THE ROYAL VISIT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 June 1901, Page 4

THE ROYAL VISIT.

[PES I'BEtS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington Preparations.

Wellington, June 17. It is most unfortunate that after months of exceptionally fine weather it should have chosen to break up just at this juncture. But Captain Edwin predicts better fortune for'totmorrow. Torrential rain fell daring the;' night, hampering the WorkmoD, who in aomo case's were to start

decorations at midnight, and marring some of the work already done. The Chinese arch, which is largely composed of paper, looks very dilapidated at present, and the Westport arch presents rather a streaky appearance. This afternoon a thunderstorm camo on, giving the decorations a further drenching. The result of the change in the weather is that preparations are all behindhand, and a good deal of hard work will be required to complete them. Beginning at the wharf, two lines of tall Venetian masts (painted the Duke's colors) line the main pier, and tho temporary arches have been very simply constructed. At the entrance and along Jervois Quay is a mas 3 of stands constructed by the Kcception Committee, which will absorb some thousands of spectators. The broad Quay is lined with parallel raws of stout mists, ali white with gildsd crown ■•, on the top from which aro stretched lines and pennants. Here is the first arch, a tribute of the citizens, Koman in design and presenting the colors red, white and blue. Medalions are inserted in the walls, and bunting floats from numerous staffs. At the top, just beyond, is a woollen arch inscribed, "See the warmth of our welcome," a ref erence to the piles of red, white and blue blankets which surround its piers.

Turning into Cuba street, a vista white masts continues to and beyond another mass of seating f ..und the site where tho ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the Town Hall will take plaoo in the afternoon. Upper Cuba street at present presents tho gayest scene in the citv. Greenery is profusely used along the sides and overhead with parti-colourcd poles peeping out from a fernery and strings of bright colored pennants. In the air above 2500 yards ot ropo Were festooned with evergreens for ihts section. At tho top of the steeet is an arch erected by the surburban boroughs and Marlborough. Its principal feature is the wheat sheaves with which it is tha'ched from top to bottom, and the result i 3 rather striking. In Ingcstre, Upper Willis and Manners streets, there are no Venetian masts, but tho telegraph and electric light poles have been painted white. What decoration there is has been mostly done privately, except that Upper Willis street is lined with nikau palms, and tho Chinese havo erecied an arch in Mannors street. At Lower Willis street the Venetian masts again appear, and run along to the end of the route. This thoroughfare like Cuba stroot is a mass of greenery, whole palms and tree ferns having been brought in bodily and set off by plenty of bunting, At the foot is the Consuls' arch, stone coloured and rather plain. At the top wave ten flags, representing the ten consuls, and the arms of each country hang on the walls.

The Venetian masts along Lambton Quay have wreaths of evergreens and shields suspended from each. At Panama street the Dairy Associat:on have erected an arch id blue purple and red, with tho ends of butter boxes, each bearing a separate brand, lining the centre of tho structure.

At the turn into the Quay, the lofty Westport arch comes into view. This is the most imposing of all these trophies, standing 50ft high and particularly nftissive in appearance. Over £SOO have been expended on it. The prevailing color is white with ornamented cornice and transparency, " Westport's Greeting." The piers and buttresses are panelled with coal, and solid blocks of the same mineral, eacli a cubic yard in size, stand on pedestals. Small gilded blocks represent the gold yield. Under the coal trophies are inscriptions, " The coal that saved the Calliope," a proud reminder of the day that the English man-of-war with the help of Westport coal bade defiance to the Apia tornado. Just beyond tho arch is another group of stands which will seat two or three thousand people. The Westport harbor board have one. The next is for veterans, ono for old age pensioners, and stretching along the front of the Government buildings is a Government stand. There, too, is a Government arch, a massive edilice representing the entrance to a Scotch baronial castle. It is colored to imitate stone, with three castellated turrets, and on the piers are four large and excellent likenesses of the King, the Queen, the Duke and Duchess, protected by glass. On top is a large crown, and a few armorial shields are hung on the piers.

In Charlotte Street is the Maori arch leading to the Parliament Buildings. This is an imitation of the Maori pataka or storehouse, raisfd well above the street covered with greenery and thatched in Maori style. The last arch is a small floral structure over the entrance to Government House.

The approaches along Charlotte and Sydney Streets are literally festooned with bunting, and the whole presents a bright, animated sight. The Venetian masts hero all bear shields of correct armorial design, and in all the Government have purchased, or had made, 500 flags, everyone of which is national or mercantile. The main portion of decorations have boon put up by the Eeception Committee and the Government. Cuba and Willis streets in addition owe a good deal to tho money subscribed by theirTesidents for special adornment. A good deal of decorations in the way of draping and bunting has also been done privately and, giving fine weather, the general effect will be extreme'y good. The work of roping off tho streets ia now going on.

There is a very heavy programme for to-morrow. The public reception takes place in the morning, followed by a visit of the Consuls to Government Houso, luncheon to the Veterans and returned Contingenters, Friendly Societies parade, laying tho foundation stone of the Town Hall at 3 15 p m, dinner and reception at Government Honse, and the illumination of the city and the warships, The Ophir, attended by the Juno and St. Georgo, entered the harbor at 6 o'clock to-night, and dropped anchor in the stream.

The weather is still very unsettled and prospects for to-morrow are by no means good. The Court of Investiture will probably be held to-morrow by the Duke of Cornwall, when, it is understood, J. G. Ward and John M'Kenzie will bo made K.C. M.G's, and W. 0. Walker, Cadman, and Colonel Gudgeon K.M.G's. Mr Cadman will, of course, be absent.