ROYAL VISIT

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 98, 19 January 1935, Page 8

ROYAL VISIT

Duke at Christchurch To-day FINAL STAGES OF TOUR By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, January 18. Christchurch is en fete for the concluding stages of the Duke of Gloucester’s New Zealand tour. The city is gay yvith bunting, and a carnival spirit was already in evidence to-night, when exceptionally large crowds thronged the streets and inspected the various decorative schemes. Light showers fell at Intervals, and the weather forecast for the ensuing 24 hours is not particularly hopeful. A feature of the proceedings will be the riverside carnival and fireworks and fire brigade displays. . , , Numerous novel attractions have been arranged, one of them being an illuminated procession of decorated rivercraft, which will temporarily convert the Avon into a miniature Venice. The Duke himself will traverse the carnival course by motor-launch. There will also be rowing and speed-boat contests, and the course will be flown over several times by aeroplane. There will be Maori canoe races and Maori hakas and poi dances. The North Haglcy Park Football Ground will be used for dancing from 10.30 to midnight. Following the civic ceremonies at Christchurch to-morrow, the Duke will attend the Addington trots in the afternoon and will start the mile and a half race from in front of the grandstand. From 4.30 p.m. onwards he will be playing polo. The private visit of the Duke to Lungbeach concludes in the morning, when his Royal Highness resumes his final round of official ceremonies, beginning with the Ashburton reception. He devoted this morning to riding round the Grigg Estate, but on account of rain remained indoors in the afternoon. There was a private dance at the Grigg homestead to-night. Ashburton’s demonstration promises to provide a fitting prelude to the Christchurch welcome. The township will have the distinction of being the only place in New Zealand supplying a mounted escort for the Duke.