ISLAND TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 July 1939, Page 6

ISLAND TOUR

MUCH ENJOYED BY LORD & LADY GALWAY INTERESTING AND COLOURFUL EXPERIENCE. NATIVE ENTERTAINMENTS. y Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received This Day. 11.45 a.m.) RAROTONGA. July 16. Their Excellencies, Viscount and Lady Galway, after a rough landing, spent an interesting afternoon ashore at Atiu, in the Cook Islands, where they were entertained at a native feast, with singing and dancing. The visitors saw the ancient cerer>iony of making tapa cloth. The Atiuans were thrilled by the spectacle of an aeroplane flying. Lord and Lady Galway left at 5 p.m. for Aitutaki, arriving there at u am. on Saturday. They were escorted through the lagoon by decorated boats, with natives singing welcome songs. After their Excellencies had inspected the guard of honour of returned soldiers at a reception, Tiro Ngaropu, on behalf of the arikis and chiefs, conducted a ceremony by the natives of raising his Excellency to ariki rank. This ceremony is similar to the investiture and recognition of a high chief when being elected to the supreme chief of his tribe. This was done as a mark of homage and loyalty to the Crown. After morning tea at the Residency, their Excellencies watched interesting items by five hundred school children, followed by the presentation of gifts from the people. The visitors were entertained at a native feast and departed at 1 p.m. for Penrhyn, the northernmost of the Cook Islands. Their Excellencies were delighted with their reception and the colourful and interesting proceedings. The only regrettable incident was. the loss of the seaplane from the Achilles. The natives of the northern islands will be keenly disappointed; as they have been awaiting eagerly an opportunity to witness a plane in flight. Beautiful tropical weather has lasted throughout the tour.