THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1927, Page 4

THE ROYAL TOUR

CANBERRA CEREMONIES,

SDYNEY, Dec. 24. j Within a fortnight, the Duke and Duchess of York will leave England on their tour of Now Zealand and A ustrnlia. They will travel through New Zealand. New South Wales. Queensland. Tasmania, and Victoria, in that order, Indore, they pay their brief visit to Canberra to open, the Federal Parliament in its new and permanent home federated Australia’s new capital. But already plans have practically been completed for tbe entertainment of ttie Royal visitors, though the ceremonies do' not take place until May 9th. Since the Canberra ceremonies are the whole raison d’etre of the Duke’s visit, interest attaches to these plans. A SKELETON CITY. It must he understood that Canberra to-day is a skeleton city. Time, its progress towards completion lias been .marked hv activity during the past eighteen months or two years, hut it still remains a city in the making. The completed buildings include the Parliament buildings, a magnificent hostel, another hostel on not quite so high a plane, scores of civil servants homes, and dozens of business premises. Its population to-day is hut. a few thousands, hut it is estimated that its population during the two days of the Duke’s visit will he lietween 50,000 and 100,000. A VAST INFLUX. To cater for this large and rapid influx of people lias been the arduous duty of the Federal Committee, of entertainment. Before Parliament House, space has been allotted for 100,000 people to see the imposing review of the military, naval and air forces. Twenty aeroplanes will circle above tbe gathering. Eight hundred military and naval forces, in addition, airmen, wifi he encamped and these will take part in a review before Parliament House steps, where welcoming speeches to the Duke and 'Duchess by the Prime Minister and others will he carried to the waiting thousands by loud speakers. MOTOR CAI! TRANSPORT. The New South Wales Railways will Ih> unable to carry more than 3000 people on May Bth. and 9th. Hence most of the people will visit Canberra by means of motor-ears. 'Steps are being taken to improve the roads leading to the capital. Parking space is being provided for 30,000 motor-cars. Motorists will have numbers allotted to them corresponding to numbers in these various motor “parks.” and there will thus he a minimum of ineonvenl ience in reaching their allotted stations. A complete medical service . will he. established with a casualty clearing station on the lines of a military camp. Elaborate measures arc being taken for sanitation. Thousands of tents will he provided, and overnight Canberra will become a canvacity, for the present hotel accommodation will he all reserved for official guests who are expected to minihci hundreds in themselves. To this canvas city water pipes will he laid. Fireplaces for people using tents wil he provided for them to cook then meals. OFFICIAL GUESTS. Every nation with a consular representative in Australia will he represented by them. The Governor ol every State and their staffs, the Premier and Leader of the, Opposition ir each State, and the Lord Mayor ol each State capital will he among tin official guests. There will he olhei official Feedrnl guests, and. in addition a hatch of invitations will he sent t< i each State Government for distribution. All these details have been announced bv the main entertainment commit tee after two months’ discussion am thought. There still remains much tt he done.