CIVIC RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 10

CIVIC RECEPTION.

CITY'S GREAT WECLOME. ILLUMINATED ADDRESS PRESENTED. MEMORABLE SCENE AT TOWN HALL. ROYAL VISITORS CHEERED. Long before the Duke and Duchess of York were due to arrive at the Town Hall to receive the city's welcome, the auditorium was pa.-ked to the doore. It had* bpen taetefu'ly decorated with lwopodiurn. streamers descending from the large chandeliere to the balcony. Around the front of the circle baekets of New Zealand fern and nikau trees. together with gay flowere made an exqui.-it.ely pretty setting. The platform was similarly decorated, while over the great organ the Union Jack and the Xew Zealand Ensign hung side by side. The huge crown anxiously awaited the arrival of Their Royal Highneeeee, who entered the hall to the strains of martial mueie played on the grand organ by Mr. Maughan Barnett, above which resounded spontaneous applause and cheering which was deafening. As the Duke, who was in naval uniform, and the smiling Duchess, ascended the platform. the tumultuous applause that had ■ signalled their arrival,"broke out afresh. Quite a number of ladies almost ehrieked with excitement. This continued for some minutes and when the I gmiling Diwhese raised her hand in acknowledgement of the warm welcome there was a further buret of applause. ' Throughout the whole proceedings a spirit of enthusiasm was manifested, "' and 'both the Mayor's address of welcome iand the Duke of York's reply were ;punctuated with loud cheers and ;applause. It was a memorable scene, [particularly when the organ played the National Anthem, and the Ihike and Touches*, with their full staff, in glitterling uniform?, stood to attention, all Mending their voices with these of the icitizene. 'v Duke and Duchess Arrive. The Mayor (MrrGoorgeßaildon) and ■Mayoress (Mrs. J. £ampbell) escorted : the* Duke and Duchess as they walked down the aisle and ascended the platform. Then followed General the Earl bf Cavan, the distinguished soldier, and (the Duke's Chief of Staff; Countess of ' Cavan, the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coatee) and Mrs. Coatcs, Sir R. ; Heaton Rhodes, Executive Minister with ■the party, and Lady Rhodes; the Hon. - Stfrs. Little-Gilmour," Mr. H. F. Batterbee, of the Dominions Office, political secretary- Mr. P: K. Hodgson, private secretary; Major T. E. G. Nugent and Commander Colin Buist, equerries; Sur-teon-Coniruauder 11. E. White, and Cap- j lain E. P. O. Boyle, military secretary to the Governor-General. Those occupying prominent positions bn the platform included: The Primate \ Archbishop Averill) and Mrs. Averill; his Lordship Bishop Cleary, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland; MajorGeneral U. Young, General Officer Comtnanding the New Zealand Military Forces; Colonel H. R. Potter and Colonel ). Duigan (chief of staff), Northern Command; Commodore C. P. Swabey, commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy; Commander Bradley, Commander De Salis, local M.P.'s, members of the City Council, Auckland Harbour Board, the mayors and chairmen bf other local bodies, and other prominknt citizens. The Duke of York sat on Mr. Baillon's right and next to Mrs. Campbell, fcnd the Duchess of York on Mr. Bailion's left, next to the Prime Minister. Mrs. Campbell presented the Duchess frith a beautiful bouquet. After the National Anthem Lad "Wen played by the city organist, Mr.- Maughan Barliett, and lustily sung by those Assembled, the Mayor rose and delivered his address, which was afterwards placed In tlie carved; repJica of a treasure house, -TJ»en:foHowea the addresses by the representatives of .the religious bodies, after which the Duke delivered h reply and his address. Both before and after the addresses and reply the Mayor called for three eheers for the Duke and Duchess, and »n extra trio of cheers for the Duchess. Civic Address. The Mayor (Mr. Geo. Baildon) read the civic address of welcome, which was its follows:— to Their Koyal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York, tfay it please your Royal Highnesses,— .We, the Mayor, Councillors, and CitiJens of the City of Auckland, extend to rou a anofcfe hearty welcome to this city] Ind metropolitan ur#a on the occasion o*f {his your first visit to the Dominion ; and toe desire to express, through you, our continued and unswerving loyalty to his roost fraeious Majesty the King, whose kindly ind personal interest; in the affairs of this lountry . helps.-to such pleasing nemories" of his sojourn amongst us some wenty-five years ago. (Applause.) Since Jhat very happy occasion, the fortunes of ;he Dominion have flowed on, somewhat like the waters of a great river, vet tot •rithout its eddies and not without its jross-currents to disturb the onward flow. Rut every effort, whether crowned with [access or checked by failure, has been followed by a new endeavour on the part , |t our people to carry forward the tradijions of our race, and to maintain wor- '. uuiy tlie heritage bestowed upon u<s by the h °^? t J en Pioneers who came here "from meOld Land. (Loud applause.) v> e have never sought to found in these I™,,* ! n<?S a u new race - Rather is ic our , i Wh m » h - at .' ,re are a new England, ! na&r «r , Bnta,n - We rejoice tbat > in Jiurch. family, and of property • and we ire moving along witb the people of the ' Motherland towards the same g oa i the onsolidatjon of our Empire upon its honkurable foundation. (Applause > It has been the boast of the British { people that their Empire rests not upon tonstitutions, not upon armies, not upon Materialistic aims, but upon men ■ and Mien we are thus visited by members of Mir Royal Family, we are forcibly reminded >f the fact that our Sovereign and his sons lave ever borne, and are bearing, their Royal share in the nation's work. We u«e the words "our Royal Family" with humble tincerity, for there has always been in our kearts a profound interest—a proprietorll'ip—in the Courts of the House of Windlor. and there is with us in New Zealand in ever-growing pride in the Throne, and In ever-increasing sentimental attachment !o the Royal Family. The bond of Empire t* to us the Throne—the Throne represented by our venerated King. (Cheers.) We therefore beg to acknowledge and freord our deep sense oLthe kindly thonght [hat has prompted His Majesty to send forth his sons to these distant corners of [ur Empire. This interest in our wellJeing, and this willing attention to our lifficulties. help us beyond measure in our haintenante of constitutional stability, and kind us to the Throne by ties that have , Hood—and will, we trust, for ever stand - the test of emergency. (Applause.) The early pioneers of this country put ■neir hands to a mighty task, and* it is »ur earnest hope, that your Royal Hish- { S.. dur,u .S your all-too-brief stay i i tf«S- US- W J" find us ™>rthy of the rich I iSrlf we hav * il,berited - an d readv to ■ We again assure yoii of the,i

unhounitaizpleasure this visit irivcs to n = and esftcps' the wish that the tour of your l'oyal Hjghnessps will be in vx.vtf sense aii enjoyable, one. and we hone ami pray that the blessing and guidance of Almighty God rest upon you. (Vrolouged applause.)