RENOWN AT SUVA.

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1927, Page 5

RENOWN AT SUVA.

FIJIANS’ WELCOME.

To Duke and Duchess.

SUVA, Feb. 17.

I unctual as usual, 11.M.5. Renown anchored in the picturesque harbour of Suva at two o’clock this afternoon. She was escorted thereto by three or four typical Sydney dinghies and motor boats, and there was also a whole fleet of native catamarans, their brown mat sails swelling to a favouring breeze. Their crews were waving and cheering in emulation of the Europeans aboard the more civilised craft.

From the sea, Suva was looking most attractive, rising from the harbour with its red roofs peeping about tropical foliage. In the harbour, the ships were dressed for the occasion, but the Renown neither dressed ship, nor saluted She moved to her anchorage with the same effortless expedition as ever. As soon as the Renown anchored, the Governor, Sir George Hutson, and the € olonial Secretary, Mr Seymour, went on board. They were received with a full guard, and all due formality.

Earl Cavan welcomed them on behalf of the Duke of York.

The Duke and Duchess landed at three o’clock and they received a tu multuous welcome from the crowds gathered on the wharf, where a landing stage was placed. The Duke and Duch ess were received by the Governor, the Mayor, the Chief Justice, the Members of the Executive Council, and other dignitaries. They then proceeded to Government House to inspect the school children. Thereafter they went to a civic, reception at the Town Hall. In the afternoon there was tea, a native reception, and the presentation of addresses at Albert Park.

The native address expressed thanks for the visit of the royal representative of a mighty nation. They were especially grateful to the visitors far turning aside to view these small islands. The visit would remain a living memory, as were the visits of the King and Prince of Wales. They were grateful for the presence of the Duchess as the representative of Scotland, which had given Fiji many sons to govern and 16ad. They were pleased to see the Renown again, being as the symbol of the invincible fleet guarding the Empire and ensuring peaee. They gave an assurance that the form of Government established by Britain after cession of the islands was deeply appreciated, the benign rule preserving their interests and privileges, and having increased their knowledge and wealth. They prayed the Duke of York to convey to the King their assurance of unswerving loyalty, and thanks for sympathetic Government. They prayed for the prosperity, happiness and long life of the Duke and Duchess of York.

The Duke of York expressed thanks on behalf of the Duchess and himself, and said that he would not fail to convey to his father their message of loyalty and gratitude. The Duchess, he said, had been especially touched by the reference to Scotland. He rejoiced to hear the memory of the visits of the King and Prince of Wales was still fresh. They had told of the happy times they spent in Fiji and of their loyal reception. The welfare of the native subjects in all the Dominions was ever near to the heart of the King, and all of the King’s house.

He continued: “Continue to work with those whom the King sets over you to guard your interests, and all will be well for you and your descendants! I pray you will continue to flourish and prosper.” The municipality tendered a welcome to the Duke and Duchess of York with an assurance of loyalty. The address referred to the King’s visit in 1881, and to the Prince of Wales’s visit in 1920. and acknowledged the further honour of the Duke and Duchess of York’s v’sit to the colony, from which it was 1 '•ped they would carry away happy rei Elections. The Duke of York replying, sincerely thanked the municipality for its expressions of loyalty. He deeply appreciated the welcome, and it was a pleasure to renew the personal ties of friendship established in the past by his father and brother, who retained the happiest memories of the times they spent in Fiji. “We are looking forward,” he said, “to repeating those delightful experiences, and we feel that such a visit will not fail to knit closer the bonds between the Mother Country and the distant portions of the Empire,” which, he assured them, were not forgotten at Home. “We realise to the full that the Empire is our greatest heritage, something infinitely preciows which we hold in trust from our forefathers for our children. We know, too, that if we are to keep that heritage, it i-s our duty to learn and understand to help each other. Then, united under one flag, owing allegiance to one sovereign, we may, by co-operating, prove worthy of the groat trust handed down to us.” He concluded by cordially wishing happiness and prosperity to all.

Native Tribute. QUAINT CEREMONIES. SUVA, February 17. Many picturesque incidents happened during the Royal visit ashore this afternoon. Ex-service men were presented before a guard of honour furnished by sturdy Fijians, moving with the precision of a line regiment, who, after being inspected, marched through the streets accompanied by admiring crowds of gaily clad natives and Indians. The school children assembled in the grounds of Government House, making a brave show of colours ranging from deep black to the white Europeans, but

all displaying the same enthusiasm in their cheers in honour of the Duke and Duchess of York, who begged a whole holiday for them.

The Duchess was presented with flaming bouquets of ixora from both native and white tots, who were duly impressed by the gravity of the occasion.

The native ceremonial was most interesting. Fijians attach the greatest Importance to their various rites, and treat all with most besoming solemnity. A colourful scene greeted the royalties on arrival at the Recreation Ground, where there was a large gathering of chiefs and chieftainesses, clad in all the pagan finery, tappa cloth, whales’ teeth, and garlands and girdles of leaves and flowers, all seated on the ground. The first ceremony was the presentation of a whale’s tooth, the ‘‘Tambua, ” to the Duke as a symbol of homage and affection. The announcement of the acceptance was re eeived with a low-voiced chant from Unseated chieftains. Then the women, approaching slowly in two long lines, gracefully walking, poured water from the prow of a canoe, indicating the arrival of the Duchess from the sea, and placing the ‘‘Tambua” thereon. -This ceremony is seldom performed. The presentation of the “yaquona” or kava root, and the long imposing ceremony of kave making, followed, at which the Duke and Duchess and several members of their to partake of the drink, which evidently was not always done with unmixed satisfaction. This was a culminating ceremony in acts of homage, and the people clustered behind the bowl wherein the liquor was made, and maintained a chant throughout. At the termination of this solemn ceremony, which was punctuated by’ many cries of appreciation and soft handclapping, an address of welcome was read by the oldest chief, after which anothci' presented the whale’s tooth, and expressed the pleasure that the Duke and Duchess of Yorks’ visit had given the people. The presentation of many splendid examples of native craftsmanship concluded the ceremonial. The Duke and Duchess of York dined with the Governor in the evening, afterwards attending a reception and ball in the Pacific Hotel