HOTELKEEPER HONOURED.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3611, 10 March 1927, Page 2

HOTELKEEPER HONOURED.

GUEST. OX .THE ROYAL TRAIN. When the Duke and Duchess of York loft, the Masonic Hotel, Napier, last Friday, in order to spend the night on the Royal train, the Duke prior to taking his departure, called to one side the proprietor, Mr A. E. Horne, and extended an invitation to the latter and Mrs Horne to come down to the Royal train and pass away a half hour in the Royal coach. Mr Horne intimated that he would speak to Mrs Horne about the matter.

“That’s- all right, don’t hurry yourselves,” was the Duke’s gracious reply. “We arc leaving novv and I will send the car back for you/’

As promised, the car.arrived and Mr and Mrs Ijorne enjoyed a half hour’s chat with Their Highnesses in the drawing room of the Royal train.

“His Highness,” said Mr Horne, “stated that Napier was a most charming place, and one of the finest towns that they had struck so far. He was patrieulaiiy impressed with the magnificent parade and the view to be obtained. ‘A most charming little town,’ was how lie put it to uie,” said Mr Horne.

Before leaving, the Duke presented Mr Horne with a little souvenir in the shape of a beautifully engraved silver match-box, complete in a handsome silk-lined ease, and bearing on the top of the match box the letters A.E., in gold, surmounted by a crown in the same metal.