The Royal Visit.

Thames Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9975, 22 June 1901, Page 2

The Royal Visit.

CHRISTCHURCH EN FETE,

WEATHER SETTLED.

' CITY WELL DECORATED.

(Per Preu AModatfon.) CHRISTCHURCH, June 22. T JtL Pllr f nd her escortß reached Lyttelton early this- morning after a fiur passage. Th e sea wa/a little S + bufc heavy rain yesterday helped to allay it somewhat . Along the coast last night almost from Cape Campbell to Banks Peninsula bonfires were to be s^en, the nieht was not very clear and the effect was not as great a« it otherwise would have been. u'u

The Battenes fired a Royal salute and 4 , hf «hips of war did likewise. ■ AU the bells in Lyttelton rang a signal of the approach of the Ophir t Wh?He3s Ac Bignal Btatio" afc

»J i JL pS m the P°rt were «ady and aboutflto proceed to the HeadstJ welcome the Royal yacht, but she put in an appearance before that part of the programme could be carried out. Ihe weather cleared up by 11 10 ' and His Excellency the Governor, the Premier, and the other Ministers of the Oown were present at the land-

The May<w- of Lyttelton- and the U = of the Harbour Board were

Nearly 500 children were assembled •n the wharf, and as the Royal visitors landed, they sang the National Anthem A bouquet was presented to the Duchess by the daughter of the Chairman of the Harbour Board. The Post and Telegraph Office waa nicely decorated, and from the hijjh tower festoons of differene colored flags and ribbons reached across the streets and to the railway station. The special train left immediately after the presentations were made and reached Christchurch at noon. ' As the train ran into the station the rieJd Artillery flred a salute of 21 guns. ( /

The station presented a pleasing sight, it was one mass of greenery flowers and flags, the crowd around the platform and in the street adjoining was very large. x The procession entered Manchester street, where the first of the city arches was passed. ' This is the Shipping Arch, erected not far from Coker's Hotel, by the New Zealand Shipping Co/, the Union Co., and the Shaw Saville Company. There were two powers, one bearing a blue, and one a red ensign, each tower ten feet square at a height of thirty ?eet from the ground and supporting two flag poles, rising another 20 , feet. , From tower to tower across the street there was a. representation of a ship's bridge, and at the base of each tower a ship's boat, raised about four feet from the ground. Sailors stood there with oars, and saluted the Royal party as the procession passed, the signal being given by * captain, stationed on the bridge. - ■ Shields bearing the arms of the Duke were displayed on the bases The whole of the.masts and the bridge were decorated with - the prevailing colours, red, white, and blue. From parts of the towers were suspended anchors, coils of rope, and other symbols of shipping. The bridge "was 30 feet from the: road, and the motto of the arch was "Welcome to our Sailor Prince."

The streets of Christchurch being wide and straight presented a fine appearance with the festoons of flags, and greenery, as the proecssion pased along. At the Council Chambers His Worship the Mayor and Councillors were in attendance, where addresses were presented.

After the reply by the Duke, the procession proceeded to Victoria Square, where the foundation stone was laid of the memorial to the Canterbury soldiers who fell in the South African war.

LONDON, June 21. The Duke of York and Cornwall ;s sending Home enthusiastic cables to the King. He is immensely delighted with the reception, and impressed with the potentialities of the colonies. Much good is likely to result to the Empire._from the visit.