THE ROYAL TOUR.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 14 March 1927, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR.

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CHRISTCHURCH t four a ,in. cu; a fhero was a ivp i downpour tilJ d.o.r. an; n onwsrds various fpiijplcs ? C» weather. The decorations ii* a;-iv:Htth \ -jj. e some of the :}• - ,m on ihe N -\v Zeali?id tour, *i«" raeSo being i.'neJ v.ith greenMid iniigijjilceiit aicbes in enJco forest foliage and iree ferns v are a great feature. This *iorning -» ihe pouring rain, inuncdiately a.'ier breakfast, the Duke was on his. way to Ihe James State coal inines. He just cnte ed the mine; \here was not time +o explore it. He then passed on to Runanga vhere most of the mine. s and tbeir i'amilies live and there saw the eonditions in their homes. Tiie children's gathering at Greymouth was in every way a success. Tney received .Ihe Duke witli entbusiastic cbeers and waving of innmnerable little flags. Seemingly ^ try pleased his Royal Highness nade them an impromptu speech. . FLACS FOR THE TWINS, A? the train sped up the Grey Vabey tne ever-changing rxiists on oornore forest clad mountains made .1 succession of beautiful scenes. Laice Brunner, where a stop was made, looked like a Scottish Highland locli in* a storm. Here, while :! e engine was watering, a charmi ng incident occurred. The Duke' •u:d his secretary (Mr Hodgkins) 'got out on the platform where vhere were three frairs of twins, of -vtx years, six months and three ■noiiths respectively. Mr Hodglcon prcsented one of the babies with a .mall flag. The Duke, noticing this, xaid: "Oh they must have one :aeh." He thereupon got a small 5ini dle of flags and presented one o cach of the other' twins." The Duke was highly amused when one ittle loyalist waved his flag and hit he other twin on the head w;th it. PEEP AT A SAWMILL. At Ruru the train was halted while the Duke inspected a . sawmill in full working order. The New Zealand flag was flying over the mill in which a huge rimu log was being sawn in sections., The Duke was introduced to the manager of the mill and also to the Cornish sawyer — one Penhalluriach — with whom he had a lengthy chat. TAKES TO THE FOOTPLATE. . t At Otira the Duke spent some time with the young children of the railwaymen. Here, an electric locomotive was switched on to the train and the Duke mounted the footplate. Under the tuition of the senior engineer he took a hand in d.riving through the tunnel. At Otira, on the other side of the pass, the Duke5* again mounted the footplate, of the famous steam locomotive ; "Passchendaele" which is the war memorial for the men in the railway service, and which the Prince of Wales drove when he was in New Zealand. The Duke remained on the footplate till Cass was reached. Here the people were expecting to sea him in the Royal car at the end of the train and were surprised to notice him waving" his hand, with a lump of greasy tow iB it, from the engine. THE CANTERBURY PLAINS. Good time was now made to- ' wards the Canterbury Plains and once on the flat the Royal train rushed along at fifty miles an hour. There was a clear sky and the sun shone warmly. WARM WELCOME IN CHRISTCHURCH. Arrived at Christchurch, after a forihal reception at the railway staiion. the Duke, who had changed into a uniform in the train, drove through the Christchurch streets which were densely thronged with people who gave him a rousing reception. The crowd appeared to be larger than that which- had assembled either in Auckland or Wellington, and the people displayed unbounded enthusiasm. Several seemed perilously perched on roofs , and parapets of high buildings. As ! the Duke reached the vicinity of i Cathedral Square a unique touch of welcome was given to 'the welcome" by the joyful pealing of the Cathedral beils. Thence Ihe route took the p.rocession of cars back through the cenive of the citv and" across the Avon to the drill hall near the ' Bridge of Remembrance, Here I there was an inordinately lengthy I musical performace more especiaR ly by the band^ but the vast assemb- • lage of several thousands gave the Duke a rousing welcome. An unus- ' uaily large number of local n'otabilities were presented to him at ' the close of this ceremony. The I Duke after a very long and busy, > but n ost interesting day, drove to : his hctel. ' WONDERFUL DEMON STRATION. j / Cathedral City excelled itself in the magnitude and enthusiasm of its demonstration, the joyful peal- 1 ing of the Cathedral bells above the ' cheering of the great assemblage being a unique addition to the loyal demonstration. None could be otherwise than impressed also with the enthusiasm of th'e five thousand people who crowded the King Edward Barracks. Royalty surely was never before welcomed with such a lengthy musical programme by band ( and choir and apparently there are more^ notabilities in Christchurch, than in any other two cities in New Zealand. The bandmaster, a somewhat shy figure in khaki uniform, was honoured with a Ducal handshake. It was a kindly thought of tne Mayor and Mayoress to have provided a bouquet of orchids and a beautifully decorated basket of the Duchess, but the orchids will now be somewhat faded fu hloom off the fruit before they can reach the Duchess. /STRIKING ILLUMINATIONS. Another point in which Christchurch excelled was the illuminauons, especially in Cathedral oquare ; the spire of the Cathedral rlominating the Square and shining ■n the dim light, added a final effecive touch to an entrancing scene. PRIVATE ENTERTAINMENTS. ... eye7?in§ the Duke dined » ith Mr Acland at the Christchurch Ciub. Returning to his hotel he re" i ceived another demonstration from a crowd which was still waiting in • ront-of Warners. . ^°-day the Duke attended morn■ng service at the Cathedral. This altercoon he will visit the residence ot M. Humphries, the French Con--vh'i m lhe ®ventng he will dine *ith the brother of an old friend o was in the navy with him.