ROYAL FISHING TRIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 10

ROYAL FISHING TRIP.

BAY OF ISLANDS PREPARED. HES [DENTS TO VISIT RENOWN. DELIGHTED BY THE NEWS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) RUSSELL, this day. Great interest is being evinced at the I!:-;, of Islands in the visit of the Rei- ,:i with the Duke and Duchess of ,' :■'.. Tin: weather to-day is brilliant, '. .•. iiuht southerly wind and a calm Viie fishing prospects for to- • i .■ are excellent. .■-■..■ riling to the. arrangements the : '.•■ will lish in the vicinity of Cape ':•.:. where fish have been plentiful ■ ".■•-■ :•;•.-'; few days. Yesterday five •\ rdii-'i were captured, and last Sun- (':••.■ ;i world's record weight thresher *!•::•!. was caught. From the top cf its iVku .'i its tail it measured eight feet A licet of twelve launches has been : ;,ii-Kk>:i'.:d for the Royal fishing ex-MT-.ion, though half that number will !;:• ii<c;l solely for catching bait and for jvtivl w.>rk. Facilities are to be provided for oli'uv.s iiinl ciew of the Renown to fish in the vicinity of the warship. Entertaining the Duchess. i!"i- launch has been specially fitted up i fur tic: use of the Duchess and a mem- i her of the party on board will be a Day | if I-::u:dsi resident who knows all the local points of interest and the early | Maori and European history of the dis- I triet. ' I The Kinov.n will anchor on the line b-iwivu Motuarohia Island and Tapeka J l'iiii:t. about 3J miles from Russell I v.lin;:'. to the eastward of the place' where 11.M.5. New Zealand took up her :!!a borage on the occasion of her \i-i' in !!>i:i. i'y o: !-lands residents are elated at ike i ::' i;;;iitioii that the Renown will be liin \.ii open to visitor- on Thursday and Friday afternoon-. The schools from poii:l.~ between Whantaroa and Whangarei ha\e been cominunicated with, and although the notice is short it is expected that a large number of school children will arrive at Russell to-morrow to inspect the warship. The launch fleet is proceeding to (ape Brett this afternoon for a rehearsal and to take observations in regard to the run of the school of fish. ROTORUA'S WELCOME. GREAT SPECTACLE PLANNED. AItHAXGEMENTS COMPLETED. The details of Rotorua's welcome to the Duke and Duchess of York have now taken definite shape, and the programme for the visit of the Royal party lias been finally arranged. Civic authorities, European residents, and the Maori tribes alike are uniting to make the occasion a memorable one, and the itinerary, as at present arranged, indicates that Rotorua's welcome to the Duke and Duchess will be of a unique and unforgettable character. When the Royal train arrives at liotorua on Saturday afternoon, the Duke and Duchess will be met at the station by the Mayor, Mr. C. H. Clinkard, and the Mayoress. The Mayor will introduce members of the Borough Council and their wives, the chairman of the County Council, Mr. P. Ford, and members of that council and their wives. The civic address will be presented on the dais outside the station, where a little girl will present a bouquet to the Duchess. After the Duke's reply, a number of Maori chiefs will be presented by the -Minister. The Royal party will then motor to their hotel via Tutanekai. Arawa and Fenton Streets. These streets and those included in the block will be closed to traffic. In the evening the Duke and Duchess and partv will l>e taken to the Ohinemutu Pa, where a -Maori entertainment will be given in the open air. The pa will be brilliantly ig.ted, and Maori dances, including the haka and poi dances, Maori songs and other typical displays will be given for the entertainment of the visitors win r ?!' ea S e \ e r nt of the R oyal' visit « 11 be the big Maori welcome at Arawa lark on Monday morning. Proceedings will commence at half-past nine, and It is expected that over 2500 natives from all parts of the North Island will take part in the welcome. The visitors will see a Maori powhiri on a tremendous scale, to the accompaniment of war dances by the men and poi dances bv the women. At noon the Duke will pro"ceed to the Government Gardens to unveil the memorial erected by the Arawa nibe in memory of their warriors who tought and died for the Empire in the Great War. It is proposed that all the children from the surrounding schools should be assembled in the form of a square round the monument, in addition to Girl Guides. Boy Scouts and returned soldiers.

Late in the afternoon the partv will leave Rotorua by motor car for Taupo and Tokaanu. where they will go into camp for a day's fishing. On Wednesday they will continue their journey bv car to the National Park, where "they win join a train for New Plymouth. Join the party at Rotorua on Monday