THE ROYAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 89, 4 May 1901, Page 3

THE ROYAL VISIT.

[FEB PBBSS ASSOCIATION.] Albany, May 2. Tho Ophir resumed her voyage at six o'c'cck yesterday mor» i'g. The crui«frs railed later after coalinp. The Adminisfra f 'r of the men'', on behßlf of the Government and prop'e, smt a te'egram to the Duke and Duchess of Y« rk congratulating them on thfir rafe arrival in Australian water?. , The Duk< of York replud thanking tbe Administrator for his kind message of greeting. Details of tV-e Ophir's- voyage show that the Royal Party found the heat in tho Rid Sea and Singapore rather trying, but ih'y thorough'y enjiypd the trip. They were delighted with the enthusiastic reception met with everywhe'e.

The squadron califd at Aden, whore an address was n- 'PenW by a Parsee fentlemin, who subsequently dined with the Dnko and Duche s ont the Ophir. j The visit to Ceylon was especially enjoyable. ' Amorg th • festivities at Kandy was a display uf fi ewo ks and a procefsion of f lephant--. Colom v o was livish'y decoratid. was hcau'ifnl'y ill 'in irated, and nuine ons add es>os with va'uable and novel c skets were presented, iocludirg one each fiom Hiri£o~*', Arabs, Malayp, end Chinee. The stiy at JSir.g pro w«s marred by [tha deat h of one of he QphirV f-tok'ers. The body wa< c< mrait'ed to-the-deep shortly after leaving, ni'h full nav«l honouis, the Duke acd Duche sattending.

The squadion crossed the liee on-the 25th April. By the Duke's command the o'd ceremony of Nep'ure-ccm'ng aboard was carried tut on each vessel, causing much amusement. A sp-cial crrrespocdent and all othe'S who bad not previously gone through the ceremony were orderfd to l o made S->is of Neptune in the orthodox manner;