THE ROYAL VISIT.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1927, Page 1

THE ROYAL VISIT.

[liY TELEGRAM PER PRES 3 ASSOCIATION

“AN ANTI-CLIMAX.”

INVERCARGILL, .March 22

The small shipping port of Bluff did its best to rise to the occasion to give the Duke a fitting send-off from the Dominion, hut to those who witnessed the great scene at Auckland when his Royal Highness arrived a month ago, the denarturc this afternoon was not only a contrast but an anti-climax. The weather conditions really could not have been much worse, and the people standing on the wharf after the Duke had hoarded the Diomede w r BT not readily forgot the experience of standing in an unsheltered position in a driving rain, waiting for the ship to move. The inspection of the guard of honour on the wharf occupied only a few minutes and the ceremony on the warship when the Duke set foot on her deck was followed with keen interest. A feeling of disappointment was certainly experienced when it became manifest that the Diomede was not to leave the wharf. There was a big sea running, and a gale blowing, with heavy rain, and if was considered better by the naval authorities that the Renown should steam much closer towards Bluff than was at first intended, in order that the Duke might be placed on hoard the battle-cruiser with as little" inconvenience as possible Nevertheless the actual process of transfer from the tug to the Renown was not performed without incident. The tug was tossing like a cork when brought beside the big warship, and the Duke had to wait for quite an appreciable period before the chance came for him to jump from the tug to the gangway of the Renown. The party were eventually all safely transferred, and in thick weather, and towards nightfall, the silver ship sailed out into the west.

A GREAT HONOUR. MU COATES’S IMPRESSION OF, TOUR. INVERCARGILL, March 22. Interviewed this evening by the Press Association representative, the Prime ’Minister said the visit to the Dominion of their Royal Highneses the Duke and Duchess of York had been a great honour and pleasure to the people of New Zealand. “It has been, T know, a tremendous disappointment to those in the South Island that indisposition prevented lier Royal Highness from taking part in the southern portion of the tour, but I feel sure that we all recognise how impossible this would have been. "Wo are most- thankful that she has sufficiently recovered to proceed to Australia. We all fully appreciate how exacting the duties of their Royal :Highnesses must have been, more particularly on account of the strenuous and continuous travelling that had to he undertaken. The tour, though trying from tin’s point of view, has. however. been remarkably successful in every wav. This has been fully shown by the spontaneous enthusiasm with which their Royal Highnesses have everywhere lieeti received throughout the country. “The civic and local authorities are deserving of the highest praise for the assistance they gave in receiving and entertaining our Royal guests, whilst the officials connected with the arrangements of the tour are to bo complimented upon the efficiency of their work. Tt remains only to he said that the memory of this Royal visit will be treasured by all, and more particularly by the rising generation, in whom their Royal Highnesses on all occasions havo taken Hie keenest interest.’’ BISHOP -NOT ADVISED. WHY CATHOLICS PRESENTED NO ADDRESS. AUCKLAND, March 22. On the occasion of the civic welcome to the Duke and Duchess of York at Auckland, the heads of the various religious denominations presented addresses of welcome, all except the Roman Catholics, who took no official part in the welcome. This was commented on at the time, and the matter is referred to in the current- number of “The Month,” the official organ of the Roman Catholic diocese of Auckland. “The occasion of the national welcome to the King’s son and his charming consort should have found all New Zealanders uniting to welcome our Royal guests,” remarks “The Month.” “No cause should have been given for recrimination or for impugning the loyalty or warm-heartedness of the greeting of any section of our people. Yet, while other religious bodies presented loyal addresses to the Duke of York on the day of his arrival in the Dominion, there was no little comment of an unfriendly nature because no .swell address came from the Catholic Church in New Zealand, and opportunity was taken to challenge the good fnitli and loyalty of the hierarchy and Catholic people of this country.

“The facts wore that Bishop Cleary received no intimation that any addresses would lie presented from religious bodies. His Lordship was astonished and pained that at the welcome voiced by the Mayor on behalf of the citizens of Auckland generally, addresses were presented to the Duke of York by esteemed heads of various leading religious denominations other than our own. Catholics of New Zealand have a right to know who was responsible for neglecting to notify j)r Cleary officially of that fact.” The Mayor. Mr G. Baildon, says the City Council was not responsible for the representation, of religious bodies in the presentation of their addresses. The bodies which presented their addresses applied of their own initiative for the permission of the Governor-General to submit them.

CANBERRA CEREMONY. HON. MR M’LEOT) TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND. iTNYERCaRGTLL. "March 22. Speaking to a Press Association representative to-night, the Prime Minister expressed keen regret that it was not practicable for him to visit Australia to lie present at the official opening of the Commonwealth Parliament- Buildings at Canberra in May. He stated, however, that it had been arranged for the Hon Mr McLeod. Minister for Lands and Industries and Commerce, to represent the New Zealand Government on the occasion In addition to attendance at the Canberra functions, Air McLeod will have an opportunity whilst in Australia of looking personally into various trading matters affecting the two Domin-

ions which, in his capacity as Minister for Industries and Commerce, ho will appropriately be able to do.

THE RENOWN. DUNEDIN, March 23

In reply to a telegram which the Prime Minister has sent to Captain Sullivan, of H.M.S. Renown, on the occasion of the vessel’s departure Horn New Zealand, the following radio message has been received from Captain Sullivan :

“ The captain, officers and ship’s company thank you and your colleagues very much for your kind telegram. and our memories of Now ZenVaiitl will he amongst our pleasantest, and we all hope to re-visit the Dominion some day. We feel that nothing has been omitted by the people of New Zealand that could have contributed to our enjoyment of this visit, and wish you and them all good luck and prosperity.”