The Queen in Christchurch

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 756, 15 January 1954, Page 8

The Queen in Christchurch

ROM the evening of Monday, January 18, when the Queen alights from the Royal train at Christchurch railway station and drives for the first time through the gay, crowded streets of the Cathedral city, the NZBS will describe as completely as possible the many moments of ceremony and public rejoicing during her visit, which will occupy most of the fourth week of the Royal tour, Dozens of radio observers, stationed along the route of the ceremonial drives and at the various Roval occasions during the coming programme week, will give direct broadcasts pe Stations 3YA and 3ZB. For such events as the Roya! visit to the Disabled Servicemen’s Vocational Training Centre, the Duke of Edinburgh’s address to the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, and the Queen’s presentation of a cup to the winner of the Royal Metropolitan Handicap at Addington racecoutse, al] stations will link to broadcast throughout the Dominion. 4 Several hours before Her Majesty arrives in Christchurch an observer will describe the passing of the Roya] train through Arthur Pass, and a second observer will describe the scene at Darfield railway station when the train stops there at 4.53 p.m. The arriva! in Christchurch, at 5.35 p.m., and the drive through the city to the Clarendon Hotel, where the Queen will stay during her visit, will be covered by five observers at relay points inside the station and along the route. And at 7.55 p.m. Station 3YA will broadcast a performance by the Royal Christchurch Musical ae +

: Society from the bank of the Avon opposite the hotel, beside the Captain Scott Memorial. When the Queen visits the Christehurch Hospital on Tuesdey, January 19, observers will give direct broadcasts describing her arrival at the hospital and her departure, but the progress through the wards, where Her Ma esty will meet individual patients, will be covered by recordings made by observers using portable tape recorders. These recordings will be heard during the programme Royal Progress at 9.0 p.m. The visit to the héspitel, which starts at 11.28 a.m., will be preceded by a commentary on the Civic Reception in Cathedral Square, at 10.8 a.m. In the afternoon the ceremonial drive to the Disabled Servicemen’s Centre in Riccarton Road will be covered by observers at nine relay points along the route, and six observers will cover the return, Following the proceedings at the entrance of the building, which will include an address of welcome by the Dominion President, Colonel J. Murphy. CB.E., M.C., the events inside will, as in the hospital visit, be covered by delayed reports recorded on tape recorders. Evensong at Christchurch Cathedral will be conducted by the Rt. Rey. A. K. Warren, Bishop of Christchurch, and will be broadcast as a standard church relay from 3YA. Her Maiesty’s drive to the Cathedral and her arrival will be covered by direct commentaries beginning at 5.25 p.m. The civie dinner which follows on Tuesday night wil] be covered by a delayed news report from a tadio observer at the function. At 10 o’clock on Wednesday morning Her Majesty will visit the factory of Messrs. Lane, Walker and Rudkin, Ltd. The radio commentary will follow the ne

usua] procedure of a direct broadcast on the ceremonial drive, the arrival and departure of the Royal party, and delayed news reports on the tour of the factory. The only event inside which will be broadcast directly by 3YA and 3ZB will be the showtroom parade at 11.20 a.m. Observers at the entrance and inside the dining room of Beath’s tearooms will describe the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh to deliver an address to the Canterbury Chamber of

Commerce, This will be heard from all stations, starting at 1.20 p.m. The Investiture in the afternoon will be covered by observers stationed on the balcony of the "Civic Theatre and inside the auditorium, and the arrival of the Queen at the Garden Party in the Botanic Gardens will be covered by an observer stationed near the Royal pavilion. Events at the party will be described in a delayed news report. Canterbury is the home of trotting in New Zealand, and Thursday, January 21, will be notable for Her Majesty’s visit to the Addington Trots. The main race only, the Royal Metropolitan Handican. will be broadcast in a link of all YA, YZ and ZB stations, 2ZA and 1XH, starting at 1.22 p.m. The Queen will be present through the entire meeting, however, and in honour of the Royal occasion all the other races on the nrocramme have been named after

Royal Dukes. The fifth race, for inStance, is the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes. This day at the races will be followed by a Royal premiére at the Regent Theatre of the English film, The Love Lottery, starring- David Niven. And on Friday morning, after a visit to Burnham Military Camp, the Queen will leave for Ashburton. At Longbeach, the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Grigg, near Ashburton, she will spend’ Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday, free from official engagements.