The Royal Visit.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 166, 22 June 1901, Page 3

The Royal Visit.

Wellington, June 19

The only fuaction connected wita the Royalties open to the publio tori *y was the presentation of medals to the returned soldiers at Parliament buildings.

Heavy rain fell during the night and morning, but had almost oeased at the time apppoirited for the ceremony. Their Royal Highnesses arrived punctually at noon ; the Duke arrayed in the scarlet uniform and the tall busby of th* Irish Fusileera. The Duchess was, as usual, plainly attired in black. She was presented with a bouquet by Miss Dyer the Premier's grand-daughter—a little mite of four—clad in white.

No time was lost in proceeding with the object of the function. .- ' • The Duke of Roxburgh stood by the Prince, and handed him ' packet after packet of medals, enclosed in a white cardboard case. Colonel Penton called the names in order of their contingents, and almost as fast as he aould read, man after man—colonels, captains, sergeants, and privates, intermingled—stepped up, saluted, received the memento of his campaign, and as rapidly made way for his successor. Three hur dred and eleven medals were given, and the whole operation was a most creditable display of military organisation and promptitude ai it occupied only seventeen minutes, and there was not the slightest bitch.

The various contingents were represented as follows :—First, 67 ; second, 91; Third, 96 ; Fourth, 14 ; Fifth, 28 ; miscellaneous, 6*. It is understood that the medals for those who are dead will be handed to their relatives.

While the presentation was going on, Trooper Morgan, of Hokitika, who h*d rendered some service to Prince Alexander of Teck in Africa, was introduced to the Duchess of York, who entered into conversation with him, and inspected the ring which har brother had given him as a memento. Prince Alex* aader, catching sight of what was going on, stepped over, and shook the trooper heartily by the hand. After a few minutes spent • in oonvereawith the Governor and the Premier, their Royal Highnesses drove away,

No sooner had they gcno th»n a drench i ing ram drove the spectators to shekel! too, but notwithstanding this knots o, happy men could be seen standing about i-he lawn with th< ir equally joyous women fo:k pinning the medals on their Hraasta. June 20. After a prelfmiliary shower the weaker turned fine, and the sun shone out for almost the first time this w«ek. Owing to the rain and fear of slips, the projected trip over the Rimutaka •vas abandoned, and their Highnesses paid a vidit to the factories at Petone instead.

They inspected the woollen mills, (this eing the first tlmj the Duke had ever em one), the Gear Company's meat vorks, and the railway workshops. Gre.t precautions were taken that .hern ehou d be no accidents on the line, 10 fewer than 400 meo being employed >n special service for the occasion. No fewer than 32000 volunteers and :-idets left here yeserday and to-day for Jhristohurch.

Christchttbch, June 20

It is announced that the Opbir will oave Wellington at four to-morrow afle.'i on. and will steam along at twelve knots an hour, being expected off Cape Jumpb. 11 at about 7.30 a.m. The first of a long line of coetil bonfires will then e lighted at the Cape.

Bain has fallen off and on all day, and the decorations present a bedraggled sp<>ct. It is anticipated that outside these dieplays and the Government arch, the pub lie decorations will not be very successful. So far, there have been practically 'io attempts at priva'e decorations. Howeve', a feature of the visit will be the large number of illuminations, both public and private, and it is expected 'hat the illuminations of Christchurch Cathedral will be the beat thing of the kind seen in New Ze iland.

The Christchurch correspondent of the Morning Post states that the deeorations in that oity for the Royal visit are a magnificent feast of colour. The combinations are most attractive, and Saturday promises to be a carnival sf unsurpassed magnificence. Thousands of visitors are expected. Capetown, June 20.

Cape Colony upends £IOO,OOO in welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Comwall. People are flocking into Capetown for thousands of miles round.