THE ROYAL PROCESSION. And the Route Question.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 42, 20 April 1901, Page 17

THE ROYAL PROCESSION. And the Route Question.

IS it Governor Ranfurly whom the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are coining to New Zealand to visit? If so, then His Excellency is perfectly justified in shaping all the arrangements to suit himself And, if popular wishes clash with vice-regal whims or caprices, then, of course, the populace must take a back seat. • • • Hitherto, the impression has prevailed that this Royal visit was being made to the people of the various colonies, m recognition of the splendid proofs of Imperial patriotism and loyal attachment to the Throne which they have afforded to the world Under that impression, the local bodies ot the larger centres in New Zealand are freely voting their funds to make the reception woithy the occasion, and the people are being urged to generously contribute towards the same purpose, and are being invited to gather m their thousands, at the four large cities, to give the Prince and Princess a cordial welcome. » • • Unless the Governor is anxious to convince the public that the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall are his private guests, or unless he has received strict and precise instructions to confine the route from steamer to Government House within the narrowest possible limits, his recent action in flouting the strongly-ex-pressed wishes of the people of Wellington is quite inexplicable to us. It is at variance- with his habitual courtesy and readiness to oblige. It is also vexatious, and is calculated to leave a sore feeling where there should be unanimity of sentiment and the utmost cordiality • • * There arc many strong leasons why the route adopted by the Reception Committee is to be preferred to the short one decreed by the Governor By confining the route to Jervois Quay, Manners-street, Willis-street, and Lambton Quay, the enormous crowds of sightseers who are sure to be here will be squeezed into a very narrow space, and the liability to accident will be enormously increased. At the same time, the opportunities for seeing the Royal visitors will be very considerably circumscribed, and the children of the poorer classes will be out of the show altogether • • • In the interest of the people, the longer route, taking in Courtenay Place, Cambridge Terrace, Vivian Ingestre, and Cuba streets, ought, unquestionably, to be adopted It imposes no hardship or inconvenience upon the Royal visitors It would be absurd to imagine so short a carriage drive could fatigue them And the opportunity would be afforded for the city to make an ampler display, and for the pageant to be carried out with more comfort and less danger. As matters now stand, with the short route through narrow streets forced upon them against their will, the citizens have every reason to feel annoyed and aggrieved.