PROGRAMME OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WHILE IN NEW ZEALAND.

Southland Times, Issue 921, 23 March 1868, Page 13

PROGRAMME OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WHILE IN NEW ZEALAND.

At a meeting of the Wellington Eeception Committee, His Honor Mr Justice Johnston, who is a member of the Eoyal Eeception Commission, attended, and made the. following remarks in reference to the Prince's movements while in New Zealand :— His Honor stated .that thoueh he did not come fortified by instructions from the Eoyal Commission, and that, therefore, anything he might say must be looked on in the light of a simple friendly conversation, yet he felt himself justified in stating that bo 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 Com- ; mission 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 Edinburgh 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, nip control was exercised over purely local de monstrations. Owing to the change of Governors, and to tbe uncertainty at-

taching to the exact date of the Trince'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 transmitted to Sydney jfor 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 Kawau ; stay there for a couple of days, and proceed to Taurangai 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 what** ever 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 to twelve days, and during that time would go up to Wanganui arid a short distance up the Wanganui Eiver, re** - turning to Wellirigton to * erribark for Nelson and the West Coast; and from there going on to the Provinces of Canterbury and Otago, in- which latter province 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. Tbe 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." ""'* ': ] : . ........ „