THE ROYAL TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 14 March 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL TOUR

[■BY TELEGItAFH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] IN NELSON BAY. NELSON, .March Lb Officials remaining at Nelson with the Duchess visited the Renown this afternoon. A heavy sea tor *.i launch was running in the hay, which, it it continues, will make it impossible lor the Duchess to embark to-morrow.

The Town Clerk (Air G. A. Edmonds) accompanying the party fell into the sea between the launch and the Renown’s gangway anil was pluckily rescued by Batterbu (political adviser ol the Royal party).

DUCHESS OF YORK. ORDERED TO REST. ABANDONS SOUTH ISLAND TOUR. NELSON. March IT The following official statement has been issued : •• Her Royal Highness the Duchess nf 'tunc, acting on medical advice, has very regretfully been compelled to abandon, the remainder of her tour of the South Island.” The Duchess lias been ordered complete rest, and she is going to Government House, Wellington, to convalesce. The Duke of A ork will complete his tour of the South Island alone. The following official bulletin regarding Her Royal Highness was aiuiouncod to-day ■•H.R.II. the Duchess of York, acting under medical advice, has decided, with deepest regret, that she must forego the remainder of the tour in New Zealand. She has been ordered a period of complete rest. Her Royal Highness will embark on IT.A!.S. Renown for Wellington, where she will stay at Government House. His Royal Highness will carry out alone the remainder of the programme that has been arranged in New Zealand.”

DUCHESS SAILS FOR WELLINGTON. NELSON, March 13. The Duchess of York left shortly after nine o’clock this (Sunday) morning for AVellingfon. Her departure was witnessed only by a few people. Nelson would have accorded its royal visitor a great send-off. had such been possible, for the Duchess won all hearts immediately on her arrival Wednesday last, and the indisposition from which she has been suflcring. and her enforced separation from the Duke of York, have served only to intensify the love which all felt for her, hut anything in the nature of a demonstration would have been unkindness

itself. 'This was the last thing desired by tbe people, and, at any rate, those in charge arranged matters so that, whatever was done would he in accordance with what was in host interests of Her Royal Highness There was a gathering of the public at "the Commer-

cial Hotel, composed mostly of those who happened to lie passing by amt noticed the preparations for the depar-

ture As the Duchess crossed the footpath to the waiting motor-car. she was accorded a quiet, but very sincere, farewell This took the form of handclapping, concluded in cheers as the ears moved away The Duchess eliarin-

lgly acknowledged the farewell. At Port Nelson the presence of the loyal pi nnaee and preparations at the teps by the Harbour Board indicated

lie impending departure of Her Royal Ugliness, and here also a number of icople bad collected.

As tbe royal pinnace swung round and beaded for the harbour entrance, the Duchess waved farewell to the Nelson people. Her Highness carried a bouquet presented by the A Ley or itnd ATnyoress. The dav was beautifully fine, but

fairly heavy swell was coming down

the bay from a. storm outside. This caused the pinnance to toss about a good deal,, especially in the rip. At the harbour entrance, the Re-

niwn swung round, thus affording

smooth water at the gangway, and the Duchess and party boarded without difficulty, none the worse for the slight tossing about on I lie journey out to the warship. Considerable numbers of people

watched the Renown’s departure from the surrounding hilltops. Arrangements had been made to use tbe An clior Company’s steamer “ Arnhura to convey tbe Duchess to the Renown, both vessels proceeding to shelter in the Bay, but her services were not, required.

All the official party, with the exception of Air F. Ardell (Government representative) who is proceeding overland to Christchurch, accompanied the Duchess to Wellington. Tt is understood that some of these will go south to rejoin the Duke on Monday evening.

DUCHESS AT WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON. srarcli 14. The latest LuHctin last night stated that the Duchess of York stood the journey to Wellington from Nelson well and her condition is quite satisfactory. The tonsilitis has nearly subsided hut a complete rest is essential to re-estab-lish her health. She may now be regarded as convalescent and no further bulletins will he issued. The Duchess remained aboard the Renown last night. A large crowd who gathered at the wharves were disappointed at not seeing Her Royal Highness, who goes to Government House to-day and remains quietly convalescing. The Duke will probably return to Wellington at the end of the southern tour and re-join the Renown for the voyage to Sydney.

A NARROW ESCAPE. NELSON. Alnreh 12. Further details concerning the accident which befell the town clerk, Air G. A. Edmonds, while stepping from the battle cruiser’s gangway to the pilot launch on Saturday afternoon after an official visit, show that for a moment he was in imminent danger of being crushed to death between the launch and the gangway, or washed away by the heavy sea. Mr Edmonds attributes his escape to the presence of mind of Mr Batterbee, of the Royal party, who. at great risk to himself, grabbed and pulled him to safety. The Duchess, the same evening, sent a letter of sympathy to Mr Edmonds.

