TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 363, 27 April 1889, Page 3

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Half-pasfc nine this morning \\a> the time fixed for the formal civic reception of Lord Onslow, and last evening all preparations for the event had been completed. The day broke dark and showery, and during the morning irequent showers of drizzling rain fell, though tortunately during the pioceeclings of the reception the weather continued fine. From eight o'clock onward the poilion of Queen-street adjacent to the platform and triumphal aroh was gradually fliling up with crowds cf people in holiday attire, and by nine o'clock there must ha\e been some thousands of people in the thoioughfare awaiting the appearance of the vice-tegal party. - THE TRIUMPHAL ARCH. The triumphal arch thiough which tteh c Governor and party passed was an extremely handsome one, and was erected from oiiginal designs furnished from the City Engineer's Office, and erected unler the supervision of Mr Knight, Clerk of Works, and Mr Grey, City Inspector. The decoiation and draping of the arch, and also the platform, was performed under the supervision of Mr W. Goldie, Domain Ranger, and notwithstanding the short; space of time in which the preparations had to be made, the work was performed in an artistic and highly pleasing manner. The arch wag erected just at the land end of the Queen-street Wharf, across the junction of Quay-street, and was most conspicuous to gaze at from a considerable distance away, and two e\ergreen-draped columns rose up to a height of 37 feeo, 25 feet apart, and about 25 feet from the ground. The pillars were united by a crossstructure very prettily decorated, and containing in the centre the Royal arms, surrounded by a graceful fringing of flowers and greenery. Immediately below the coat of arms was the legend "Welcome !" in ornamented letters on a white ground, and depending underneath were three large green festoons intertwined. The floral festoons on the columns of the arch were in the form of diamonds, the apex of each covered with a coi> formed of evergreens and pampas grass. About twelve feet from the ground "were the shield of the City Council on the last column and that of the Harbour Board on the other, surmounting circles of flags. From base to summit the columnsweremas&esof graceful green foliage and wavingf eathery gra&s,intermingled with bright masses of colour, and with here and there flags and steamers floating in the light breeze. "The tops of the columns were surmounted with bunting, and lines of flags were also suspended across from the summits to the Bides oi the street.