THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1927, Page 2

THE ROYAL TOUR

[liY TELEGRAPH —FF.lt. PRESS ASSOCIATION.] j DUCHESS’S CONDITION. NELSON. March 10. It is officially announced and hoped verv much that the Duchess will be well ougli to go aboard the Renown to-morrow, and it tit- to tin.el will ptoeeed to Christchurch where she will rejoin the Duke in the hopes <d intfiliing most Christchurch engagements. The "attack of tonsilitis is only a slight, one. but it is not know n yet tuny it is progressing. Huge numbers of telegrams ot condolence have been received. A notice to motorists has been erected at the centre of the l street intersection opposite the Covn- | menial Hotel where the Duchess is I remain ini' stating: “Proceed quietly, i sound no horns.”

The public yesterday observed that the Duchess seemed flushed Imt lit’ to was it thought that Her Royal Highness was then actually suffering from

indisposition so well and charmingly did she fulfil all public engagements. Th o Duke's announcement to a sea 111 faces in the streets by the Commereia Hotel last evening that the Dm’nos; was very tired ‘and had gone to bed was hardly wondered at cotisidet;- ;„■/ the extent of the day's engagements and the news of her indisposition this morning came as a great shock to the community. His deparjm e alone on the platform of the Roval train from which he waved farewell to the cheering crowds was a v',m\- different picture from that of ms arrival with his charming consort by his side. -Surgeon-Major AA’hite is attending the Duchess BULLETIN LAST LA EMNG. NELSON. March 10.

\ bulletin regard in"; the health of the Duchess of York at five o’clock, ,v-,s as follows: '"The Duchess is progressing satisfactorily: but it. is impossible to say. at present', whether she will he able to ti'Mvel to-morrow.

HER HIGHNESS THE Dl CHESS. favorable BULLETIN. X KEF ON. March 11. This morning's bulletin states: Her Royal Highness passed a good night and slept well. Her temperature this morning is normal and she is footing much better. It is not thought advi5.,1,1,,. ~1,1,,. however, that she should travel to-dav. If the good progress ..continues it i- expected that she will be able to embark in H.M.S. Renown on route to Christchurch to-morrow.”

.JOURNEY FROM NEi-SON. AYE-STPORT. March H). East evening must have boon rather q a depressing one for the J)uko ot a Vork because of the illness of the t Duchess and of the fact that the doetor forbade her continuing the torn (Ids morning. Ernler the circumstances ’ |[j s Royal Highness iniglir well liave I,ceil pardoned if he lnd decided to ahaudoti the AA'est Coast tour, and to c arrange for the Renown to come over , to Nelson, and as soon as it was sale , f,„- the Duchess to leave her room, rejoin the Renown and resume the tour lu Christchurch. On the contrary. - however, he promptly resolved to carry s on alone, and to-day everytme is fillfr j no* his praises fur the manly attitude luMias adopted. The Duke left Nelson . this morning per timeahle, making I|Ujournev to Gienhopo hv the U'ani through some interesting country, with Implields and orchards o'lndwiched m between the grazing paddocks. AH along the line of the route he was greet cd hv little groups of settles their wivi-s and children, who waved and cheered as the train went past. The tl.-et of cars for the drive from Gletihope to AA'est port, through the |>,„||er Gorge, raced 'tloitg an upgrade beside the train, often at over fitly miles an hour in order In he on time p, couvev the party from Gienhopo on !- ho most interesting scenic stage ol Hm (our. In the upper part ot_ the Buller Gome, the scenic elfecl has been largdv destroyed by firing the hush. Pirn nevertheless, ii is interesting. AT AI ERCH IKON. The people of Murchison were enthusiast ic. and every man, woman and child turned out. The ARyur. in web coming the Duke, referred with great regret to the illness ol Her Loyal 11 i-diness. and to the fact that tlte people were naturally disappointed m not seeing her. He assured the Duke that all ' Murchison hoped that she would quickly ho restored to normal health. , The Duke feelingly th)mked tlte Mayor, and he added that Ins wife s jllness was not., ho was glad to say, of a serious nature. Indeed, he boty Hint, within a few days, she would he aide in resume the tour with him. A : iv.it ure of the proceedings here was several of the old pioneers, mostly .. roy-bearded veterans of the early dig- ' ing days, due old. while-bearded man l of p.| was conspicuous among them. Ah e dm,-lie Dm.vnir. If- had arrived on - ihe AVcsl (’east ft! years ago. in IPii’L and had carried his swag along _tno 5 ,, ;1 cast I’rum Greyimiulh to AAest-poi-t. lie reached Murchison in the ’ vear ]S7O. and he was probably its c ;,|,1,. 5 (, 'inhabitant. He had led a luinj life ill the davs when everyone had to •- ,-oiigh it. and lmd brought up a family s- of twelve here. , An interesting fact may be chronicled. as showing the contrast between '' the early 'sixties and the present day. j,, a room in the hotel where ihe 0 Duke lunched ,u private telephone had »- boon comiccled wit'll in Dmb- (> css's bedroom, far away in Nelson, and „ the two talked for some time. It must have been quite a relict to the Duly' '■ to have had this chat with his wile " at’ this stage of Ids tour, and apiiarentD ly ihe news that he received was good >e news, for he seemed very cheery as he l. resumed the path ol duty that l.t> •h ahead.

