THE ROYAL TOUR.

Wairarapa Age, 11 March 1927, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR.

DUKE OF YORK ON WEST COAST BULLER GORGE TRIP. I. ' ILLNESS OF THE DUCHESS. > The Royal tour of the West Coast of the South Island has been shorn of much of its interest by the illness of the Duchess of York. Reassuring bulletins were issued yesterday, but Her Royal Highness will be unable to attend the civic reception at Christchurch to-mor-row. ** WESTPORT, March 10. The Duke left Nelson this morning per time-table, making the johrney to Glenhope in the train through an ini teresting country, with hop fields and I orchards sandwiched in between the grazing paddocks. All along the line ot route he was greeted by little groups of settlers and their wives and children, who waved and cheered as the train went past. The fleet of cars for the drive from Glenhope to Westport, through the Buller Gorge, raced along On an upgrade road beside *the often at over fifty miles an hour, in order to be on time to convey the party from Glenhope on the most interesting stage of the tour. At Murchison the people were enthusiastic, and every man. woman and child turned out. The Mayor, in welcoming the Duke, referred with great regret to the illness of Her Royal Highness and to the fact that the people were naturally disappointed in not seeing her. He assured the Duke that ail Murchison hoped that she would quickly be restored to normal health. The Duke feelingly thanked the Mayor and added that his wife’s illness, he was glad to say, was not of a serious nature. Indeed he hoped that within a few days she would be able to resume the tour with him. In a room !n the hotel where the Duke lunched, a private telephone had been connected with one in the Duchess’s bedrooin far away in Nelson and the two talked for some time. Apparently the news the Duke received was good, for he seemed very cheery bs hp resumed the path of duty. Tire Duke was heartily farewelled as be left Murchison, the children ginging the National Anthem. WESTPORT ILLUMINATED. Westport is gaily decorated and illuminated. The people turned out in force and there was the usual reception, after which leading citizens were presented, amongst them Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Opposition in the House of Representatives and Miss Holland. The Duke remained for a while chatting with Mr. Holland, who, with Miss Holland, is dining with him at his hotel this evening. There was the usual large gathering of children, who received special attention tfrom the Duke. To-morrow, the party leaves for Tnangahua by motor, thence proceeding ty Reefton and Hokitika to Greymouth, where the night will be spent. —(P.A.) A WONDERFUL RECEPTION. WESTPORT, March 10. His Royal Highness visited the Returned Soldiers’ Cub and spent half aa hour with the returned men. Mr. lynch, the secretary, expressed the Soldiers’ gratitude and pleasure at the {visit and the Duke briefly replied. The pipers ’ band then appeared on the scene and led the Duke and a lengthy procession to the Citizens’ Ball, where His Royal Highness was given a wonderful reception by the largest and most demonstrative gathering of citizens ever assembled in the hall.— <PA.) THE DUCHESS OF YORK. LATEST BULLETIN. NELSON, March 10. It is leaned that the Duchess of York passed as comfortable a day as could be expected, and obtained good sleep this afternoon, but it is not thought desirable that she should travel to Lyttelton to-morrow.—(P.A.) All the ladies of the Royal party, including Lady Rhodes, have remained in Nelson.