DUKE AND PIONEER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3615, 19 March 1927, Page 2

DUKE AND PIONEER

A STOCK WHIP LESSON

One of the most human and iuter-c.-ting incidents during the Duke of York's visit to Christchurch happened at a function at which it might least lie expected. Drawn up in one part of the goiuids were some of the oldest immigrants with the names of the ships in which they came to the province painted on placards in large letters.

Among those who came out in the Randolph was a picturesque old chap. He was dressed in a very blue shirt, white trousers, and a hat, on which was worded in red the word “Randolph,” evidently the name of the ship he came out in. He approached the Duke with a. large stockwhip in his hand and, apropos of his costume, said: “I am using this shirt because my old lady took my white one for a floor cloth.” Holding up the stockwhip, he said: “I finished this for you last night at Kaiapoi, and if you put' a bottle of beer in the ring you can draw the cork with it.

The Duke, greatly tickled with the old man’s friendly unconventionality, laughed heartily and said : “I wouid like to see you use it. I don’t know anything about a stockwhip. I don’t know how it works.” The old man seemed only too pleased to give His Royal Highness a lesson, but first of all said “We want a ring—and it must be a very big one.” Immediately the Duke motioned to form a ring, and the old man, altogether in the limelight, cracked his whip with unexpected vigour and great delight in the presence of Royalty. He was Elija Smart, who came out in the early ’sixties. Even though the bottle of beer was not forthcoming, Elija was a verv happy man. He seemed as pleased as punch. The Duke seemed much .interested in these old-timers, and, among others, spoke to one. of ’93. He asked him how he was getting on, and the ready reply, “Oh, not bad for a boy,” again amused the Duke and everyone who heard it.