ROYAL VISIT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18903, 19 January 1927, Page 10

ROYAL VISIT.

RIVER CARNIVAL

BAKING LEVEL OF AVON.

After a brief discussion, the Dramage Board reached a decision last eveni,:„ to allow the level of tho n«r to te"«Ld to enable a boating earnivd to be held during the visit el th. mitteo adused that tun to hold a-Garden x ftV llVi Vfter the fe"n the Botanic s£den aVassuggested that a fleet of derated boals should row np the river to the Gardens, where the Ro>al Party would embark and proceed down the fiver past tho Hospital grounds to e Brid4 of Remembrance In order to mako%uro of a sufficient depict water, it had been suggested that a temporary weir might bo crated between Hereford and Cashcl street brioVes, and that this should be. put in a"dav or two prior to the carnival. Tho Board was asked to assist tho committee by constructing a temporary weir which could bo taken away immediately after tho carmvaL Tho engineer (Mr J. ». Cullens) reported that to ensure the successful carrying out of the proposal it would be necessary to raise the, water level 2ft 9in bv means <<f :: weir, tho most suitable position being the upstream side of the Hereford street bridge. The chairman, Mr H. J. Ot ey, said they would have to be careful not to allow anything which would damage the cellars. The weir should not be allowed to remain more than one day. Its cost would be £SO or £6O. Mr H. G. Livingstone said that it the Duke and Duchess sailed down the river in a boat, everybody would have an opportunity to see them The Bridge of Remembrance would have to bcT cleaned before it could lie shown to them. He thought they should not come down so far. Perhaps it would bo advisable to authorise the chairman to discuss tho matter with the committee. The matter was left in the hands of the chairman, with power to act. Ho was recommended to advertise the time during which the weir would bo in the river.

COMMITTEES TO MEET,

The various sub-committees set up ] in connexion with the Royal visit are getting to work. To-day the" Finance Committee will meet; on Monday next the Garden Fete and River Car- j nival Committee will meet; on Tuesday there will be meetings of the Ladies' Reception Committee and of the Ball Committee; and next Wednesday the General Committee will meet. GRIEVANCES. Under the heading, "As Usual," the "Southland Daily News," commenting editorially on the final arrangements for the teur of the Duke and Duchess of York, providing for one hour in Gore and two in Invercargill, remarks:— "In the past Royal and other leading Imperial notabilities have come to New Zealand and have been able to spend a reasonable amount of time in this chief centre of the province, and we cannot believe that the Royal party would approve such haste through Southland if they were aware that this is the second most important provincial town in New Zealand, and that within the 6onfmes of the district are j some of the most attractive beauty ! spots in the world. Of course, tho Duke and Duchess are no more to blamo for the arrangements than are the tourists on the Cafinthia and Franconia for the amazing distribution of patronage that leaves tho South Island almost unconsidered. Were this purely a matter of comfort and convenience to the King's sou and his Princess, we should be satisfied, however disappointed, but the routes are mapped out by those in authority in New Zealand, and such consistent disregard of people and places that count should not be received in silence. Tho further south one lives the harder has ho to fight for recognition, and even the results of persistent demands for justice are not very evident. When those so highly placed in the Royal circle come thirteen or fourteen thousand miles to visit officially the King's subjects, to thus ignore the -claims of Invercargjll h tantamount to rushing through Birmingham or Leeds on an English tour."

"TOP HATS." It was mentioned by the chairman of the Wanganui County Council, at the meeting on Friday, that advice had been received from Wellington that all councillors who met the Duke and Duchess of York would require to wear morning dress and top hats (reports the "Wanganui Herald"). Councillor D. Mackintosh remarked that ho presumed the Council funds would pay for these. Councillor Don McGregor said that the Duke would not see him in a top hat, as he would be milking his cows at- the time when the Duke was due in Wanganui. The chairman then'eased the minds of the councillors by stating that all they would be required to wear would be a dark suit and bowler hat. A councillor remarked that at least the country should "shout'-' the chairman a top hat. "Not a bad idea," replied the chairman. "Wo could get one and keep it on hand for important occasions."