ROYAL SELLS.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 91, 10 June 1882, Page 194

ROYAL SELLS.

WMle Her Majesty tlie Queen was at Mentone the destination of her dailj drive had to be kept a profound secret, and ingenious devices were used to prevent tourist snobs from following the royal visitor. Precisely the same thing occurred when H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh visited Auckland. Horsemen, traps, and vehicles of all kinds used to lie in wait at points on the roads from Q-overnment House, so as to intercept the Prince's four-in-hand. There is a tradition extant that once the Duke's flunkey was " made up" as the dummy of H.R.H., and sent with ■■ other Jeameses in a four-in-hand out of the front gate, while the Prince stole out in another vehicle with Lord Beresf ord, Elliott Yorke and a select few by ' the Symonds-street entrance, and that the " sell," was not discovered until a score or two of vehicles and a hundred or so horsemen had made a chiveychase on the wrong acenfc.

The writer was privy at the time to a nicelyplanned ' ' sell " by Elliott Yorke, and at this lapse of time there can be no harm in telling the story. It was customary for a representative of the morning papers to call at Government House each evening ' for a sort of bulletin of the movements o£ the clay wliieu did not publicly transpire, and announcements of- the . programme of the morrow. On one occasion the reporter found Elliott Yorke, just >-eturne^ from atrip, and refreshing himself with ? brandy * aiid ,s6da. In reply to enquiries Yorke pronouriced.the day*s expedition a "bore," and complained. in rather strong Anglo-Saxon of the effusive loyality of a crowd of "cads," who had persisted in following tho royal party, and spoiling their sport.

A happy thought, however, struck the ingenious equerry. He suggested to the writer that he would confer a favour by inserting ■ a paragraph

in the next morning's paper indicating ,a destination.^ precisely opposite to that in which the royal , party .contemplated spending a day's shooting. The plan was carried out, the snobs who lay in ,-vrait as usual to follow on the heels of the sportsmen were completely deceived by the ruse, and ■& letter hastily written in red ink in a large -straggling hand by Elliott Yorke on the evening of his return described in emphatic language how thoroughly the party had enjoyed the sport, as well as the immunity from inquisitive and obtrusive followers. There are doubtless a few of our readers who will have reason to remember the neat way in which they were thrown off the scent by the paragraph, more particularly a .certain politician, who was one. of the most prominent among the people, and whose unwelcome attentions the Duke and his friends so much dreaded.