THE LAST FUNCTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7133, 25 June 1901, Page 3

THE LAST FUNCTION.

SAYING "GOOD-BYE." THE SCENE AT THE RAILWAY STATION. / THE CITIZENS' " SEND-OFF." The last function took place at tba railway station. Like ail the. other functions in connection with the visit, it was waitched by large crowds of people, who took besn 'interest in every incident. The enthusiasm which was' evinced when the Royal visitors arrive!, and, in fact, for many weeks before their arrival, was tnaintaaned right through. To the citizens generally, tihe visit will have be&n quite too short, but as other places have claims on the visitors, as well as Christchurch has, the time fixed for the departure for the south had to be adhered to. - Long before the time appointed the rail- : wav statical and its environs were a scene of animation. At nine o'clock people had assembled, and special interest was added; to the scene by the arrival of corps of Volunteers, who were being taken to tihe station to make their ds<parture home after the grand review in Hag-ley Park yesterday. The frost was on the ground, and a rather thick fog !hung over emytihing, but it added to the attractiveness of the scene rather than detracted from it. A quickly-moving mass would be seen dimly in the near distance, and as it drew closer it would take the shape of kharki soldiers, who were halted in front of the station before being marched off to. the platform on the southern side, where they en- . traimed. These picturesque little scenes iwera watched idly by the public for same time with more or less interest, bringing back to^iihe minds of many the marching battalions which had passed in review order before the HeLr-Apparent tie previous day, and the general topic of conversation "was the splendid military display which had been made. "The best thing of the 'kmd ever seen in, the colony," was the remark %hioh was reiterated many times, while men who "bad. seen reviews in Australia stoutly protested that none there could compare, with that which took place in Christchurcfc on the occasion of the Royal visit. As the sun, rising higher in. the heavens, began to dismiss fog and; frost, the crowd thickened. Final preparations for the last function in connection with the Royal visit to the city were pushed forward. Barricades were 'again erected, people^ were ordered hither and thither by policeflnen, courteous but firm officials insisted, on their orders being carried out, and. lanes of human beings were formed for the last Royal procession, probably, the <% will see for many a day. Tall hats and floek 1 coats made thear appearance on the railway platform, among the crowd, and in the parflion in front of the station. The platform was cleared of all but those who had a right to be present, and a guard of .honour composed of men from the North Canterbury Infantry, under Captain Foster, formed up in .front of Übe pavilion. : At about half-past nine, the Premier, accompanied by Mrs Sedftm- and the losses Seddon, drove up, and &r Joseph Ward a»d the Hon J. Oa-rroll also arrived. Meanwhile tihe Royal train, w:th the pilot train in front, was drawn up to the platform. The floors of the pavilion and 1 the passage leading from the main entrance to the platform were covered with crimson carpet, and a lane was made through the people on the platform to enable the Royal visitors to reach their carriage. Shortly 'before ten, o'clock cheers were heard in the distance. The sound rolled on, increasing in volume, until it was blended with the strains of the National Anthem, announcing the arrival of the Governor. He was accompanied by Lady Ranfurly, Lady Mary Lygon, Captain Alexander, and other members of the suite. A few minutes later, punctually at ten o'clock, the cheering was renewed with increased vigour, and amidst a great outburst vof enthusiasm their Royal Highnesses drove up. They were received at the pavilion- by the Mayor, the Commissioners (Messrs H. F. Wigram, G. G. Stead, andi R. Allan), the Government Commissioner (Mr J. Cassidy), and Sir Joseph Ward. As they ascended; :tho' steps from -the 1 pavilion to the miin;.'fentiraace further cbeer-4 ing arose. Oh the • station platform--; the , Royal visitors were met by the Premier . ansl Mrs Rhodes. There were also present members of the Reception Committee, the ■ City Councillors, the Town Clerk (Mr H. R. Smith) and! City Surveyor (Mr A. D. Dobson.), the Mayors of subuifcan! boroughs, Bishop Julius, the Chairman of the Lyttelton Harbour Board (Mr F. Waymouth), and other gentlemen* who occupy public • positions. As the words of the National An-fchem, sung by those present, died away, the Mayor's little son, Master Tahu Rhodes, came forward and presented to tihe Duchess a handsome bouquet of violets, tied with a heliotrope ribbon. He was rewarded with warm thanks, and pleasamt smiles from both their Royal Higiines'ses. Tie Duch«ss said tihii* although she understood. Master Tahu was a few* 1 months younger than her own son, he was slightly taller. The Duke thanked the Mayor heartily for the reception, which 'he and the Duchess had been given. The Royal visitors shook hamds with the Mayor and Mayoress and the Premier, ami stepped on the platform of the carriage. Further cheers were acknowledged by the Duke with raked hat, and by the Duchess with smiles ami bows. BefoTe the cheering had ceased, the train moved off. A few seconds later the boom of tihe gums was heaatl. Ij> was the E Battery, under Sergeant Symes, witK three guns, firing a Royal salute from the South Belt, and announcing that Royalty woa passing, and that the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Christchurchi had come to an erod. Along the line as far as the Colombo Street crossing, and further, and away up tihe Belt, crowds of people hod gathered to «c the departure of the city's illustrious

* guests, who left the confines of Christchurch with fch® hearty cheers of its citizen^ ringing in their ears. When the ■frain had disappeared from sight, those on the platform gave cheers for the Mayor, Mrs Rhodes, and Master Tabu Rhodes.