To-night. as this i- written, it is learned that a similar arrangement has been made possible I rom West putt, and that their Royal Highnesses are A present talking to one enolher. To continue the account of the jour-n,-v as Hie Duke left Murchison, the i bildreii sang the National Anthem, mid he departed amidst cheering. Alternants the licet of ears sped on their Wlv and soon they wet*’ swinging round il.i-iUii.tr eorcksow kn. « “"/> steep gradients with Hu* emerald pmland foaming rapids of the Bullet’ below. The police ear. with the Head of the Force (Commissioner Mellyemn leading the way. was closely to lowed hv t he Duke’s car. in which Fir IRaton Rhodes now fck the seat formerly occupied by the Duchess. NO WO MUX IN PARTY. Ml the women Hit ached to the Royal party had remained behind at N'd-""-including Ladv Rhodes, who wd make her wav to Chri-t.Lurch by the s’•« route. As the Duke s cat I*'■ --‘ ’ ,m Hawk's Craig, a photographer tool; oral pictures, end a cinema m:m ah,-, at work. Sueli excellent fine nan been made hv the whole fleet * I «•“ ” that when the Lower \ alley was t cat t - ed it was found that tin* Hu,.** v.. ~ ,',sUral !v ah.nl of schedule. M». «■* U-, nil miles the ears era v ied along at a slow pace, the Duke and his >'••■* and others -Led the j” i get out and sample the fine “I ’. j berries that were growing ■ road. The- Duke. Sic Heaton • staff walked ahead ot U«' 1 •“ y picked them up seen J , t p... Meantime, the sun had •'are *> • tuis wen* singing -h”' 1 ”"; I '.' [ t '. lirc l, flaming rata hlossom :i ' , ' - p . of colour to the sombre g” 1 - forest. VT WESTPORT- . T ..:i.. ,i ( .,- (l ratcd ami iFtttn.tM estport g-'i‘> . .. . was nated turned out m *’‘ 1 ' * ■ the usual reception. Liml dined with the Dm- it b - ' ■ ■ in the evening. I '• * ! u “ t.n-o-e eattiering of children, r m ct-ived special aitenuou from the I who walked along their ranks ,md a - kiiowledged tlicir cliM-rs-WF-STPURT. Mar* it B»The | Hike visited the Returned f - (tiers’ Chib, and spent halt an bom with the returned men. t ■ Ml- Lynch. Se. ret ary ot tue -'s-ma tion. expressed the soldiers '-‘Rtiiut *• ,and pleasure at the visit, and the Dune

j briefly replied. A P.pcrs Banc then : appeared on the scene, and led the l Duke and a lengthy procession to the ’■ Citizens’ Ball, where H.R.H. was given I a wonderful reception by the largest and most demonstrative gathering ot citizens ever assembled in the bn 1 1.