A.D.C. to the GovernorGeneral, an orderiy outrider, three staff carriages, the orderly sergeant of the es.cort, the ! advance . party of their Royal Highnesses' escort, the military secretary, the..Chief 1 of l the Staff to the GovernorGeneral,'outrider to ; their Royal Highnesses' carriage, the equerry, the second in command of the escort, the officer commanding the escort, the naval and military * commandants, the rear party of their Royal '■ Highnesses' escort, A.D.C. to the Commandants, the headquarters staff officers of all the States, a battery of New South Wales field artillery, a battery of Victorian field artillery, the New South Wales Lancers, the Australian Horse, the New South Wales Mounted Rifles, the Queensland Mounted Infantry, the South Australian Mounted Rifles, the Western Australian Mounted Infantry, the Tasmanian Mounted Infantry, the New Zealand' Mounted Infantry, the Victorian Mounted' Rifles. Passing along Fitzroy street, the cavalcade swept under a striking arch, according a welcome to the Royal guests from the municipalities of St. Kilda and Prahran. The graceful structure in classic style was 135 feet wide and 40 feet high, in imitation stone-work finely decorated with evergreens. It gave the visitors a foretaste of greater things to come. On the first part of the route the Duke's colours prevailed. At Government House gates an open triangular space was finely decorated with the Duke's colours. Moving on between rows of draped Venetian masts and lines of colonial infantry the party reached the city gateway on Prince's Bridge, approaching the archway through a beautiful peristyle. The procession was received at the city end of the civio arch by the Mayors and aldermen in their robes of office, who presented an address of welcome. The Duke, in replying, thanked the citizens for the Tery cordial welcome accorded to himself and Her Royal Highness the Duchess. His Royal Highness expressed his pleasure at revisiting the magnificent city which he saw twenty years ago.

The civic arch occupied a position near the centre of the bridge, thei approach to the city end being through a colonnade of pure white pillars, •with gilded braziers on the jrnmmrf. of each column. The whole scheme an the bridge and surroundings ; was something! for Melbourne to b9 proud of. The hitherto unpicturegque environments of the bridge on the St. Kilda side ■were converted into a beautiful garden and promenades. The first glimpse of the ; arch was strongly remniscent of the Marble Arch at Hyde Park Corner. The keystone of the arch took the form of an ancient barge with sweeps indicating the 1 States in union. The inscriptions were—- " The Wattle greets the Rose of York, and ■ the City hails her Monarch's Son." Crossing Flinders street, Swanstan : street was j entered amid dense cheering by the throngs of people who lined the sidewalks, balconies, tiers on tiers of stands, and lio j window, where a view of the stirring scene could be obtained, was without an occu- j pant. The streets were lined with vene- ; tian masts, somewhat garishly painted, ] the artistic sense which catered for Sydney ; being deplorably absent. In some of these street decorations the primary colours were in evidence while the quiet aesthetic colour i tones were almost if not altogether absent. Passing - the cathedral, the first of the Government arches was passed, the King's arch, gorgeously, if somewhat heavily, draped with maroon picked out in gold, the alcoves containing gilt statuettes of the Prince Consort" and : the late Queen. ! Turning into Collins street a marvellous spectacle burst into view, humanity cramming eveiy inch of space between the high buildings on either hand, and the space was kept clear by the military for the great procession. Large numbers of these sightseers had been in position from the early hours. As in Sydney, however, a large amount of seating accommodation, had been provided and) diminished the tension. In. the streets on the crown of Collins street, where it> is bisected by Russell street, was the Government's noble tribute ,jto .our dead Sovereign.,,. corners sprung archways crossing each other diagonally, and forming a huge dome- : shaped figure beautifully decorated. In the ring above the centre of this dome was a cupola sheltering a golden statue of Queen Victoria. The figure was 8 feet 6 inches' in height, and the inscription —"Victoria, Queen and Empress; she wrought her people lasting good; God gave her peace her land -reposed; beloved by all nations, her court was pure, her life serene." Up to the Treasury Buildings the route was brilliant with red" and yellow ban-nerettes.