THE OVERLAND JOURNEY. INCIDENTS EN ROUTE. CHRISTCHURCH. March' 13. The journey of the royal train overland was one of varied incident. The first outstanding item was the spectacle 'of Lake Brunner. It was looking like a Scottish Highland Loch in a storm. Here, while the engine was watering, a charming incident occurred. The Duke and his Secretary. Air Hodgsons, got out on the platform, where there were three pairs of twins, one of six years, one of six months, and the third of three months. Mr Hodgson

presented one of the babies with a small Hag which he was carrying. The Duke, noting the incident, said: “Oh, they must have one each! ” He thereupon got a small bundle of Hags, and presented one to each of the o,nor twins. The Duke was highly amused when one little loyalist waved his Hag and hit the other twin on the head with it. At Rum the train was halted while the Duke made an inspection ol a sawmill in full working order. ’I he New Zealand Hag was Hying over the mill, in which a huge rimu log was being sawn into sections. Ihe Duke was Introduced to the manager of the mill, and also to Air Cornish, too sawyer. lie also was introduced to Air Peulialluriaeh. with whom he had a lengthy clmt. On Hie departure ol the Duke, Air Reidmlluriacli called tor throe cheers for the Duke, which were heartily given. Cheers were also given for the Duchess and for her baby.

The mountain tons remained shrouded in clouds, but lino effects were produced, and the swollen waterfalls added to the grandeur of Hie scene. At Otira, the Duke spent some time with the young children ol the ruilwavmen. Here an electric locomotive was switched to the train, and the Duke mounted the footplate, and under the tuition of the Senior Electrical Engineer, he took a hand in driving the train through the tunnel from Otira. on to the other side of the pass. The Duke at Arthur’s Bass again mounted the. footplate of the famous locomotive “ I’nsschendale engine, which is the war memorial for the men of the raliway service who lost their lives in the war, and which the Prince drove when he was in New Zealand. On both locomotives there were with the Duke, Sir Heaton Rhodes, Commander Huist, and Air Lynde '.Child Aleehanical Engineer of Railways), who is always on duty on the royal train. The Duke succeeded in switching Die locomotive on to the train successfully, and he remained on the footplate till the Cass was reached. Here the people were expecting to see him in the royal car at the end of the train, and they were surprised to notice him waving his hand with a lump of greasy tow in it from the engine. '1 he train went down the incline to the Cass over a good piece of line at a high speed. Good time was now made towards the Canterbury plains, and once on the Hat the royal train rushed along at fifty miles an hour, having made up for a good deal of lost time on the Greymouth side. The rocky crags and glaciers of Alount Rolleston were hidden in clouds, but once the train was well over the Main Divide, there was a clear skv and the sun shone warmly.

AT CHRISTCHURCH. A GREAT WELCOME. When the Duke readied Christchurch, after a formal reception at the railway station, TT.R. Highness, who had changed into uniform in the train, drove through the Christchurch streets, which were densely thronged with men, women and children who gave him a rousing reception. Ihe crowds appeared to be larger than those which assembled either in Auckland or in Wellington, and the people displayed unbounded enthusiasm. Several seemed perilously perched on the roofs and parapets of high buildings. As the Duke reached the vicinity of Cathedral Square, a unique touch —for New Zealand—was given to the welcome by the joyful pealing of the Cathedral Thence the route took the procession of cars back through the centre of the city across the Avon to the Drill ITall. near tHe Bridge of Remembrance. Here there was an inordinately lengthy musical performance, more especially l,v the Band, but tbe vast- assemblage of several thousands gave the Duke a rousing welcome, anil one that he is not likely to forget. An unusually large number of local notabilities were presented to him at the close of this ceremony, which was advanced to before, instead of after, dinner. Tbe Duke, after a very long and busy, but most interesting day. then drove to his hotel.

The Cathedral City excelled itself in ibe magnitude and enthusiasm of its demonstration, the joyful pealing of the Cathedral hells above the cheering of the great assemblage being a unique addition to the loyal demonstration. None could bo otherwise, than impressed. also, with the enthusiasm of the live thousand people who crowded Alexandra Barracks. Royalty, surely, was never before welcomed with such a lengthy musical programme hy band and choir, and, apparently, there aro more notabilities in Christchurch than in any other two cities in New Zealand. Even the hand-master, a somewhat shy figure in a khaki uniform, was honoured with a Ducal handshake. It was a kindly thought of the Mayor and Mayoress to have provided a decorated basket of fruit for the Duchess, but the orchids will now be somewhat faded, and the bloom off the fruit. before they can reach the Duchess. Another point in which Christchurch excelled was its illuminations especially in Cathedral Squaie. ~10 spire of the Cathedral, dominating the Square, shining in the dim light, adding a final effective touch to an entrancing scene.

On Saturday evening, the Duke dined with Air Ackland at the Christchurch Club. On returning to In's hotel, he received another demonstration from a crowd which was still waiting in front of Warner’s.

To-day the Duke attended the morning service at the Cathedral. This afternoon be visited the residence of Mr Humphries (French Consul). In the evening lie dined with the brother of an old friend who was in the Navy with him.