ROYAL VISIT TO WESTLAND

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1920, Page 4

ROYAL VISIT TO WESTLAND

At the request of the'Royal .Visit Committee, tlio Chief Postmaster lias assented very kindly to a request to keep the Telephone Exchange open all night on the occasion of the Royal visit, a concession which will be a groat public convenience.

Mr Jlruutou, Hector of the Victoria School is organising a stall of senior teachers who will be in charge of the country children and who will have billets at tho Government Buildings. The boys will have held beds in the courtroom downstairs, and the girls will be accommodated in the board room upstairs. Tho Government pebartpiejits are lending a supply of biankets, and the young visitors will be made as comfortable as possible. Both romps will bo artificially heated throughout the night, also. Tho six Arches are now up in frame work, and a start has been made to place the Venetian poles in their places. Decorative work is to be begun to-morrow when supplies of greenery will be coming in. The first arch will be tho lied Cross in Stafford Street, and on the night of the Prince’s arrival tho nurses will be grouped at this arch. The County arch is adjacent to the Masonic Hotel. At the Weld Street corner of ltevell Street is the Harbor Board arch, which will bo visible from Heller’s balcony where the first function for H.lt.H. will he held. The Borough arch is close to the Town Hall. Tho three arches in llevell Street will lie lit by electricity. The power line is now being run. The Savings Bank arch will be close to the Fire Station, and this arch will bo shown up at night by a “flood” of eiectrie light, focussed down tho street from Wild and Bassett’s new premises. Near the bottom of Hamilton Street will be the llacing Club’s arch, which by the way, is to carry a. message in Welsh to the Prince of Wales. losterday Mr Keynoids oi tlio Public U ones Department was in town arranging dor tile exterior decoration oi tlie .public Buildings, Post Utiice, etc. There is to be a brave display of bunting in that locality, as the chief mnetion lor the children will take place in that vicinity on the morning of tho prince s departure.

ine CiocK Tower, which is a memorial to the fallen in tlio South African war and also of King Edward’s coronation, is to be especially decorated for the JLioyal visit. Yesterday a request was receivedfrom tlie internal Affairs Department asking the Itoyal Visit Committee to provide 17 motor cars for the transport of the regal party from and to the railway station. This doubled the number first asked for, but with the ready assistance of the oiiicers ot the meal branch of the Automobile Association the Committee was able to reply promptly that the necessary ears would be forthcoming.

The ladies in charge of the Town Hall and Drill Shed decorations have their decorative work well advanced, and both, buildings will be seen at tlieil* best on the eventful niglit, A large annexe for dancing has been added to the Drill Shed, and to-day a further extension of the extra accommodation is being put up to provide a supper room and sittingout quarters. The orchestra purposes holding a special practice at the Drill Shed on Saturday night to try put the acoustic properties of the annexe. A small charge will be made to the public for admission on the occasion in question. Some 800 flags have been received from the Education Department for distribution to the children attending the functions at Hokitika. The numbei is not considered sufficient, and additional supplies have been sent for. Children will be brought up for the bio event next week from as far south as°Wataroa. They will travel by coach in the early morning to Han Han, where they will be reinforced with the Inter-Wanganui contingent, and travel to Boss by motor lorry, and will reach Hokitika, the same afternoon at o o’clock by train.