ception. The
succeeding day a Royal review of forty-three hundred troops occurred,
with twelve thousand spectators, and was followed by a luncheon to four
hundred veterans of the South African and Maori wars, at which the Duke
of Cornwall and York made one of the several _impromptu_ speeches
delivered during his tour. Speaking of the combination of old veterans
and young soldiers he said: "There is nothing like a chip of the old
block"--to which some one responded with "You're one yourself"--"when
one knows that the old block was hard, of good grain and sound to the
core, and if, in the future, whenever and wherever the Mother-hand is
stretched across the sea, it can reckon on a grasp such as New Zealand
has given in the present." This speech evoked tremendous cheering.
Later, the foundation-stone of the Queen Victoria School for Maori Girls
was laid, and in the evening, after a state dinner at Government House,
the Royal visitors attended a Reception given by the Mayor, and drove
through splendidly illuminated streets. The next few days were spent
amongst that most picturesque, gallant and chivalrous of native
peoples--the Maoris. Expressions of the most intense and unaffected
loyalty and contentment with British rule were universal. Most
interesting sights were witnessed and Maori customs studied--including
war and other dances, songs of welcome and of challenge to enemies, and
mimic battles fought with native skill and zest.

Wellington was reached on Waterloo Day (June 18th) and the route to
Government House was spanned by a dozen handsome arches--two of which
had been erected by the enthusiastic Maoris. After the conferring of
some knighthood honours the Royal visitors in the afternoon watched a
procession of Friendly Societies and laid the foundation-stone of a new
Town Hall. In the evening there were the usual state dinner, Reception
and illuminations. On the following day three hundred medals were
presented to South African veterans and seventeen deputations received.
A state Reception was attended at the Parliament Buildings in the
evening and the next day was devoted to visiting certain great
industries and charitable institutions. On June 20th the
foundation-stone of new Government Railway offices was laid amid
torrents of rain and then the departure was made for Christchurch which
was reached in a few hours amid the welcome of pealing bells, cheering
people and roaring guns. Here the foundation-stone of a st