ROYALTY WELCOMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 5, 28 March 1927, Page 11

ROYALTY WELCOMED

SYDNEY’S ENTHUSIASM A VIVID SPECTACLE SUNSHINE AND COLOUR By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright SYDNEY, Saturday. . Yesterday morning broke gloriously fine, and from an early hour people thronged into the city and to the various vantage-points in preparation for the arrival of the battle-cruiser Renown, which passed through the Heads at 8.45 a.m., sharp on time. She was escorted by destroyers of the Australian Navy, which had met her five miles out at sea. All manner of boats, from ferry steamers to skiffs, lined the route, and followed the Renown to her moorings in Neut--lln response to a request by the naval authorities, comparative quietness was observed as the Renown came up the channel. This was in sharp contrast to the welcome accorded 4 the Prince of Wales, when whistles, horns, and other noisy devices caused the authorities some trouble in mooring the Renown owing to the orders not being heard in the din. Din on the Harbour As soon as the anchors were dropped, and the awaited signal was given from the warship, the harbour resounded from end to end with whistling, and blasts from steamers sirens, and the cheering which broke out from the assembled multitude. Immediately the Renown came to her anchorage the Governor-General. Lord Stonehaven, paid an official call on the Duke of York. ' Their Royal Highnesses left the Renown at 10.55 and the Royal barge proceeded down a specially formed lane of gaily-decorated launches and vachts, filled with cheering people, to the landing stage in Farm Cove, where the Royal visitors were met on the staging by the Governor-General, the State Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair, the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. S. M. Bruce, the Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, and other Federal and State Ministers. From the landing stage the Loyal partv proceeded to the shore, where the 'Lord Mayor of Sydney, accompanied by the city aldermen, presented an address of welcome to the Duke and Duchess. They then boarded a motor-car and were escorted through the handsomelydecorated streets, which were densely lined by people who cheered and clapped to the echo to Government House. Here there were inspections of returned soldiers. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides.

The Duke and Duchess were then taken across the harbour to Admiralty House, where they were the guests of the Governor-General at luncheon. This afternoon the Duke inspected the cruisers and the naval depot, while the Duchess rested in preparation for the official reception by the Government at the Town Hall to-night. Ablaze With Bunting The weather throughout the day was glorious, with bright sunshine. The Royal visitors could not help being pleasantly impressed by their first entry into Australia. Favoured by the clear skies and perfect sunshine of a late summer day they entered Port Jackson under ideal conditions. Their progress was made through miles of streets ablaze with bunting, triumphal arches, emblematic standards and devices, and unlimited greenery. On the sidewalks and at the windows and on balconies and roofs there were gay cheering crowds. It, was a memorable demonstration of the popularity of the Royal pair. From start to finish the long drive from where they landed to the Domain and then circuitously through the city back to Government House took half an hour. The Duke was in an admiral’s uniform and the Duchess was dressed in pink. Whether the request for quietness while the Renown was coming to her anchorage had or had not a damping effect on the later stages, the cheering was not generally greatly in evidence, but all the same everywhere the spirit of a loyal and hearty welcome was perceptible. The threat by the unemployed to join in the procession was not carried out, and in any case the pace set would probably have been too fast for them. Premier in Sac Suit A noticeable feature at the reception at the landing-stage was that while everyone else who took part was ceremoniously dressed, the State Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, wore his inevitable grey sac suit. Later on Mr. Lang was compelled to cancel his attendance at both the ceremonies at Government House and the State reception in the Town Hall owing to the serious illness of his wife, who is in a hospital. The Royal couple ended an eventful day at the Town Hall reception, which was a brilliant function. The city and harbour illuminations at night furnished a splendid spectacle and were viewed by immense crowds. Their Royal Highnesses this morning attended divine service at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. They afterwards visited the ex-Sol-diers’ Hospital at Randwick. The route was densely lined with spectators hopeful of getting a closer view than on Saturday. The rest of the day was spent quietly. The Duchess’ smile has captivated Sydney, and is one of the chief subjects of comment.—A. and N.Z.