THE ROYAL VISIT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 8 May 1901, Page 4

THE ROYAL VISIT.

*. (by electric telegraph—copyright)

[Per Press Association.]

The Procession Through Mel-

bourne.

Ths Brooklyn Visits New Zealand.

Melbourne, May 7.

Passing along Fitzroy street, tlie cavalcade swept under a striking arch according a welcome to the Royal guests from the municipalities of Sc K’lda and Prahran. The graceful structure is in classic style and i’.no hundred and thirty feet wide, forty feet high, with imitation stone work and finely decorated with evergreens and gave visitors a foretaste of greater things to come.

On the first part of the route the Duke’s colors prevailed. At Government House the gates open on a triangular space finely decorated with the Duke’s colors. Moving on between the rows of draped Venetian masts and lines of Colonial Infantry the party reached the city gate on Prince’s approaching the archway through a beautiful peristyle. The procession was received at the city end of the civic arch by the Mayors and Aldermen in their robes of office. They presented an address of welcome. The Duke in replying thanked the citizens for the very cordial welcome awarded himself aid the Duche s. Ho expressed his pleasure at revisiting the magnificent city which he saw twenty years ago. The civic arch occupies a position near the centre of the bridge, and approach to the city end being through a colonnade of pure white pillars w th gilded brazios on the summit of each elumn. The whole scheme of the bridge and its surrounding’s was something for Melbourne to be proud of. The hitherto unpicturesquo environments of the bridge on the St Kilda side were converted into a beautiful garden and promenades. The first glimpse of the arch was strongly reminiscent of the marble arch at Hyde Park. The corner of the keystone of the arch took the form of an ancient barge, the sweeps indicating the states of the union. The inscriptions were—“ The Wattle greets the Rose of York and the city hails her Monarch’s Son.”

Crossing Flinders street to Swanston street the procession entered dense cheering throngs who line the sidewalks, balconies, and tiers on tiers of stands. There is no window where a view of the stirring scene could be obtained, that i§ without an occupant. The streets are lined with Venetian masts somewhat garishly painted. The artistic sense which catered for Sydney is deplorably absent in some of those street decorations. The primary colors are in evidence, while the quiet aesthetic color tone) are almost if) not altogether absent. Passing the Cathedral the first of the Government arches is passed. The King’s arch is gorgeously if somewhat heavily draped with maroon picked out in gold, the alcoves containing gilt statuettes of the Prince Consort and the late Queen. Turning into Collins street a marvellous spectacle burst on ihi view, humanity cramming every inch of space.

Between the high buildings on either hand and the space kept clear by the military for the great procession. Large numbers of these sightseers have been in position from early hours as in Sydney. However, a large amount of seating accomodation had been provided and diminished the tension in the streets. On the crown of Collins street, where it is bisected by Eussell street, is Government’s noble tribute to the dead Sovereign. From four corners spring archways crossing each other diagonally and forming a huge dome shaped figure beautifully decorated The ring above the centre of this dome is a cupola sheltering a golden statue of Queen Victoria. The figure is eight feat six in height the inscription is—- “ Victoria, Queen and Empress. She wrought her people lasting good. God gave her peace, her land reposed beloved by all nations. Her court was pure, her life serene.” Up to the Treasury buildings the route was brilliant with red and yellow bannerettes. Along Spring street to Parliament House, the decorations were entirely lloral in character. The steps of Parliament House, which were reserved for distinguished personages to view the procession, presented an imposing appearance, with stands on the opposite side and a large stand flanking the statue of General Gordon and the mass of people cheering frantically. The return journey to Government House commenced by way of Bourkc street, devoted to the states’ representatives, emblems hanging from Venetian masts, the prevailing colours being a combination of red, white and blue, blue and gold, red, blue, yellow and red.

The first archway passed was that erected by the citizens—two piers surmounted by burnished copper cupolas which, glistened like balls of fire in the the connecting span bearing the inscription. “The citizens welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York.”

The scene looking down Bourkc street was one pageant of magnificent festoons of colour moving in the breeze, quivering pennons and sunlight flashes on the lances of the fine troop of New South Lancers gave a wonderful movement to the picture. Under the Duke’s arch one of the oriental designs was elaborately gilded and surmounted with a model cruiser under steam.

The procession passed through the section devoted to New Zealand. Venetian masts supported the Maoriland’s coat of arms, and the Duke’s colours were the prevailing tints. Prom Elizabeth street to King street stretched an avenue of the Nations. Norway, Swecden, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, and other Nations disported their respective coats of arms and national colours. Entering Collins street again the striking feature is the German arch, the German residents’ testimony and appreciation of their adopted country. Industry finds expression in the butter arch, and a particularly graceful column surmounted with the figure of Atlas supporting the world. The Chinese erected a pagoda-hke structure in little Bourkc street.

