THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 255, 8 March 1869, Page 3

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH IN VICTORIA.

(Abridged from the Argus.") The second visit of Prince Alfred to Victoria began on Monday, Feb. 22. The Prince's landing was a scene not easily to be forgotten. His galley, which was under sail, came up to the inner stage of the pier end on, but there was scarcely a soul near to take a rope's end. One of the sailors threw out a bight of the main sheet, which was seized by Captain Doran, assistant harbourmaster. Willi this very slight hold, he tried to stop the way of the boat, but in vain, and falling, wrenched his knee painfully. At last, with the aid of Mr Joyce, mail agent, and Mr J. C. Harrison, of the General Post-office, the boat was brought to the steps, and the Prince and his suite — the Hon. Eliot Ybrke and Lieutenant Haig — leaped 'ashore. As they did so, the swiftest of those who had run from the railway pier came panting up with scarce a breath to cheer with as they waved their hats. They soon found their voices, however, and the air rang with hurrahs. The Prince, who was in undress uniform, looked brown and well, and seemed somewhat thinner in the face as he smiled kindly on the excited people near him. In six seconds he was surrounded by a throng of a couple of hundred people, and with no one to keep off the press but his suite, Captain Standish, '•and Mr Inspector Kabat. His greeting to Captain Standish was of the briefest, for the aspect of < affairs was not pleasant. The people round thickened fast, and though shouting witli all their might, " God bless the Duke," " We're glad to see your Royal Highness back again." " Don't be afraid of us," and such like cries of welcome ; yet the Royal visitor might have been severely crushed as he moved towards the shore. The Priuce bore his hustling manfully. It must be understood that there was absolutely no prnparation made for the reception of the Royal party, who scarcely knew which way to turn. Upon this, with characteristic adroitness and promptitude, Captain Standish took his course. He dashed forward to bis mounted men, dismounted, and giving his horse to one trooper, told the others to keep clear the way to Scott'd Royal Hotel, at the top of the jetty. He then got back to the Prince, and after much pushing— for the crowd had increased fifty-fold — the hitter and his suite managed to get safely into the hotel,' amidst a tremendous uproar of cheers. By this time the foot police had come up, and Sergeant Summerhayes, aided by men of nearly equal bulk and power, soon cleared a space round tbe hotel door, dissipating at once the danger that had arisen so oddly. A telegram was immediately despatched to Toorak, and it was replied that the Governor would come down in a carriage for the Prince directly. Meantime, tbe crowd had got ashamed of pushing round so close, but, nevertheless, as the news of the Prince's predicament spread, people and vehicles flocked in from far and wide. Since the day of the Prince's landing, over a year before, Bay street had seen no such sight. At just before seven o'clock, after some weary waiting, the Governor's carriage was seen coming in the distance. It was a neat turn-out, with four horses and outriders. Within sat his Excellency, who was heartily applauded, and Mr Manners Sutton, his private secretary. His Excellency quickly' found his way to the apartment where the Prince was, and in a few moments the cortege started for Toorak. The Prince, the Governor, and Mr Yorke occupied the first carriage, and the rest of the suite the second. They were escorted by Mr Superintendent Hare, and his troopers, and all went at a gallop, greeted as they swept past by men and boys cheering and throwing up their hats, and by women waving their handkerchiefs, and followed by a score or so of cabs. It was almost the same thing, except where there were no houses, as they drove through Emerald-hill and along the Three Chain road to the Gardiner's Creek road, through South Yarra and Prahran, and so on to the Governor* residence at Toorak. Our HOyal visitor had a pretty quiet time of it on Tuesday. The city manifested many signs of rejoicing, and flags fluttered in the principal streets nearly as abundantly as during his last visit, and made the house-tops and fronts glow with colour. The Prince himself drove about the suburbs in the morning, and came to town in the afternoon in a close carriage. Later he walked out with Captain Standish, and was allowed to pass along almost undisturbed by recognitions. That n uisance the colonial " young man "~±Anglice " boy "—however, found him out, and followed in his train very perfleyeringly.- Inthe evening he dined with the Melbourne Club, the Governor and suites being also present. The company included a number of the officers ofthe Galatea. There were in all twentyfive guests, and 100 gentlemen sut di wn to table. The fine band of H.M. 14 h Regiment performed various select pieces during the evening. Invitations have been issued by his Excellency for Tuesday next, to members of Parliament, their honors the judges, and heads of departments to meet the Prince at dinner. His Royal Highness, we observe, has given his patronage to the performances of Madame and the Misses Carandini at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre. It iB agreeable to find tbat the request m ide on behalf of our Royal visitor, that be shall

be allowed to move among us aB a private individual, iB being obeyed to the letter. Tbe only signs of the Prince's presence arnongTjrmay be said to be the. many flags waving from windows and housetops, and an unusual number of private equipages attended by liveried servants to be seen in the streets. The latter is owing to the many visitors to town in consequence of the expected festivities. On Wednesday the, Prince had an ex-, tremely quiet day, mostly spent at the Melbourne Club, or driving in a phaeton and pair about Melbourne, along the streets of which he was allowed to pass unnoticed. In the evening he attended the Theatre Royal, with ' his Excellency the Governor, Lady Manners Sutton, and their family. It was a "com-, ma-id night," and consequently the house waa cro ■ led to an excess that compelled ladiea to stand in the dress circle. A crowd of several thousand persons in the street awaited the;, coming and going of his Royal Highness, and cheered him with tremendous emphasis. He will remain at Toorak all Thursday, dine there with a few colonial celebrities invited for the purpose, and attend the Mayor's ball in the evening. On Friday, he will proceed by special train to Geelong, en route for Bar--won-park, from whence he will return "on Saturday. Sunday he will probably spend, according to custom, on board his own ship. Monday, being mail day, can scarcely be spared for any publio appearance, and ou Tuesday he is to dine at Toorak with the members of Parliament, the judges, and heads of departments.