THE ROYAL VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 10 June 1901, Page 4

THE ROYAL VISIT

A West Coast Tribute.

The contribution of the West Coast of the South Island to the Wellington celebrations, per medium of the Westport Harbour Board, promises (says the Post) to he a worthy one. It takes the,form of an arch, now in course of erection along Lambton-quay, and designed by Mr It. A. Young, Engineer to the Board, who is superintending its construction. It will have a clear span of 30ft and 48ft from the crown of the road to the top of the cornice, above which will bo four pendant Hags (the Royal colours), surmouuted by the New Zealand flag. The Westport Coal Company is supplying pillars of solid coal to be raised on pedestals on both fronts and sides of the arch, and besides these the panels will be of coal. The pedestals will bear the names of the various coal companies of the West Coast. On the tops of the pilasters, at the arch impost, will bo ignots of imitation gold and the names of the gold mining centres in the Buller district The piers of the main arch will bo decorated with nikau palms, and mamaku ferns will lean from the centre of the arch towards thd medallions the ferns being brought to Wellington from the West Coast. -Medallion transparencies of the King and Queen and of the Duka and Duchess of Cornwall will appear on the arch spans, and the inscription on the arch —“ Westport’s Greeting ” —will also be a transparency. Incandescent gas lights of a thousand cindle power will bo used to illuminate the pictures and inscription, and four large groups of incandescent gas lights will be placed on the top of the arch. The Board is erecting seats for the accomodation of 250 guests along (he east side of Lambton-quay, near the arch, and intends to invite members of all local bodies of Westport, Greymouth and Hokitika to occupy them.