THE ROYAL VISIT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 19 June 1901, Page 4

THE ROYAL VISIT.

[per press association.]

The Veterans Luncheon

Wellington, This Day. The Luncheon to Veterans and Returned Contingenters in the Drill shed was a magnificent success. About eight hundred were present. The Premier presided. Ward, Walker, Mills, Dunean, and Colonel Ponton were present. The only toasts were •' The Duke and Duchess" "The Veterans and Returned Contingenters," proposed by the Premier who eulogised the scrvicee of the Veterans in the past and those of the younger generation in the Campain in South Africa. He apologised in the absence of the Yorks' and the Ranfurlys'. The Duke commanded him to apologise on the ground of the great demands on his time otherwise to-day, but His Highness sent his warmest thanks to the Veterans and the Contingenters.

The Wellington Town Hall. Banquet and Illuminations. Wellington, June 18. In the afternoon their Royal Highnesses drove from Government House to the centre of the ci-.y to lay the foundation atone of the Town Hall in Lower Cuba Street. The route was again thronged with peoplo who choercd, not only the Duke and Duchess, but the Governor and other not abilities. At the site thousands of people were accumulated on public and private stands, and all the contiguous streets were crammed. On the platform were the Admiral, members of the Ministry, Councillors, Judges, Members of Parliament, Consuls and other notabilities, with many ladies, tfhe Royal Party were received with the National Anthem and i volloy of cheers.

Tho odo specially written for tho occision was sung by the choir, the Garrison Bind supplying the instrumental music. The Mayor, who with the Councillors and Acting-Town Clerk, had been formailv presented, then stepped forward and invited the Duke to lay the stone. Mr Aitken said that he duly appreciated the sacrifice made by the Sovereign in allowing them to come so Ear. lie need not dwell on the loyalty of New Zealand. He felt that wc were part of the Great Empire and were as much attrched to the Mother Country as if living there ourselves. Up to now they had no Town Hall, but as the town had developed through various stages, from village to city of considerable dimensions, he thought the time had arrived to change things and lie seized the opportunity afforded by the Duke's presence to ask him to do them this great honor. Tho Duke was then presented with a trowel of greenstone and gold with a silver blade, a mallet of New Zealand wood with a gold inscribed plate, and a level of gold with greenstone pendant. After going through the forms prescribed on such occasions, the Duke said:—"l declare this stone well and truly laid."

' The Duke then delivered a brief address ia which he made reference to the co'ncide ice that the difficult task of arranging the dates for a long voyage should have brought them to "Wellington on the anni versaryof Waterloo. He was glad in this way the new hall should be specially ai■looiated with the great Duko's memory aid with the glorious victory that was the coiner stone of his great career. The Duchess and he would always remember the splendid reception given them in Welington. The Duko's speech was received with great applause, and after the Rev Patterson had ofiered up a prayer, the function ended. After laying the Town Hall foundation stone this afternoon their Royal Highnesses visited the fete in aid of the home for incurables. They remained about 20 minutes, and after pertaking of afternoon lea made numerous purchases. The Duchess was presented with a bouquet ind appeared very pleased with the proceedings. The following guests were invited to the State banquet at Government House tonight:—H.R.H. the Duke of Cornwall, rf.B.H. the Duchess of Cornwall, Lord and Lady Ranfurly, Prince Alexander of Teck, Rear-Admiral Seymour and staff, Lady Mary Lygon, Lady Catherino Coke, .Sight Hon. 11. J. and Mrs Seddon, Lord Wenlock, Mrs Keppel, Hon. C. H. and Mrs Mills, Hon. H. and Mrs Butler, Sir John Anderson, Mrs Williams, Count and Countess De Courte, Chevalier Martino, Lord Chrichton, Duke of Roxburg, Miss Mary Seddon, Captain Alexander and Colonel Penton.

A dull afternoon gave place to a fine clear night and thousands of people thronged the streets io view the illuminations, locomotion in the principal thoroughfares being at times almost out of the question. As Eoon as darkness set in tho city broke out into a blaze of light and colour, and the spectacle was the gayest over seen in Wellington. Although many private buildings made a good show, the palm must be given to the various Government edifices, and of these the post and telegraph office stood out as a brilliant Bight. The building from the top of the flagstaff to the base was a blaze of light, tho design of the tower in red, white and blue being particularly effective. On tho top of the Hag pole was a large star in a combination of colors, and from the dome to the ends of the building strings of coloured lights were displayed, the effect being most striking, especially when viewed from a distance. The front of the building was also brilliantly lit up, included in the illuminations being several appropriate devices and mottos, while each window contained a transparency. The Parliameatary Buildings, Government House, the Printing Office, the Departmental Buildings, and the Government Life Insurance bui'ding, were all splendidly illuminated, each building being picked out by rows of colored lights, wbich ran up the sides and along the tops their fronts being resplendent with

many colored devices, mottos, and transparencies. The tower of Government House stood out very prominently —a mass of resplendent colour, and the schemo of the frontal illumination of Parliamentary Buildings was particularly pleasing. Far away in tbe distance Mount Cook barracks shono on a biilliant blaze of lights. Many private buildings were decorated with transparencies and devices, and severalof the arches showed up conspicuously. Splendid show was made by the "Wellington Gas Company which displayed 42 powerful incandescent lamps along the top of building. The Municipal paid Harbor Board offices were also tastefully lit up. The Government steamer Tutanekai, lying at tho Railway wharf, was a mass of light and color. "Her outline being poked oat by myriads of lights. Several bontires were lighted on the distant hills. Taken on the who'c the City's display to-night far exceeded expectations, and will long be remembered by many thousands who witnessed it.