DUNEDIN’S DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 92, 12 January 1935, Page 8

DUNEDIN’S DAY

Sustained Welcome For Duke CHEERING CROWDS Expressions of Loyalty and Goodwill By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, January 11. Keen in their desire to see as much as possible of the Duke of Gloucester during liis stay in the city of Dunedin, the people have kept a close vigil at his hotel headquarters, and as though advised by some telepathic means, the waiting crowd is always the largest when his Royal Highness makes his appearance. Illustrating tl;e warmth of Dunedin’s sustained reception was an incident late this afternoon, when the Prince drove to a photographic studio to collect the results of some of his own camera work on the West Coast. Outside the premises in Princes Street _ a crowd rapidly gathered, until its numbers touched the thousand mark. Pedestrian, tram and vehicular traffic was in danger of being held up indefinitely, but the police, with their usual foresight and tact, marshalled the sightseers and preserved a passage lane from the shop door to the Royal car, down which his Highness, to the accompaniment of lusty cheering, passed 20 minutes later. During his three hours’ absence from his hotel in the evening, a large crowd waited patiently for his return at 10.30 o’clock, while another crowd stationed itself outside the Town Hall, where the Duke was attenclia" a performance of massed choirs and orchestras. His reception there was a memorable one. The Duke h[id another series of games of squash rackets before dining privately at the Fernhill Club. To-morrow he lays the foundation stone of the new Dunedin post office, and will accept as a souvenir of the event a gold model of the building. The Royal train is scheduled to leave at noon for Gore and Invercargill. Pioneer History Recalled. The pages of pioneer history, with their moving-chapters of sturdy enterprise and effective colonisation, were turned back this morning, when the Duke of Gloucester met members of the Qtago Early Settlers’ Association and with them examined relics of interest in the Old Colonists’ Museum. The Prince followed the example of his Royal brothers and played a tune on the historical barrel! organ. Replying to an address of welcome Lis Royal Highness said that he was greatly interested in the record given of the number of Otago’s earliest settlers still alive, and in the declared objects of the association “We all of us.” he added, “owe a special debt of gratitude to the original settlers, who, leaving Home for an unknown destination, by their determination and untiring faith overcame all difficulties and set up a new home on»the other side of the world. This younger Edinburgh end the Province of Otago provide a notable instance of the pioneering colonising ability of the Scottish race to whose members their foundation is cue. I hope sincerely you will keep alive the inspiration ro be gained from a study of the lives, and achievements of Otago’s early settlers, and offer the association my best wishes in its efforts to preserve the records and promote a spirit of comradeship between their descendants and their kinsmen in the Homeland.” Children’s Demonstration. Rain during the early part of the morning caused the children’s gathering to take the form of an indoor instead of an outdoor demonstration, and although the weather broke fine at 11 o’clock, it was then too late to marshal the children in Logan Park. However, young Otago’s display of affection for the Prince lost nothing by having the Drill Hall as its setting. The commodious building was filled with demonstrative youngsters, even the gallery and bays commemorating engagements in which New Zealanders figured being packed to capacity. The welcome itself takes pride of place among the juvenile demonstrations of the tour. It was a great and enthusiastic gathering with his Royal Highness entirely at home smiling down on a sea of hardy, bright-eyed boys and girls, who, by gesture and voice, proclaimed that to them as to all young New Zealanders the Duke of Gloucester was indeed their fairy Prince. There were scenes of indescribable excitement when the Duke, following his custom, walked among the children, his face beaming and his hand in perpetual wave. Many people abroad in the city streets during the morning were ready to cheer the Duke whenever be appeared. Er tra Day’s Holiday. The Duke expressed his gratitude to the children for their attendance, stating that he knew some' of them had been up since 4 a.m. “At that time, you know,” he said, “I was sound asleep.” The laughter gave place to thunderous cheering when his Royal Highness announced that an extra day’s leave to compensate for the holiday broken into would be given at the end of the vacation. Then came an effect which admirably completed their inspiring demonstration. As the Duke rose to leave the hall concealed handkerchiefs were produced, and for a moment the children were hidden under monster rolling waves of red, white and blue. A visit was paid subsequently to the Soldiers’ Convalescent Home, Montecillo, where the Duke inspected wards and spoke to bedridden patients. The convalescents were seated on the lawu and his Royal Highness spent a considerable time chatting to the men and shaking hands with them before his departure. He had his photograph taken for the first time in New Zealand with “Diggers” seated round him.