PROGRAMME OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WHILE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Issue 917, 16 March 1868, Page 3

PROGRAMME OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WHILE IN NEW ZEALAND.

At a meeting of the "Wellington Recaption Committee, His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, who is a member of the Eoyal Eeception Commission, attended, aud made the following remarks in reference to the Prince's movements while in New Zealand: — His Honor stated that though he did not come fortified by instructions from the Eoyal Commission, and that, ti erefore, anything he might say must be looked on in the light of a simple friendly conversation, yet he felt himself justified in stating that so far from exercising any check, the Commission were extremely desirous of in no way interfering with any local demonstrations that might be contemplated as an expression of the loyalty of the city. Everybody, he thought, must see the necessity of having some central body to superintend the general demonstration throughout the colony, and he hoped it would be clearly understood that beyond keeping a general supervision, the Commission considered it no part of their duty to meddle with purely local arrangements for the Prince's reception. As some misunderstanding appeared to exist as to the functions of the Commission, it would perhaps be as well were he briefly to state that the reason it had been appointed was to provide for the entertainment and reception of the Duke of Edin- , — burgh at a time when it was. expected . that the only provinces to be visited were Auckland and Wellington, and that beyond making arrangements for the housing, feeding, and horsing of the Prince and suite, and recommending the most suitable localities to be visited, no con- i trol was exercised over purely local demonstrations. Owing to the change of Governors, and to the uncertainty attaching to the exact date of the Prince's arrival at Auckland, it was only within -•the last two or three days than any defined programme had been drawn up. Indeed, it was only at the last meeting of the Commission that his Excellency had, submitted for its consideration a programme which had just been trans- . mitted to Sydney for His Eoyal Highness's approval. The proposed programme was almost identical with one sketched out by the late Governor. The ■ Prince was recommended to remain from ten to twelve days in the Auckland province, would then pay a visit to Sir Geo. Grey at Eawau ; stay there for a couple of days, and proceed to Tauranga, from whence he would be taken up the county. His Eoyal Highness's stay at Tauranga would be from three to six days, and on leaving it, probably the Galatea, or whatever vessel he was on board of, would call at White's Island on his way to Napier, where he would remain for one . day, and then come -on to Wellington. In this province he would remain from ten 1 to twelve days, and during that time would go up to Wanganui and a short distance up the Wanganui Eiver, returning to Wellington to embark for Nelson and the West Coast; and from there going on to the Provinces of Can- ' terbury and Otago, in which latter pro- . vince. he would remain from three to nine days.. This was the programme sent to His Eoyal Highness, but the Napier and West Coast portions were to be reconsidered, and even the whole might be altered by circumstances. The only objection to it was that it occupied about sixty days, and that when His Excellency saw the Prince the other day in Sydney, His Eoyal Highness informed him that it was his intention to remain about five weeks in this colony." — "Nelson Examiner."