Entering Swaoston street the procession recrossed Princess Bridge and entereJ Government House, thus ending the most enthusiastic reception ever \Vitnessed in Australia.

The fine physic of the New Zealand troops attracted much attention at the various points on the route. Over half a million viewed the procession. No serious accidents are yet reported. Colonial Chippendale of West Australia was thrown from his horse and injured his head. The organisation of the whole affair was splendid. The traffic was controlled by the police in an admirable manner. The streets were packed to-night to witness the illuminations. In this respect the Queen City of the South equalled Sydney. In the latter city the streets were festooned from side to side with electric lamps, giving the thoroughfares the appearance of avenues of light. This was not possible hero owing to the scarcity of electric plant. The streets wei'o therefore dark except when lighted by mural illuminations. Some of the banking institutions, notably the Bank of Australia and the Union Bank, which were splendidly lit up with clever designs. Parliament House was brilliantly outlined with incandescent lamps, causing the material of which the buildings aro constructed to become of an opalescent character. The building was surmoan.ed with the inscx’iption.

“ God bless our Commonwealth. ” The exhibition was similarly outlined, the huge dome and fine facade enabling a most effective illumination to he carried out. The Post Office was very striking. The lower structure was outlined ia red. The tower was picked out in white. The lights on the hugs dome of the Law Courts were a glowing mass of red, while the lamps on the Treasury were tastefully picked out with parti-colored lights and the motto.

*• Hail to our future King and Queen.” The greatest triump, however, was Princess bridge, which was Hanked at the city and by two high towers glowing beautifully with b ended colored fights on the principal of a spectrum band. On the summit of the columns running along the bridge are huge braziers from which colored fives threw a radiance over the wide area of The Arcus and This Age wiih finely designed ifiuminations. Probably the illumira icns will be in a more complete state in a day or so. Melbourne, May 7. Throe thousand s x hundred attended the Royal levee at Government House. The citizens were received in the ballroom. After the members of the Federal r-tate Ministry came the Judges, heads of churches and a large number of high officials. The scene was brilliant and animated, the colour of the uniforms lighting up the sombre black of the ordinary citizens.

The arrival of the Duke in the ballroom was heralded by the clanking of the swords of the military staff. His Highlit ss accompanied by his suite, Lord Lamington (Governor of Queensland), and Licut-Govcrnor of Victoria, were in attendance. The Duke was bowed on to the dais with Piioce Teck on his left, the Governor-General on the right, shaking hands with every visitor.

In the afternoon the Royal labors were continued.

Forty-seven addresses were presented from various public bodies. That from the Corporation of Melbourne was very handsome and was contained in a beautiful silver casket with gold mountings. Though practically an off day, a great stream of people poured into the streets and witnessed the stockmen’s procession. About 100 mounted men attired in red and black striped shirts and moleskins, twirling their stock whips, careered through the main streets. The next item in the day’s amusement was two enormous dragons which wriggled their length down the streets with Chinese musicians keeping up a din infernal with instruments dear to, and only understood by Chinese. The bearers had a hard time keeping their dragons within bounds, each gust of wind making them writh in a life-like and unexpected manner.

To-night a brilliant conversazione will be held in the Exhibition Building, which is finely illuminated. Their Royalties will not be present at this function, which is given by the State of Victoria. It is uncertain whether Mason, the Speaker, will be able to visit New Zealand but he hopes to make arrangements to do so,

The Governor-General entertains Royalty to a select dinnerparty to-night. A fine spectacle was witnessed by several hundred thousand people to-night. It was the fire brigade torch light procos-ion Over 1200 firemen brought from all parts of the colony took part. The steamer fire engines were cleverly decorated with electric lamps, escorted by two lines of firemen carrying white torchlights, while at frequent intervals the streets were kept ablaze wi.h red, blue and green colored fires. The Duke had a heavy day. After the levee and the reception of addresses ho paid a visit to every warship in Hobson’s Bay, This occupied the time till after sundown, each vessel firing a Eoyal salute as the Duke loft. London, May 7. The Standard says that the magnificent spontaneity of the reception of the Yorks stirred the blood of the Britishers. The-.Tiraes declares that the splendid pageant compared favourably with the pomp of Eoyal progresses in the Old World. What most powerfully appealed to the imagination was the Commonwealth spontaneously acclaiming the representatives of the Grown as living symbols of Imperial unity. Washington, May 7. The American Government has author-

ised Ecar-Admiral Homey to proceed to

Auckland from Melbourne with the cruiser Brooklyn during the Eoyal visit.