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Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1927, Page 2

This evening New -Zealand is to say an revoir, if not good-bye, to the Duke and 'Duchess of York who are leaving hv the leviathan warship for Australia, where the special function ocensoning the Royal tour will he enacted. The stay in the Dominion has been a crowded month, far too crowded for the winsome Duchess who was unable to stand the strain of the constant movement and the need for being at concert pitch. It was a thousand p : ies indeed, that so much of the South Island was robbed of the opportunity of seeing Her Royal Highness who has captivated all where her bright , snii' ranged. But the forced defection of the Duchess was not permitted to affect the general itinerary of the tour, and the Duke unflinchingly went- through the special ordeal set him with a zest which won the admiration of all. From all accounts the South Island took the Duke very much to its heart, and it would appear that in the chief centres of this Island the greatest receptions of all were extended to His Highness. The Duke of York appears to he one who seeks to fulfil his destiny with complete thoroughness. He is anxious to learn. He seeks to find out. At different- stages the programme was broken or suspended so that lie might see for himself exactly what wenlocal conditions. His Highness was keen and anxious to see all things for himself, and having seen them to store up Hie knowledge as a special page in the history of the Empire. Ills tour has been a great success', and in the crowded month he has seen all it was possible to see in the time. His desire, if not anxiety to see matters of interest off the beaten track showed that he was not discharging his self-imposed task as a mere machine. Ho played the man’s part right well. New Zealand will part- with the Duke and Duchess with very great regret. The personal touch with royalty which the visit afforded wll have served a great purpose. Innerceptibly it will have strengthened those bonds of sentiment which hold the Empire together. There will be very few homes in this country which has not pictures of the Royal visitors in some prominent place, and that general display means a great deal. The rising generation will have been touched. They were brought to the front quite rightly, and the Row' visitors appreciate it. In that respect the personal touch was intensely human And so to-night when the Renown sets out across the Tasman Sea the thoughts of many -will go with the good ship. There are stored memories

of the visit which will never pass a war. and in those happy recollections the Duke and Duchess will hold a very prominent place.