ROYAL VISITORS

Wairarapa Age, 3 March 1927, Page 5

ROYAL VISITORS

PREPARATIONS TO WELCOME DUKE AND DUCHESS. THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME. U * TRAFFIC CONTROL. Arrangements are well in hand * locally for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York, on Saturday, and with fine weather the gathering should be a memorable one. The order of procedure, the marshalling of the crowd, and traffic regulations are given below. ft At HO p.m. Their Royal Highnesses and suite will arrive, the party comprising in addition to the Duke and Duchess of York, the and Countess of Cavan, the Hon. .Mrs. Little-Gilmore, Major T. E. Nugent, M.C.. and Lieuten-ant-Commander Colin Buist (equerries), Surgeon Commander H. E. Y. White, the Prime Minister (the Right Hon. J. <J. Coates) and Mrs. Coates, Sir Heaton Rhodes and Lady Rhodes, Mr. 11. F. Butterbee (Political Secretary) and Mr P. K. Hodgson (Private Secretary). They will be welcomed on the platform by the Mayor and Mayoress and Mrs. T. Jordan) and the Town Clerk (Mr. T. T. Denbee). ENTERING THE PARK. The Royal Party will then traverse by car the route to the Park, via Pine Street, Perry Street, Queen Street and Park Street. At the Park entrance His Royal Highness will inspect the guard of honour which will be furnished by D Company. 3rd Cadet Battalion, Hawke’s Bav Regiment (Wairarapa High School), under the command of Captain J. W. Bird, and the Regimental Band (Carterton) under Mr. Bishop. The party then proceed on foot to the Oval, where they will pass through the lines of school children to the dais. In the front and to the left of the dais will be four companies of Girl Guides (St. Matthew’s, Solway College, St. Matthew’s Collegiate School, and Carterton), commanded by District Captain Mrs. W. Saville-Smith, while the troops of Boy Scouts, commanded by A. Dewar, and Assistant Scout-Masters L. Lamb and E. Green, will parade in front of the grandstand. When the party reaches the dais, Her Royal Highness w ill be accompanied by His Worship the Mayor, while the Duke will accompany the Mayoress. On arrival on the platform, the Municipal j- Band will play the first six bars of the National Anthem, which will not, at that stage, be sung.

w PRESENTATIONS. ’ The presentation of Borough Councillors of Masterton, the Mayors of nearby boroughs, the chairmen of counties, the Magistrate and the Member for the District and their ladies will then take place, after which the district address of welcome, signed by tho mayors of boroughs and chairmen of counties will be read by Mr. Jordan. The Duke will formally hand over his reply, following which he will inspect the Boy Scouts and the Duchess will inspect the Girl Guides. Early settlers will then be presented, after which the party will proceed to an open space at the rear of the grandstand, where the Ihike will plant a commemoration oak. The party will then return to the dais, and the function will be concluded with the singing of the National Anthem, the band playing an accompaniment. The Royal cars will park at the rear of the stand and will leave at 2 p.m. for the Masterton Railway Station, the Jroyal train departing for Wellington at 2.10 p.m. THE CHILDREN’S PART. The school children from both north and south, numbering approximately 1200, will arrive in special trains from as far away, as Eketahuna and Cross Creek. They will have luncheon in two sittings at the Municipal Hall at 11 a.m. and U. 30 a.m. Throughout the proceedings they will be under the supervision of teachers. Mr. R. C. Drummond (headmaster of the Masterton Central School) is Chief Marshal. They have been allotted a portion of the Oval near the dais which will be Toped off.

Traffic of all descriptions is barred from entering any portion of the route traversed by the Royal procession between the hours of 1.10 p.m. and 2.10 p.m., and also from that portion of Dixon street bounded on the North by Bruce Street and on the South by Church Street. In respect to Dixon Street, this will leave a large area at the disposal of those of the public who to see His Royal Highness inspect the guard of honour. The ijublic are not to be admitted to the railway station, neither at the arrival nor at the departure of the Royal train. As the assemblage at the Park is intended to be representative of the district, arrangements have been made to provide seating accommodation in the grandstand for the representatives of the five boroughs, one town board and seven counties of the Wairarapa. The councillors have been given the opportunity, with their ladies, of occupying the seats. The accommodation is most limited, only about 250 seats being available, and once local body repre-

aentatives are seated the balance of the M ats will be taken up by the heads of local institutions, religious bodies, and ex-mayors.

- THE DECORATIONS.

AN APPEAL FOR FLOWERS AND FLAGS. PROMPT RESPONSE DESIRED. Members of the Decorations Committee of the Borough Council appeal to citizens for supplies of flowers, particularly asters, to be used in the Park decorations. Donors are requested to deliver the flowers at the Municipal Buildings to-morrow (Friday) morning. The blooms should be cut on the same morning if this is at all possible. The committee would be grateful, also, if owners of flags of any size would lend them for decoration purposes. Flags should be delivered at the Municipal Buildings to-morrow morning, anl owners are requested to affix to each flag a label bearing their name and address. Householders and shopkeepers along Athe route to be followed by the Roval - Tarty are requested to decorate their premises by the display of bunting and in other ways. Supplies of bamboo and other greenery wiH bo available to shopkeepers at the Municipal Buildings to-morrow, The decorations already provided for should make a brave show. An arch of welcome is to be erected over the main

gateway of the Park, and the band rotunda and grandstand will also be decorated. This work is being carried out by the Park Custodian (Mr. J. Horton) and his staff. Festoons of flags and greenery are to be erected along the streets from the Public Trust Buildings, down Perry Street and Queen Street as far as the Women’s Hostel corner. The Decorations Committee wishes to thank Mr. A. H. Daniell for the loan of two thirty-five foot poles and the framework of the arch of welcome at the Park gates.

SOUVENIR PROGRAMME.

A- most interesting Souvenir Programme, compiled and published by Mr. Walter E. Knott, will be on sale in town to-morrow (Friday), price Is. The publisher has succeeded in getting together a lot of information that must prove very useful at. Saturday's civic reception to the Royal visitors. /Included in the souvenir are full page half-tone photo engravings of His Majesty the King, charming pictures of the Duke and Duchess (copyright, and exclusive for this publication), the Eari of Cavan, Chief of Staff, and pictures of the route to be followed by the Royal procession to and from the Railway Station and the Phrk. A really artistic cover in the Royal colours and gold, with the Coat of Arms, the Union Jack and the New Zealand Ensign, reflects credit on the Masterton Printing Company. It is interesting to note that away back 25 years ago, Mr. Knott was associated with the Christchurch Press Co. in the publication of the Official Souvenir for the visit of the then Duke ami Duchess of Ycnk, now Their Majesties the King and Queen. A few specimen copies for those specially interested will be available at the offices of the Masterton Printing Co.. “The Age” Buildings, after 11 a.m. to-day; price Is. a . ) jM ,