THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL TOUR

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

THE KING’S REPLY

AUCKLAND. Feb. 23

The Governor-General has received the following message from the King in reply to .that sent yesterday reporting their and reception: “[ am very grateful for your message reporting the safe arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York. I am delighted to hear <W the loyal enthusiasm of their reception, hut of this T had no doubt, knowing Inexperience, all that a New Zealand welcome means.” GEORGE. RATHE CHILDREN’S DISPLAY. AUCKLAND. ‘Fob. 23. The cl*) of event to-day was the children’s display it. . the Domain, which attracted aif enormous attendance of t hejj>ul>li(\ both in the grounds and nil along the rout*: fplTowed by Hie Royal car. In glorious sunshine the colours of the children's dresses and uniforms of girl guides and bo> soon Is with throngs of people in holiday attire Htl around, made a wonderful kaleidoscopic picture.

The children performed various evolutions culminnting*in the formation of a, living flag of St. George, which concluded with t-lie. fluttering of thousands of little Union .Tacks, as the children cheered and the-hand played “God Save the King'.” ■

Prior lo the evolutions, the Duchess received a dnilitv bouquet and two tiny tots, in Brownies uniforms, presented her Royal Highness with a silk covered box containing a' doll■ for Princess Elizabeth. This little incident provoked a remarkable •demonstration of delight, from the assembled'multitudes. ROYALTY AT HOSPITAL. A HUMAN INCIDENT. LONDON, Feb. 22. Nancy Greenliall was flic heroine of the King’s and Queen’s visit to London Hospital, where the Royal couple spent hours chatting to patients. When Nancy heard of the Queen’s arrival in the children’s ward, she sat up in hod and clapped her hands in glee, called a nurse, and said:—“Can T see my Queen.”

The nurse crossed the ward and told the Queen, who came immediately to Nancy’s bedside. “But nurse, she has not got a golden crown,” said the disappointed child. “ATy dear” said the Queen, “I am so sorry T left my crown behind, T have only my toque. It is not, golden, hut it lias flowers.”

The Queen then called the King—“Do come here, George. This pretty little tiling wonders why we are not wearing Crowns.” Thou bringing him to Nancy, whose eyes uere gleaming, she said : —“This is the King, my dear.”

As she ileal, Hie Queen patted Nancy’s cheek and added:—“You shall see your Queen wearing a golden crown some day.”

The King sought out and chatted to several nurses who attended himself in iiis last illness.

TRIBUTE FKOAI THE CROWD,

AUCKIAND, bob. 22

The Duchess achieved wonderful popularity instantly on every hand through her gracious, winning smile. Ihe moment she appeared at the rail as the Renown was moving to an anchorage this morning there arose from those in near-by launches the involuntary tribute, "Isn’t she lovely.’’ No fawning adultatipn this, but just a natural outpouring of the heart at the vision of a charming woman, natural, unaffected, smiling as one who lecls gladsome and would have till others so. It was the same wherever and whenever she appeared, this smiling, happy woman's approach seemed to bring gladness upon the faces of all who came within the focus of her glance. The memory of her smile will live for many a day in the hearts of those who have watched her dainty presence pass. THE ILLUAIINATIONS. The illuminations in the city and around the waterfront drew many thousands of people into the streets tonight. One of the most attractive features was the lighting at the Queen’s Wharf entrance, where a model lighthouse is erected on a high, bridge-like erection over ■ the gates. Tho Post Office also made a brilliant spectacle with its coloured light effects. GIRD GUIDES. In response to a message of welcome addressed to her by tho Girl Guides of the Dominion; the Duchess of York has forwarded the following reply to the Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides’ Association, Airs W. R. Wilson : ‘‘Sincere thanks to the Guides of tbo Dominion for tbeir greetings. I am much looking forward to meeting them.—ELIZABETH. A PRESENTATION ALBUM. After the formal welcome extended by the Prime Al mister to the Duke nnd Duchess on 11.A1.5. Renown this morning, their Royal Highnesses engaged Ministers in an informal eonversatmn for a few minutes. During this period Air Coates presented a beauti-fully-bound and ornamented album ot views of New Zealand, giving charm-ingly-coloured photographs of scenery hv” hike, sea- and mountain.

BP,ITJJANT iLLUAnNATIONS. AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. It is estimated that there must have been from 70.000 to 80.000 people in Queen street to-night to witness the magnificent street illuminations. These are" said to lie even more elaborate than on the occasion of the visit ol the Prince of Wales, owing to. the greater facilities and freedom of ideas in the use of electricity a.s an illuminant. The Post- Office presents a striking colour scheme on unique lines, and the Harbour Board’s device makes a rare blaze of glittering colour at the loot of Queen street, where the crowds were so massed that- frequent traffic jam.' took plane early in the evening. The harbour presented a glowing picture to-night. ‘ The Renown showed amidships a great circular device in electric lights representing the rose emblem of the House of York, and the Diomede, the Laburnum, and the Veronica were so completely outlined in electric lights that they resembled unique specimens of the jeweller’s art.

