OUR ROYAL VISITORS

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3607, 1 March 1927, Page 3

OUR ROYAL VISITORS

. On Saturday the Royal party left Auckland for Rotorua, stopping at Hamilton cn route, where the Duchess placed a bouquet on the soldiers’ war memorial. A stop was also made at Waharoa, where the Duke and Duchess inspected one of the most up-to-date dairy factories in New Zealand. Rain was experienced during the greater part of the day but on arrival at Rotorua the weather broke fine for a while. The party was accorded a great reception at the station. That night the Duke and Duchess attended a Maori entertainment in the theatre. On Sunday heavy showers alternated with bright sunshine and boiling heat. The Duke and Duchess spent the day quietly, in the afternoon visiting Wherkareware'wa, where they saw Pohutu geyser in action. Monday dawned beautifully fine. In the morning the unveiling ceremony of he Maori war memorial was performed by His Royal Highness, tlie Duke of York. , The Maori welcome accorded the Duke and Duchess of York at Arawa Park was a great success and on the arrival of the Royal visitors the scene was one of extraordinary enthusiasm. * / The Hons. J. G. Coates, Sir Heaton Rhodes, R. F. Bollard, Sir Maui Pornare, and K. S. Williams represented the Ministry. I

Mr. Coates (as Native Minister) read the Native address of welcome, which was framed in Maori carving, and Sir Maui Pornare interpreted it. Representatives of the principal Maori tribes were then presented by Sir Maui Pornare and. each laid valuable mats and tiki as gifts at the'ducal feet.