THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 17 March 1927, Page 5

THE CIVIC RECEPTION.

THOUSANDS PAY HOMAGE. CHEERING THRONG AND BRIGHT SUNSHINE. The deep attachment of New Zealanders to the Throne was strikingly evldenced in the warm reception accorded the Duke of York when he motored into town for the civic reception shortly after 3 o'clock. Many people took up their positions before one o'clock and by the time the ceremony commenced _ Thames Street, in the immediate vicinity of the South African Memorial, was packed with people,, and a couple of thousand people lined the way to the railway crossing at the lower end of Thames Street. Oamaru was en fCte for the welcome and the beflagged town made a brave sight in the generous sunshine following on the heavy rain earlier in the day. Dozens of photographs ' were snapned from the roadway and biiildings, where people were perched on verandahs, window-ledges qnd roofs. Everything went to schedule and passed" off withous incident, the crowd being most orderly. The arrival of the Duke was the signal for an butburst of loud cheering. The Guard of Honour provided by a unit of the local ter- « ritorial forces and commanded by Captain Widdowson, was inspected by the Duke who was then conducted b£ the Mayor (Mr J. M'Diarmid). to the prettily deeorated platform. on which were seated prominent citizens and their wives to whom the Duke was presented. Arrangements for decorating the platform were left in the hands of the curator of the Gardens (Mr M. J, Barnett) and the work was earried out with the thoroughness and artistry of which only an experienced horticulturist is capable. The base of the monument was greatly improved upon by the addition of neatly arranged greenery, while suspended from the front was a shield of royal purple dahlias with the white rose of York in the centre, ADDRESS OF WELCOME. The address of welcoipe read by the Mayor (Mr J, M'Diarmid) was as foilows: — "To their Royal Highnesses, thej Duke and Duehess of Yoi^kj May it please your Royal Highnesses, we the people of Oamaru and - Nortb Otago desire to express onr inaUenable loyalty to the Throne and Empire of his Majesty the King. We rejoice in having an opportunity of sliaring in the hearty welcome acorded to you by this Dominion and in the knowledge that your presenee aipongst us will form another strand in the silken thread which hinds the overseas nations of the Empire to the Mother Land. We trust that you will always relain pleasant memories of your tour through this country and that ihroughout your lives you will continue to realise that the British Empire contains no more loyal sons and daughters than those of New Zealand who have the honour and pleasure of weleoming you," The address was signed by the Mayor, the chairman of the Oamaru Harbour Board (Mr A, N; Hayes) and the chairman of the Waitaki County Couneil (Mr W, Gardiner). It was in the form of a scroil and the wording was clearly printed on vellum, a fine parchment made from calf's skin and surroundedjby an artistically worked border with the nmblems of England, Scotland and Ireland neatlv engraved. THE DUKE'S REPI.Y. In replying the Duke did not speak, but handed a typed docunient to his Worship containing the^ following words : — Mr Mayor and Gentlemen: I thank you sincerely for your address of welcome, and I will take an early opportunity to communicate to his Majesty the King the expressions of loyalty whicli it contains. We shall always retain the happiest memories of our visit to New Zealand, and it Is a matter of real regret to us both that the indisposition of the Duehess shouicl have preve'nted her accorapanying me through the South Island and coming to Oam aru to-day. I rejoice to thjnk that ;.n the happy phrasc of youv sul- '

dress, our visit will "form another strand in the silken thread which hinds the Qversea nations of the Empire to the Motherland." I am anxious to see all I can of the industries of the country and I assure you that it is our earnest wish to promote your interests in any way that we can. I would ask that, to com- i memorate the present occasion, the children may be granted a whole holiday in the near future. I pray that good fortune may attend you and all the citizens of Oamaru in the years to* come. — Alhert AMONG THE PEjOPLE. His Highness, under the guidance of Mr H. J. Grater, president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, inspected the returned men, shaking hands with each one of them. He also spoke to Miss J. B. Wilson, District Commissioner of the Girl Guides and was presented to' members of the Pipe Band. THE C'HILDREN'S WELCOME. The Duke of York has captured the esteem and affection of the New Zealand pubiic wherever he has gone, and not the least of his conquests has been that of the younger generation. Both he and the Duehess have insisted upon meeting with the children at close quarters and it was a happy inspiration on the part of the Reception Committee to arrange for the Duke to walk down the avenue of trees, between two lines of cheering school children, to the Royal train at the Thames Street crossing. At the crossing there was a little uncomfortable delay till the Royal train arrived, but the Duke was not embarrassed hy any means. When the train drew alongside his Highness got on board the beautifully appointed Royal car and remained framed in the doorway till its departure. Rousing cheers were given as the train left for Dunedin and the Regimental Band struck up "Auld Lang Syne."