the duchess

WHAT DTD SHE WEAR

AA’hat did she wear? Every woman in the Dominion will wish to knon With such matchless eyes what- could she wear hut blue. Beginning from the top, an ever so smart all toque, "trimmed only with a spia. forget-me-not over the right ear . plain straight-cut blue dress, the details of which were obscured by a beautiful coat of pale blue silk, into which Of silver and bronze leaves ini thei pal ost relief, surmounted by a deep colla of 2 rev chinchilla fur thrown well back. ‘ Stockings of champagne silk, and smart well-pointed shoes of a slightly darker tone completed a toilet that- matched its wearer to a hair,

LADIES PERTURBED

LENGTH OF DUCHESS’S FROCK

AUCKLAND, Feb. 22

It was interesting to the casual observer to note what the ladies had to say about the Duchess, and one was ain used, and not a little instructed to learn that next to her personal charm the length of her dress had intrigued every woman present, most of whom were sitting about the lounge with th<> round of their knees barely eoneealed. The fact, that the Duchess s dress extended to a point half way between the knee and the ankle, had quite perturbed the sex, which, considers fashion’s decrees before anything Cl Qne young lady thanked Heaven that she was able to lengthen two of her dresses bv two inches, and was going to do it that very afternoon. ipt v this it will he seen how far-reach-ioh i„ its effects will be the visit o the Duchess of York to New Zealand. RENOWN’S SIEVED BUGLES. Since the close of the War the Royal Marines have been presented with sixteen silver bugles by relatives of tie officers of that distinguished arm of the British Navy. No fewer than eight of these were loaned to the Benonn ns a tribute to the Duke of \ork. and the buMe call which welcomed the l ; o'-ernor-General on board tins morning was blown on those lmgle.s b> eiJit specially selected buglers of the M,'nes. ranged in a line on the quarterd<The bugles are made of solid mlver and when not in use are kept in • class ease in the ward-room. It was the use of these bugles n ayed together which made the call » l,dll) ® along the waterfront although the wind was blowing offshore.

CHILDREN’S DISPLAY. AUCKLAND, Feb. 23. Auckland to-day fully retrieved its reputation as a city of sunshine. From the earliest dawn, nature seemed to simle her brightest upon the festn Dies arranged in honour of the Duke and Duchess of York, and as a general liolidav was observed, the whole P°P U ation were able to participate in some part of the proceedings, which, summarised, included a private function at Government House, at which native delegations from the Cook Islands, Samoa? and the Tokcrlan Group presented addresses of welcome and loyalty on behalf of the natives of those islands. The ceremony was brief but impressive in its simplicity, the native dignity of the brown skinned chiefs showing out in a remarkable manner.

The piece de resistance, from a public point of view, however, was the children’s display in the Domain, betwoeu eleven and 12.30 when 12,000 young New Zealanders were assembled in certain ordered formations to earn out various evolutions, leading up to the massing of four thousand gills in red and white in such a manlier that the movement culminated in presenting ‘n living flag—the Bed Cross of St. Georgej on a white background, when, as a"fmalo. the whole of the children raised their voices in cheers for the Duke and Duchess of York, and each fluttered a tiny Union Jack. The effect was wonderful from the grandstand, where the royal party were .seated. The view was one not soon to bo forgotten. In the arena were massed the children actually participating in the exercises, while all around were thousands more children, and at the back of tlie ground, opposite the stand, the sloping hillside was thronged, a grove of trees affording welcome shade from the boiling sun. and adding a finishing note of colour in a very kaloidscopic picture.

At the conclusion, the band played “God Save the King.’’ Tlie Duke and Duchess then entered their car and moved round the ground among the children, to their great delight, as both stood up during a good part of

this time so that the youngsters had a chance of seeing them close at hand. A procession of ears then left the ground, Their Royal Highnesses returning tc Government House for luncheon.

GARDEN PARTY AND AT HOME. AUCKLAND, Feb. 23.

There was a garden party at Government House this afternoon, and it was attended by a. large number of official visitors and loading citizens of Auckland. The Governor-General received the guests on the lawn, and they then filed past the Duke and Duchess who acknowledged the obeisance of every one in the long lino. Afterwards it was noted that the royal visitors took occasion to speak awhile with some of the older people, who, in their clay, had played a prominent part in the earlier years of colonisation. The Duke had a keen eye for any who bore evidence of having suffered injury’ during service in the war, and, like, his elder brother, possesses a good memory for faces that he has seen in other days. This evening crowds thronged the approaches to the Town Hall, wheie Their Royal Highnesses were the guests of the city at an “At Home.” The scone in the beautifully decorated hall, with the gay dresses of the ladies providing a foil for the sober black of tbc men. was an entrancing one. RENOWN LEAVES AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND. Feb. 23. The Dulce and Duchess of York tonight left tlie “At Home” at the Town Hall in time to rejoin tlie Renown, which, at 11 o’clock, lifted anchor, and departed for the Bay of Islands, on a fishing excursion, which is being treated as private. The Duke and Duchess return on Saturday morning when they will entrain for Rotorua. RENOWN TO VISIT LYTTELTON. CHRISTCHURCH. Feb. 23. Advice lias been received by the Mayor, Air ,T. K. Archer, from Air ,T. Hi slop (Under Secretary for Internal Affairs) that H.M.S. Renown will come to Lyttelton, arriving on the morning of Alaroh 19th., and leaving the same evening on. her voyage southwards.