DUKE IN SOUTH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 93, 14 January 1935, Page 10

DUKE IN SOUTH

Invercargill’s Warm Welcome GESTURES OF LOYALTY ■Week-end in Southernmost Part of Empire By Telegraph—Press Association. , Invercargill, January 13. There was an impressive element in the receptions accorded the Duke of Glouester in the Southland pro- ' vmce. From the southernmost ixirt of the Empire the Duke received fullthroated welcomes and gestures of loyalty and affection which evidently impressed ‘ him. Incidentally, the Invercargill people, about 20,000 of whom participated in the city street and park demonstration, had an exceptional opportunity of seeing his Royal Highness at close range, since his walk to the dais in the gardens where the main function was held was along -a pathway fully a quarter of a mile in length. A full pipers’ band acted as pilot to the civic stand in settings which were both colourful and picturesque, with brilliant sunshine brightening the scene. The Prince acknowledged the salutations while three aeroplanes flying in formation circled overhead . On his wav to the gardens the Duke had placed a wreath at the base of the memorial, • pausing a the lower step to write and sign a short in memoriam inscription on the accompanying card. The impressiveness of this brief ceremony was accentuated when the Duke walked slowly back to his waiting car. He turned and paused for a moment’s contemplation of the memorial statue. “My brothers have made me familiar with the beauties'and fertility of Southland,” said the Duke,, replying to the welcome. “I am glad lo have this opportunity of admiring them myself and meeting the Southland people.” Through more lanes of cheering adults and children, his Royal Highness motored in an open car to Kew, where he laid the foundation-stone of a new hospital, which, according to a statement by the Minister of Health, Hon. J. A. Young, is estimated to cost £ll,OOO. The Minister paid a tribute to New Zealand’s hospital system, pointing out its service to the poor and rich alike, and its high standard of efficiency. Special peals from the Presbyterian Church marked the Duke’s return’to the station, where he rejoined the Royal train. The journey to Lumsden was cancelled, and the traih remained overnight at Waikiwi, a small station three miles outside Invercargill. It stays there as the Duke's, week-end headquarters. Before dining on the train the Prince took his dogs, Digger find Sally, for a brisk walk. In the evening he motored to town and spent an informal quarter of an hour with the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. An appropriate prelude to Invercargill’s outstanding welcome was Gore’s splendid demonstration earlier in the afternoon. RECREATION IN SURF Departure For Kingston By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, January 13. Miles upon miles of unbroken foreshore, with white-crested ' breakers ravishing the golden sands, provided the setting for a surf-bathing expedition by the Duke of Gloucester and his staff this afternoon. There were thousands of bathers present at Oreti Beach, five and a half miles from Invercargill, but such an expanse of beach that few if any of the sightseers saw his Royal Highness in the water. A good surf was running, and the Duke had a first-class time with the breakers. A picnic lunch was had at the beach. Subsequently the Duke played several sets of tennis on the courts at the home of Sir Robert Anderson. The Royal train, which is a subject of considerable public attention, is standing at the little station of Waikiwi, three miles out from Invercargill. It left in the evening for Kingston, where the party to-morrow joins the Queenstown steamer. , ■ RIDE ON RAILWAY JIGGER By Telegraph.—Press Association. Invercargill, January 13. The Duke of Gloucester this evening a railway jigger, moving through Waikiwi station with Major-General Howard Vyse and Captain H. Kerr as crew, who pulled vigorously up the line to a crossing, where they lifted it round and returned shouting and laughing like boys, upsetting the gravity of the party and the train crew. It was a strange con-trast-to the earlier ride in an aeroplane and the fast motor drive along the beach. DUNEDIN POST OFFICE Foundation-stone Laying Ceremony By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, January 12. Upon a site where once grew virgin bush, and where for many years not even a sheep track marked the route of the thoroughfare the new building will dominate, the Duke of Gloucester to-day laid the foundation-stone of the new Dunedin Post Office. The ceremony, which was held in threatening weather, was attended by a vast crowd which cheered the Duke to the echo. In thanking his Royal Highness for performing the ceremony, the Post-moster-General, Hon. A. Hamilton, said the new building, the total cost of which, excluding land, was estimated at £322,500, would contain nine stories at the back and eight in front, andwould be not only one of the highest structures in the city, but also the largest single unit in the Dominion. It would be a focal point for nearly ail the Government services at Dunedin, as it would accommodate other Departments in addition to the Post and Telegraph. The people of Dunedin at the start had had some misgivings regarding the project, believing the general scheme to be too elaborate for present needs. “It may be supposed,” added the Minister, “that the cautious instincts of an Inherently thrifty people are inclined to be a trifle against the large amount it is proposed to spend. It was suggested that the building as content-

plated was somewhat ostentatious, and that a ffiore modest structure would be appropriate. Those misgivings gradually subsided when it was realised that no contribution was sought from those who would benefit by the new facility.” His Royal Highness said he welcomed the opportunity of expressing, his appreciation of the admirable service which had been given him by the Dominion postal authorities regarding both communications and road transport. “A post office,” said his Royal Highness, “provides the public with a great variety of services, and it follows that increase of population and the need to utilise the most up-to-date methods sooner or later lead to the replacement of older and smaller buildings by a large- and fully-equipped institution 'such as the Dunedin*Tost Office will be. Perhaps it is increased letter-writing on the part of citizens that caused the urggjjt need for the new office, and in that case an inscription ‘What Dunedin thinks to-day the Dominion will know to-morrow,’ might perhaps be a suitable one to be engraved above the front entrance. “I congratulate the citizens on acquiring a building which will be of great advantage to them and an ornament to the city, t regi'et that lam to see no more to-day than the founda-tion-stone. I hope that when the office has been completed one of the Mayor’s first acts will be to place a letter addressed to me in the post box to give me an idea of its appearance.” Thousands of people assembled later at the approaches to the Dunedin Railway Station to witness the departure of the Duke of Gloui,ster for Southland. ENGLISH AIR MAIL By Telegraph—frees Association. Invercargill, January 13. Landed in Auckland on Saturday morning, a special English air-mail for the Duke of Gloucester was opened and read by his Royal Highness in Invercargill at 7.45 o'clock on Saturday night. The mail, winch contained letters and several packages, left London on December 22, and was delivered at Auckland by the Mariposa at G. 35 a.m. on Saturday. It. was picked up at 8.-10 a.m. by Flight-Lieut. ’Wallingford, and flown post haste lo Invercargill. The trip was uneventful and occupied eight and a half hours flying time. Refuelling stops were made at Palmerston North and Wigram aerodromes. Slight headwinds were encountered most of the way. The plane arrived nt Irfvercargill at 7.30 in the evening. The mail was taken bv motor to the royal train at Waikiwi where it was delivered, to his Royal Highness within a few