The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1927. A WARM WELCOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1927. A WARM WELCOME.

For the cause that lack* assistant, For the wrong Mint needs retietamo*. For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

It is common to speak or enthusiasm being damped, but the metaphor is used more often of figurative than of literal processes. Last night everybody, listening to the rain on the roof, deplored the manners of the weather on the eve of the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York, and fervently hoped that it would behave itself better on the morrow. The hope was only partially realised. This morning was not so evil as last night, but the Renown steamed up the harbour in a rainstorm, and gone was the dream of an entry in the glory of a summer morning, with sparkling water under a blue sky, and the islands, hills, and valleys of one of the loveliest harbours in the world standing out clothed in beauty, and the city spreading itself to the occasion in sun-drenched colour. Now the loud land flames with Imperial grnr. And life itself, so late in hues austere. And the cold reign of iron custom bound. Puts off its grey subjection, and is here One moment throned and crowned. The weather is impersonal. It recks not of pageants or kings, and our Royal visitors and ourselves must take it philosophically. No doubt it has been earnestly explained to Their Royal Highnesses that this weather is rare in Auckland, and if they had only come a day or two earlier they would have been welcomed with unclouded skies and halcyon seas. Rain, however, does not always kill enthusiasm, which at its finest is a thing of the heart, and our visitors have been given a welcome that must impress them as that of a loyal and affectionate community. Before they leave, we hope they will see the beauty of our city and surroundings under perfect conditions. In the meantime, disappointment about the weather is not allowed to lessen the warmth or sincerity of their reception or to interfere with their programme. If for the moment our weather hoard is little (to adapt Tennyson's line), we may say that our hearts arj great. In a sense, Auckland has the honour of the Dominion in her hands, for ours is the Renown's first port of call, and in welcoming the Duke and Duchess the city speaks for the whole of this young nation. The Duke comes as representative of the Sovereign, on his way to perform a ceremony of great moment in the neighbouring Dominion. He represents the supreme political tie, composed of material and spiritual elements, that binds us to the Homeland. He and the Duchess are very welcome both for what they represent and for what they are themselves. All New Zealand is glad to see them, and hopes that their visit to this country will in all respects be politically profitable and personally enjoyable.