YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

Wairarapa Age, 9 March 1927, Page 5

YOUNG NEW ZEALAND.

TEN THOUSAND CHILDREN ASSEMBLE. TO GREET DUKE AND DUCHESS. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides from city and country, together with the pupils of primary and secondary schools, and colleges, numbering in all about ten thousand, had the Duke a,nd Duchess to themselves for half an hour in the Parliamentary grounds at Wellington yesterday afternoon. By eleven o’clock, the twenty-eight marshals had their young charges in serried ranks, no heed being paid to the threatening skies. In front of the dais the band from the Renown played selections, and in the streets around the grounds waited a dense throng. Amidst the cheers of the populace the Royal party drove up: ten thousand children with ten thousand voices and ten thousand little flags gave a welcome unequalled in spontaneity during tho Royal tour. A pause while the National Anthem was sung and played, and then the presentation by little Miss Sheila Coates of a bouquet to the duchess. Again the frantic waving thousand little flags. Descending from the dais, the Duke and Duchess walked round the ranks of scholars. At first some of the youngsters were too overcome with the awe inspired by Royalty to give vent to their feelings, but the shyness soon wore off and they cheered themselves hoarse. Then came the turn of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides, who were both inspected separately by the Duke and the Duchess. For the benefit of His Royal Highness the Scouts performed a haka, the rest being content with cheers and flag waving. More singing, this time “Land of Hope and Glory,” more cheering and flag waving, and the proceedings were at an end. The youth of Wellington had made a fitting setting for Royalty.