-Along Spring street to ParliamentrHouse the decorations were almost entirely floral in character. . The steps of Parliament House were reserved for distinguished personages to view the process sion.. They presented an imposing appearance. The stands on; the * opposite side and the large ; stand flanking the statue of General Gordon were a mass <Jf people, cheering frantically. The return journey to Government House was commenced by way ,of Bourke street, devoted to States representatives, emblems hanging from Venetian masts, the prevailing colours being a combination of Ted, white and blue, blue and gold, red, blue, yellow and red. The first archway passed was that erected by the citizens. Two piers were surmounted by burnished copper cupolas, which glistened like balls of fire in the sunlight, the connecting span bearing an inscription "The citizens welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York." The scene in looking down Bourke street on the pageant was magnificent. Festoons of colour were moving in the breeze; the quivering pennons and the sunlight flashes oa the lances ofi the fine troop of New South Wales Lancers, gave wonderful movement to the picture. Under the Duke's arch one of the oriental designs, elaborately gilded, was surmounted with a model cruiser under steam'. The procession passed through the section devoted to New Zealand. . Venetian masts supported Maoriland's coat of arms, and the Duke's colours were , the prevailing tints. From Elizabeth street to King street stretched the avenue of nations —Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium,

and other nations disported their respective coats of arms and national colours. Entering Collins street again a striking feature was the German arch; the German residents' testimony and appreciation of their adopted country. Industry finds expression in the butter arch, and a particularly graceful column surmounted with a figure of Atlas supporting the World.. The Chinese erected a pagoda-like structure in Little Bourke street. Entering Swanston street the procession re-crossed Princes Bridge, and entered Government House, . thus ending the most enthusiastic reception ever witnessed in Australia. The fine physique of the New Zealand troops attracted much attention at the various points of the route. Over half a million people viewed the procession. No serious accidents ar<4 yet reported. Colonel Chippendale, of Western Australia, was thrown and injured his head. The organisation of the whole affpir was splendid. . The traffic was controlled by the police in an admirable manner. The streets are packed to-hight to witness the illuminations. In this Tesnect the Queen City of the South' is not equal to Sydney. In the latter city the streets were festooned from side to side with electric lamps, giving the thoroughfares the appearance of avenues of light. This is not possible here, owing to the scarcity of electric plants. The streets, therefore, are dark except where there is light by mural illumination. Some of the banking institutions, notably the Bank of Australasia and Union Bank, are splendidly lit up with clever designs. Parliament House is brilliantly outlined with incandescent lamps, causing the material of which the buildings are constructed to become of an opalescent character. The buildings are surmounted by an inscription—" God bless our Commonwealth." The exhibition is similarly outlined, the hnge dome and extensive facade enabling a most effective illumination to be carried out. The Post Office is very striking. The lower structure is outlined in red and the tower is picked out in white lights. The huge dome of the Law Courts is a glowing mass of red and white lamps. The Treasury is tastefully picked out in parti-coloured lights, and the motto —" Hail to our future King and Queen." The greatest triumph, however, is Princes Bridge, which is flanked at the city end by two high towers glowing beautifully in blended coloured lights on the principle of the spectrum band. On the summit* of the columns running along the bridge are huge braziers from which coloured fires throw a radiance over a wide area. The offices oS the "Argus" and " Age" had finely designed illuminations. Probably the illuminations will be in a more complete state in a day or so. The Governor-General entertains Royalty at a select dinner party to-night. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 6. It is definitely decided that the official reception of the Royal party in Wellington will take place opposite the band! rotunda, Jervois Quay. . A stand, to accommodate 400 people, is to be erected there by the Government. The party will probably land at Queen's Wharf in the Ophir's barge. There is to be no alteration in the route originally decided upon.