THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL TOUR

The Duke and Duchess of York will visit Hokitika on Friday afternoon, the time of arrival by train being 3.28 o’clock. The Royal train will be preceded by a pilot train and followed by an emergency train.

The Mayor (Mr Perry) and Mayoress (—rs Perry) and Mr Jeffries (County Chairman) and wife, and the Town Clerk (Mr Amlrewes) will receive the Royal guests on the railway platform, and precede the Royal party to Cass Square, when the public reception will take place. The Royal party, led by a pilot car, will motor from the railway station via Weld, Fitzhcrbert, and Stafford Streets to Cass Square. These streets will he closed to all vehicle traffic during the period of the Royal visit. Arches and other decorations will adorn the route in Fitzhorbert and Stafford Streets, hearing words of cordial welcome. A.s the day will he a public holiday in both town and country a large concourse of people is ex pected to be present. The public reception will take plaeton Cass Square on a raised platform within an enclosed area which will contain also the guard of honour and hand, girl guides, hoy scouts, returned soldiers and veterans and the school children. Seats are being provided in the enclosure for members of local bodies and heads of Departments and their wives. All must he seated not later than 3.t0 o’clock. The school children are to assemble at 2.30 under their teachers, with Mr Partridge. Rector of the State School, in general (-liarge. At Cass Square after the Duke inspects the Guard of Honour, the Mayoi will read and present an address of joint welcome from the Hokitika llorough Council and AVestland County Council, following which iI.R.H. the Duke will reply. The Mayor and County Chairman will then present local body representatives, pioneers and their wives. Next follows an inspection of the giri guides, hoy scouts and returned soldiers, and thereafter inspection of the school children assembled. Returned soldiers will parade in mufti and wear all military decorations.

Shortly before -1.30 the Royal party will motor hack to the railway station and depart for Greymouth. where the night will be spent. Mr Scddon, ALP., who is returning from AVellington to-day. will be present and assist at the reception. The country children are being brought in during the forenoon and will he supplied with a bag lunch between noon and 1 o’clock. Teachers or adults in charge will bo responsible for marshalling the children, who will be able to obtain the refreshments at the pavilion. Hot tea, etc., will be procurable throughout the day in the building adioiiting the pavilion. Immediately on the departure of the Royal visitors from Cass Square, a. hag tea will be served to all children, treating the country children first, as trains and buses will be departing from H o’clock omvards. Help to assist in bagging the food will be welcomed at the pavilion from 0 o’clock on If riday morning. The country children from South Westland billeted in town will he entertained at the pictures in the evening.

THE POPULAR PRINCE. WELLINGTON’ S EN T H USI A SM. "WELLINGTON, March 7. Tlie strong affection of New Zealanders for the Prince of ‘Wales was vividly shown at the civic reception to his Royal brother in Wellington Town Hall. This was a model function with l>i icf speeches, that of the Duke of York being the longest, though it took hut live minutes and w s extremely deliberate. The whole event was over in twenty minutes. The-Mayor of Wellington in his address of welcome, made reference successively to His Majesty the King, the Prince of Wales and the guests of the occasion. There was hearty applause at the mention of King George, but this seemed only a warming up to the furore which greeted the name of the Prince of Wales. “Our many Scottish friends are thrilled even to a feeling of triumph that the revered house of Strathmore is represented in the charming personality of your Royal Highness,” declared Mr Norwood, turning to the Duchess of York. Then the Scottish people showed their enthusiasm, but there was no mistaking the fact that the great audience while enthusiastic throughout, let itself go completely at the name of the Prince of Wales. DUCHESS AMONG THE CHILDREN A demonstration of the living (lag by four thousand school children at Newtown Park was the great spectacular event of Wellington’s welcome. Perfect weather enabled everything to proceed under ideal conditions, and there hap probably never been a larger crowd assembled in the capital city The British Red Ensign was wonderfully well portrayed and the organisers provided some variations of this spectacle by arranging that the children should stop and rise in alternative rows, thus giving a vivid representation of the flap waving in the breeze. When the

children, on the command of the bugle, marched hack to their places around the amphitheatre the huge crowd was the most moving of all spectacles. The Duke and Duchess in an open ear travelled slowly past the grouped children, who went wild with enthusiasm. A SYDNEY DISPLAY. SYDNEY, March 8. Amongst the displays during _ the Duke of York’s visit will be a living AVhite Rose of York, formed by ten thousand school children.