HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 187, 4 May 1920, Page 8

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

ARRIVAL ON WEDNESDAY

EVENING

TRAIN TO DRAW UP AT LAMBTON

THE FINAL PROGRAMME

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is ttue to turive at the Lambton Station (not Thorndon) at 7.30 to-morrow evening. Now that the business people and 'those who are immediately in terested in the reception have "got their way" in the matter of tho railway stations, they intend to make tUe most of it. The Mayor and the City Councillors are to meet the Prince at the station. On alighting from tlio train His Royal Highness will leave the station by tlie main entrance and proceed to a dais (to bo erected just in front of the station), sufficiently high for the public .to 6«o him. There tho Mayor will briefly welcome the Prince to the Empire City, at tho same time expressing the loyalty and affection which the citizens feel towards tho visitor. That ceremony ended, the Prince's limousine, which will be in waiting in Thorndon Quay, will draw up to tho dais, and tho Prince will proceed at once (by way of Lambton Quay, Willis, Manners, and Cuba Streets) to the Vice-Regal residence. As there is sure to bo an immense crowd'at tho station, the Decorations Committee is malnig especial efforts to illuminate and decorate the open space between the station and tho Hotel Cecil. The Tramways Building will be festooned with electric lights, there will be extra overhead lights calculated to make tho immediate precincts- as bright as day, and stationed opposite the Hotel Cecil will be the Tramways Band in an illuminated and decorated car. Tho corner of tho Government Mating Ofiico block will be filled with a big pylon, which will give special conspicuousuess to that spot—the place on the old Thorndon beach where Edward Gibbon Wakefield (the founder of Wellington) landed. It is anticipated that the Prince's motor-car will proceed slowly enough through tho streets for the crowds to j catch a glimpso of the Royal personage' within. ~ THE PROGRAMME.

The programme for the Wellington visit stands as arranged originally, except that Thursday and Friday should, he read for Tuesday and Wednesday. On Thursday, at 12.30 p.m., tho Princo Will attend at tho Town Hall. Thero he will bo formally welcomed by the City Council and the Harbour Board, who will present him with loyal addresses. After the civic reception, lie will lunch at Bellamy's with the members of tho Cabinet. He will then proceed to review Territorials, Cadets, returned soldiers, and veterans at Newtown Park (at 3.45 p.m.) That evening tho Princo will attend the ball to be given ate Government House by tho Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool. At noon on Friday tho Prince will review tho school children to the number of 12,000 in Parliamentary grounds, and at 12.30 ho will bo elected an honorary lifo patron of the Now Zealand lteturned Soldiers' Association at a brief ceremony. Afonvards he will attend tho "star" Rugby football match at Athletic! Park at 2.10 p.m. Ho will leave at 2.50 for Petono to seo tho Early Settlers' Association's pageant on the Petone beach. On its conclusion, the Prince will proceed to the Military Hospital at Trentham. That evening he will attend the Citizens'-Ball at the Town Hall, which event concludes tho official programme for Wellington. So far no announcement has been made as to how the Print* will spend his time on .Saturday. Several suggestions have been discussed in semi-official circles, ono being a motor trip to Otaki, another golf at Heretaunga, and still another an evening at the Savage Club's Icorero. DAMAGED DECORATIONS. The stormy conditions on Sunday evening played 'havoo w'ith the decorations. Tho fibrous plaster shields/ wherever fully exposed to tho strength of the wind, broke in two at the nail holes, and fell to the ground, to become pitiable wrecks in a few minutes. An effort is being made to replace them at Newtown, and in Vivian Street, this time with a horii zontal batten across the middle to stremrtlien t.linin.

Iho Public Trust is making a fine showon Lambton Quay, and the evergreen arch at the entrance to the Parliamentary grounds will Lp worth seeing. The illuminations at the Government Buildings and tho G.P.O. promise to bo most attractive.

MILITARYJEVIEW TO TAJCE PLACE ON THURSDAY. The review of Territorials, Senior Cadet-}, returned sailors and soldiers, and veterans, will take- place at Newtown Park at 3.45 p.m. on Thursday. All troops aro to be in position by 3 p.m.. and the parade will be in . charge of Lieut-Colonel R. St. J. Beere, Commanding Officer of the sth (Wellington) Regiment. Some hundreds of Territorials will be on parade and the number of Senior Cadets to 'be present will bo 2500. Altogether, the review will be the largest gathering of its kind that has taken placo in Wellington for some time. During the proceedings His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales will present decorations to 20 returned soldiers, includinu four French war honours. ~_ As the Senior Cadets in the Hutt \«1ley will Ijo taking part in the Early Settlers' pageant at Petone on Enemy, thev will notbe present at the review, but Territorials from Upper Butt, Lower Hutt, and Petone will parade with the troops from the city. The Senior Cadets from Johnsonville and other districts on the Mnnawatu line will also parado at the review. EARLY SETTLERS' PAGEANT In consequence of the alterations in the time-table set down for the visit ot H.R.'II. the Prince of Wales, the pageant of the landing of the early settlers ftt Petone has been postponed until Jinday afternoon. This means that thoso who have not yet booked their, scats will have a day or two more in which to do so (it the Bristol, wherei the plan is to bo seen. A. very large crowd of spectators is expected, mid many Parliamentarians and prominent citizens have signified their intention of being present. Among the guests will be tho Prima Ministei (Right Hon. W. F. Massoy) and members of the Cabinet, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, the Mayor and councillors of tho city, Lower Hutt, and Eastbourne, and the chairmen and members of ;ho HuU County Council and Upper Hutt Town Board. Everything is in readiness for the pageant, and arrangements have been made to cany on a programmo of sports of all kinds ,prior to the arrival and after the departure of tin- Prince. The foreshore is admirably adapted to the holding of aquatic and athletic events, and, given fine weather, the whole is expected ■ to' be well worth witnessing. Everything possible is beinjj done to ensure'ample transport facilities for tho Wellington public who intend being present, and those who have not yet booked are advised to do so before it is too late.

BANK HOLIDAYS A peculiar position has arisen in regard to the bank holidays for the Prince's visit, for tho regulations governing the closing of banks are very defluito as to the giving of notice of the closing of bank premises, and those regulations admit of no deviation after such notico has been given. Somewhat over a week ago, when it was believed ihal the Prince would arrive at 'Wellington on Monday ovening, seven days' notice of the closing of the banks was given, and that notice must be put into effect. The banks will therefore be closed to-day and Wednesday, but in view of tho particular circumstances of the case arrangements are being made for an additional holiday on Friday, though the banks will remain open for business all day on Thursday. In view of tho altered arrangements, an urgent meeting of the Renown Entertainment Committee is wiled for to-day In tho Town Hall, at i p.m.