DUKE ON WEST COAST.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 12 March 1927, Page 5

DUKE ON WEST COAST.

r Pr&ES Associstion. t ,

„ • * j .. SUNSHINE AND SHOWERS. REACHES CHRISTCHURCH ■- TO-DAY.

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GREYMOUTH, Lasf Night. Heavy rain hefore dawn threatened to spoil functions connelcted with the Royal tour from Westport to Greymouth but the weather cleared by breakfast time and the Duke, on his arrival at Victoria Square fouxidi a large crowd. fronx the. town aiid district awaiting his appearahce at the children's gatheriixg. Soxne of the children had come from distant Karamea having started at 3 o'clock in the morning in order to he in town by 8.30., The children gave the Duke a very cordial greeting. It was welcoixie and farewell in the fiftecn minutes times alloted. Afterwar.ds the long procession of cars stated on the fxnal stage of the West Coast tour. Tlxe route now lay up ihe lower part of the Buller Gorge, passing once mox'e Hawk's Crag and on to the Inangahua railway statiqn. The Gorge in alternative sunshine and shaaow was at its best, and as pienty of time had1 been allotted for the first stage of the journey the cars^ proceeded at a leisurely pace, g'iving every opportunity to admire the glorious glimpses of the river and mountain scenery. At one stage the Duke stoppedi his car and got oxit for a walk. Later the police pilot car, which always leads the procession, had tyre trouble, and while the column was coxnpulsorily halted the Duke and Sir Heaton Rhodes and others got out and had another walk. At Inangahua the Royal train for the South Island was waiting at the station which was bedecked with flags and greenery. Pnly a few minutes was spent here, the country reception taking place at Reefton farther on. Here the Duke talked to old identities and ex-sqr-vice men. The chairman of the County Council expresed to His Roval Highness a xnost cordial welcome. Then the train sped on past the Brunner district that evidently had seen better days, passed through Greyxxxouth, * axld; pulled up at Hokitika. Here the Duke left the train to receive the usual xxxayoral address and meet councillors and pioneers and their wives. There was also a parade of Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and. children. Each child had been given a fern tree frond anj|l at the approach of the Duke a very beautif'ul effect was. px-oduced by the sudden hold- , ing aloft and waving of the fronds in the air. That part of Cass square in which the children were grouped suddenlv became a moving forest of green. The Duke sliook hands with a number of old pioneers and hia fx'iendly snxile andi interest in them appeared to greatly please those old men and women. One of them told the Duke that he was in the Eureka stockade during the rising of diggers against tlxe authorities in the early digging days in Victoria. At Greymouth there was a large turnout of people and the Duke was heartily cheered, A feature of the ceremonial was the excellent playing of the local band. The address of welcome was enclosed in a handsorne oblong case of' polished mottled silver pine, inside of the ha being a beautiful piece of New Zealand honeysuckle. Vai'ious xxien and women were presented to the Duke. Th>e Duke is staying at the lxouse of Mr Seddon M.P., who had an audience with him on the way from Hoktika back to Greymouth. There was a heavy shower of rain during the proceedings at Hokitika, but it was not allowed to interfere with the ceremonies. Among those who said "Good-bye" to the Duke at Westport was Mr Holland M.P. To-morrow morning the Duke will witness a parade of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts in the Park and Ihe children's gathering. He _ will entrain for Christchurch at 11. It will be an easy day for which evervohe on the tour will be thankful, for since landing at Picton on Wednesday it has been vex'y strenuOllS