THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL TOUR

TO ROTORUA. INCIDENTS ON THE JOURNEY. [by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] ROTORUA, February 27. The beginning of the royal progress through the Dominion was perhaps inauspicious from the point of view of the weather, as, after steady soaking rain all night in Auckland, the morning dawned dull and forbidding, much like last Tuesday, but showing less promising signs of the clouds lifting. They did, however, for a while, ana the departure from Auckland City was made at 9.30 in a fine patch. Though thin rain fell at intervals, great crowds saw the royal car enter the station precincts, and as the train steamed through the suburbs, every coign of vantage held its full complement ot cheering men, women and children waving farewell to the “ Little Duchess,” whom they have so taken to their hearts. Every crossing throughout the day, it may he mentioned here, had its group of people waving good wishes to the speeding visitors, and wherever a farmhouse stood near the railway, there was a knot of youngsters by the wayside with the homekeeping elders at the homesteads, all giving expression to delight at even seeing a fleeting glimpse of the Duke and Duchess ol York as might he gained through the windows of the royal coach. Happy, indeed, was tlic youngster who at some point was fortunate enough to come under the glance of the Duchess when the train happened to Tie going slow on •an up grade, or stopped momentarily at an unscheduled spot, as occurred once or twice. The Renown returned to Auckland at d.Ui p.m. PUKEKOHE. February 26.

The royal train, conveying the Duke and Duchess of York to Rotorua, made a momentary. stop at, Pukckohc this morning. The railway platform was gay with bunting and greenery, while banners hearing the words “ Greetings from Pukckohc.” fluttered in the breeze. There was drizzling rain. Three thousand were present, including hoy scouts,‘and pupils of local schools, who, waving flags and ehorcing, madly greeted their highnesses as the train steamed in. The royal visitors stopped from their coach on to a carpeted dais, and amid the greatest enthusiasm, little Mirabel .Massey, granddaughter of the late Prime Minister, banded a, handsome bouquet to the Duchess. The train drew out, accompanied by cheering and ling waving, their royal highnesses bowing their acknowledgement.

AT TERRITORIALS’ CAM.P. ROTORUA. February 27. Just before reaching Ngaruwahia, the royal train pulled up for two or throe minutes opposite the site of a camp where about six hundred territorials are in training. Then men wore drawn up along a fence opposite the train, and (he Duke stepped out, and took the royal salute, afterwards having all the officers presented to him. The Duchess, meantime, had loft the royal car, and she came in for special cheers from the delighted troops, and onlookers gathered about her. as elsewhere, seemingly from nowhere. When the train moved on. the men ran forward to the fence, which they mounted, ami the last seen of them from tintrain was a line of waving arms aud caps, while the owners cheered till they must have been hoarse. AT NG AR UAAVAT7I A. At the station here in the vicinity of the lines there were many eager faces, Alaoris seeming to lie in the majority, and above the din of the train—which only slowed down, but did not stop—there could he heard snatches of war cries. Frnnkton furnished a, similar scene, though here the pnkehas predominated, and the Maoris note was not very insistent. AT THE WAIKATO. Hamilton was reached a little after noon, and on the station platform the Mayor, Air .T. T\. Fow, with the Mayoress and Town Clerk (AH AY. AYaddcl) were presented to Their Highnesses. A procession of motor cars was then formed, and drove through the town and across the Waikato River to Steel Park, in Hamilton East. The whole line of the route was bordered by,cheering people, so that it seemed scarcely

possible that any could be left to make a display in the Park. This idea was soon dissipated, however, when the Park was reached. Here was a great crowd of people, and on the green, besides a. guard of honour, furnished by the Kith Waikato Regiment, there were marshalled about a hundred returned soldiers of the Great War, and nearly a score of South African veterans, with scouts, girl guides and twelve hundred school children. The Duke inspected the soldiers, and the Duchess the guides. The presentation of Municipal Councillors and o.thcr representatives of local bodies followed. Then Their Highnesses mounted a dais, and the acclamation, which .had been very warm all the time, now redoubled in fervour, and it tvas some time before the Mayor was able to read an address' of welcome to Hamilton and district.

