THE ROYAL RECEPTION. Is it to be Popular or purely Official?

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 43, 27 April 1901, Page 8

THE ROYAL RECEPTION. Is it to be Popular or purely Official ?

THE question is quite pertinent. It is the people at large who are being asked to contribute the necessary funds for lending eclat to the Royal visit, but it seems to be the Governor alone who is shaping the programme. In three out of the four cities which are to be visited by the Duke and Duchess of York he has interfered very considerably with the local programme, and in at least two of these plapes a very sore feeling has been produced in consequence. In Wellington the very moderate route drawn up by the Citizens' Committee, for the procession to take from wharf to Government House, has been arbitrarily swept aside by His Excellency, and another and much shorter route substituted which will confine the pageant to less than a twenty minutes' drive through a few streets. * * * In the case of Christchurch a deadlock has arisen. The Government arranged for the Eoyal party to stay at Coker's Hotel and signed a contract with the proprietor of that establishment. But the Governor objects to the position of the^hotel and wants an environment of gardens. Boniface stands to the contract and lawyers are already reported to have been engaged on the matter. In Dunedin, as in Wellington, Lord Ranfurly did not like the local programme for reception and procession, arid has reduced it to the precise form he wishes it to take. Altogether, a pretty kettle of fish seems to be stewing. » * * It is a great pity, for this kind of thing is bound to considerably damp the local enthusiasm. Here in Wellington, at any rate, the Go\ernor has made a great tactical mistake by taking it upon himself to cut out from the processional route Courtenay Place, Cambridge Terrace and thence to Cuba Street. It has produced a strong sense of irritation, for there seems to be neither rhyme nor reason for so arbitrary an interference with the desires of the citizens. It has also engendered a feeling that the people are to be kept at arm's length — that in fact they are not wanted at all — and that it is only the privileged few who are to receive the Duke and Duchess. • • • If it is to be a popular reception and the utmost cordiality is to prevail, then some regard must be shewn for the reasonable desires and the necessary convenience of the public. To jam the whole show into a few narrow streets is arrant folly. Human life and limb -would thereby be seriously imperilled. To take the procession round Cambridge Terrace and through Cuba Street affords opportunity for thrice the number of spectators to see the pageant, minimises the chances of accident, gives the Royal \isitors a fai better idea of the city, and imposes no hardship upon anybody. * • ♦ Once more the Mayor is going to appioach the Governor on the matter, and urge him to modify his plans so as to meet the unanimous public v ishes. If he is a wise man he will gracefully concede what is so strongly desired. If not, he will but deepen and intenbify the feelings of annoyance and resentment that are now at work. At any rate, it would be a real

pity to introduce a discordant note into the popular rejoicings over the visit of the Duke and Duchess. So far, no explanation h ■ s been offered for shortening the route, and the people are left to assume it is purely an act of caprice on the Governor's part.