THE ROYAL TOUR

Wairarapa Age, 28 February 1927, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR

PROGRESS THROUGH WAIKATO.

WELCOME AT BOTOBUA. BIG- ASSEMBLAGE OF NATIVES. After steady soaking rain all night, there was a patch of fine weather when the Royal party departed from Auckland at 9.30 a.m. yesterday morning. Great crowds saw the Royal car enter the station, and as the train ran through the suburb every coign of vantage held its full complement of cheering men, women and children waving farewell to “the little Duchess” whom they have taken to their hearts.

Every crossing throughout the day, it may be mentioned here, had its group of people waving good wishes to the speeding visitors, wherever a farmhouse stood near the railway there was a knot of youngsters by the wayside, with homekeeping elders at homestead, all giving expression to their delight at even such fleeting glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of York as might gained .through the windows of the Royal coach. The first halt was at Pukekohe, where a little granddaughter of the late Prime Minister (Mr. Massey) handed a bouquet to the Duchess and Mr. John Massey and others were presented to the Royal couple. Just before reaching Ngaruawahia, the train pulled up for two or three minutes opposite the site of a camp where about six hundred Territorials were in training. The Duke stepped out and took the Royal Salute, afterwards having all the officers presented to him. The Duchess meantime had left the Royal car and came in for special cheers from the delighted troops and onlookers. At Ngaruawahia station and in the vicinity there were further welcomes. Maoris seemed to be in the majority and above the din of the train, there could be heard snatches of war cries. HALT AT HAMILTON.

Frankton furnished a similar scene, though here the pakeha predominated and the Maori note was not very insistent. At Hamilton a halt was called for a civic welcome and a procession of motor cans drove through the town and across Waikato River to Steel Park in Hamilton East. The whole line of the route was bordered by cheering people and a great crowd assembled in the Park. Besides the guard of honour furnished by the IGth Waikato Regiment, there were marshalled about a hundred returned soldiers of the Great War and nearly a score of South African veterans, with Scouts, Girl Guides and twelve hundred school children. The Duke inspected the soldiers and the Duchess the Guides. When Their Highnesses mounted the dais, the acclamation, which had been very warm all the time* redoubled in fervour and it was sente time before the Mayor (Mr. J. K. Fow) was able to read an address of welcome to Hamilton and district. The Duke did not speak in reply, but hande'd a written appreciation to the Mayor. The Bake and Duchess on entering their- ear, drove arenad the ground through forty long double lines of children, whose delight and enthusiasm became intense. The air was full of thrown up by boys. A WAR MEMORIAL.

On the way to Claudeland staion, the Ducal car traversed a river drive skirting the Soldiers’ Memorial Park on the river bank. Here a fine plantation of Native trees, each dedicated to a soldier from the district who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, attracted the attention of the Royal visitors and when they came abreast of a stone cenotaph midway along the Park frontage the Duke and Duchess stopped the car and walked into the grounds to inspect the memorial. The Duchess stepped forward and placed a bouquet which she had received at Pukekohe on the base of the Cenotaph, while all present bared their heads and observed silence for a few moments in memory of the honoured dead. A stop was made at Waharoa where one of the most up-to-date and largest dairy plants in New Zealand is in operation. The manager and staff showed the Royal visitors through the buildings, explaining the whole process of butter-making. SCENES AT ROTORUA. When Rotorua was reached, a number of prominent Maoris lined the platform. Leading local men with their wives were presented to the Duke and Duchess by the Prime Minister, and Sir Maui Pomare introduced the Native chiefs. After this, an adjournment was made to the street outside the station, where Maoris in mats, some carrying spears and meres gave a characteristic welcome and haka. An address from the people of the town and district was read by the Mayor (Mr. C. H. Clinkavd). In the evening the Duke and Duchess attended a Maori entertainment in the theatre, where graceful poi and canoe dances and songs by Maori girls were greatly enjoyed, while the men’s more vigorous war dances or hakas roused the whole audience (which was yargely Maori) to a great patch of excitement. The singing of the women was particularly attractive. The Hon. A. T. Ngata, who’ acted as Master of Ceremonies explained that the programme was designed chiefly to give the visitors some idea of what they might expect to see on a large scale on Monday. Steady rain fell during most of the evening, but did not deter large crowds from watching in the streets for a/glimpse of the Royal couple as they moved to and from the theatre. During the rest of the night and early this morning i very heavy ruin fell continuously. A QUIET DAY. The weather continued changeable

all day, very heavy showers alternating with bright sunshine and boiling heat. The Duke and Duchess spent the day quietly. In the afternoon, the Ducal party went to Whakarewarewa to have a quiet look around the sights there, but though the scenic effects were there, quiet was certainly not. Whispers of the visit seemed to get abroad, and quite a crowd of people were in the vicinity. The Pohutu Geyser happily was in working mood and sent up a fine shot. To-mor-row morning will be a full one. Thousands of Natives have arrived at Rotorua, either to- take part in, or to witness the official Maori welcome to the Royal visitors. This will be'in. the form of a demonstration, on Arawa Park, about 2500 Maoris taking part, including fifteen hundred visitors representing various tribes in other parts of the country. “ The Arawa tribe is host to a large number of these, and has establinhed accommodation camps for such as are unable to secure accommodation otherwise. The demonstration of hakas, pois, etc., will be preceded by a Maori reception on tho racecourse and the presentation of an address of welcome, to which the Duke will reply. This, it is understood, will be the only occasion on which he will be heard speaking outside the cities. The unveiling of a memorial to men of the Arawa tribe who fell in the Great War will b©'the Duke’s last official act here, and in the afternoon he will leave for Tokaanu.—(P.A.).