| The Duke did not speak in reply. I Ho handed a written appreciation to - the Mayor. After a few minutes’ conversation with those around them, the ! Duke and Duchess entered their motor car, and as the rain fortunately was holding off during all the proceedings so far. they caused the hood to he ( lowered as they drove around the ground through forty long double lines of children, whose delight and enthusiasm became intense, and the air wan full of caps thrown up by boys. It seemed as if the head gear were permanently suspended and waving in a gyrating breeze. The scene was certainly an inspiring one, and its fervour was uniHminished until the royal party had left the grounds en route to Clnudclands to rejoin their train. On the way to Clnudclauds station, tne ducal car travelled the River Drive, skirting the Soldiers’ .Memorial Park on the river hank. Hero is a fine plantation of native trees, each dedicated to soldiers from the district who had made the supreme sacrifice in the war. These attracted the royal attention, and when, they came abreast of a. stone cenotaph midway along the Park frontage, the Duke and Duchess stopped (heir car and walked into the grounds to inspect the memorial. The Duchess, by one of those happy little actions, so marked in all her doings, stepped forward and placed the bouquet, which she had received at Pukckohc, on the base of the cenotaph, while all present 1 bared their heads and observed silence for a few moments in memory of the honoured dead. AfORE RAIN. After (ho train journey was resumed. rain fell at intervals. Nevertheless, wherever a human habitation was near, there were little knots of people to wave to the royal coach. As tho Duke and Duchess had expressed a desire to see a dairy factory in operation. a special stop was made at AVnharon. where one of the most up-to-date and largest plants in New Zealand is in operation. The Alnnager and staff showed the royal visitors through the buildings, explaining the whole process of hotter making from the reception and weighing of milk and the separation of cream there from. A quantity had been held hack from the morning’s supply in order that cm actual demonstration of the work could lie given. Tho churning of the cream and the working of the resultant, butter to make it ready for packing, and other subsidiary operations were oxp’ained, no details being missed by tho Duke and Duchess of York, who evinc- ; ed the keenest interest in all they saw. This keenness was evidenced by a, little incident during the inspection. The attendant manager asked: ‘‘What would von like to see next?” and as quirk as a. flash the Duchess replied: "We want to see everything!”- And they did. A mysterious “hush telegraph” must have been busy, as, although the. --top was unpremeditated, quite a largo gathering of people was present outside the factory to give a warm welcome uud God speed to the visitors. Here, as in all places, children were specially in evidence, and on doubt many of them had a bettor opnortunity than lots ol their city cousins had of seeing at close quarters ibis charming royal lady, whose presence in any gathering seems to put all else out of mind for the time being. This stop occupied thirty-five minutes. ' When they regained their car, the ' visitors were able to resume their in- ; terruptod lunch. Once under way. the train traversed varying classes of country, so the Duke and Duchess could see something of the dairying hud pastoral lands, with evidences of ’ [he timber industry at stations, while { the long stiff climb over the hills before the train dropped down into the basin of the Rotorua furnished some J fine glimpses of natural bush beauties. 1 At Tirau the people were afforded a special stop by an accident, owing to 1 the engine driver missing the tablet, | and having to halt to pick it up. At Putaruru. the people had an un- 1 expected opportunity of seeing the _

visitors, while tho train stopped l* or the engine to take in water. The Duke and Duchess both stepped down on to the platform, and spoke to those around them. The rain at this lime became steadier, hut when Rotorua was reached, it broke for a while. At the station a mini her of prominent Alaoris lined the platform, and local leading men. with their wives, were presented to tho royalties by tho Prime Minister, bind Sir Ataui Pomaro introduced the native chiefs. After this an adjournment was made to the street outside the station, where Alaoris in mats, some carrying spears or meres, gave a characteristic welcome and liakn. An address from the people of tlic town and district was read by the Mayor, Air C. IT. Clinknrd. The Duke handed, him a written reply, expressing the pleasure ho and the Ducliess felt at visiting a place so full of interesting natural wonders. In the evening, tho Duke and Duchess of A T ork attended a Maori entertainment in the Theatre, where tlic girls’ graceful poi and canoe dances, and songs were greatly enjoyed, while the men’s more vigorous war dances and liakas roused the whole audience( which was largely Maori) to a great pitch of excitement. Tho singing of the women urfas particularly attractive.

Hon A. T. ATgata, who acted as Minister of Ceremonies, explained that the programme was designed chiefly to give the visitors some idea of what they might expect to see on a large scale on Monday. Steady rain fell most of the evening, but it did not deter large crowds front watching ii the streets for a glimpse of the royal couple as they moved to and fro in the theatre.

During the rest of the night iand early this morning, very heavy rain fell continuously, while a fresh northeasterly wind whipped the surface of the lake into turbulent short seas. By the mid-forenoon, however, this had ceased, and the waters anlmed, while the sun came out at intervals, promising a fine day, only to disappear in a few minutes, and let the clouds loose their showers on the town. As the wind shows a westering tendency. the local weather-wise ones are optimistic concerning the prospects for to-morrow, when a hig Maori demonstration takes place, VISIT TO GEYSER. ‘ ROTQRUA, Feb. 27. The weather has continued changeable all day, very heavy showers alternating with bright sunshine and boiling heat. The Duke land Duchess of York spent the day quietly. In the afternoon the ducal party went to Whakarowarewa to have a quiet look around the sights there, but though scenic effects were there, quiet was certainly not. Whispers of the visit seemed to get abroad, and quite a large crowd of people were in the vicinity. The Pohutu Geyser, happily, was in a working mood, and it sent up a tine shot. To-morrow morning will be a full one. Thousands of natives have arrived in Rotorua .either to take part in, otto witness, the official Maori welcome to the Duke and Duchess. This will lie in the form of a, demonstration on Arawa Park. About 2,500 Maoris are taking part, including fifteen hundred visitors, representing various tribes in other parts of the country. The Arawa Tribe is the host to a large number of these, and lias established accommodation camps for such as are unable to secure quarters otherwise. A demonstration of hakas, pois, etc., will be preceded by a .Maori reception on the racecourse, and the presentation of an address of welcome, to which the Duke will reply. It is understood this will be the. only occasion on which he will he Heard speaking outside the cities. The unveiling of a memorial to men of tho Arawa Tribe, who fell in the Great War will be the Duke’s last official act here, and in the afternoon he will leave for Towamu.