TWO MEMORABLE DAYS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1927, Page 8

TWO MEMORABLE DAYS.

It is in liu parochial spirit that we say that Auckland has acquitted itself well in the welcome given to the Duke and Duchess of \ ork. As we said on Tuesday, Auckland has had New Zealand's honour as well as its own to consider, for this was the visitors' first place of call. The city and the province have set the rest of the Dominion a line example. The welcome has been hearty, spontaneous, and thoroughly sincere; the weather yesterday was superb; and there has been all through the city a plainly manifested spirit of goodwill and happiness. Despite the. size and eagerness of the crowds, there were no accidents. The Duke and Duchess have made an excellent impression, and they cannot have the slightest doubt that New Zealanders' reputation for loyalty is thoroughly well deserved.

Yesterday was a day that thousands of Auckland people will remember so long as they live, and we believe that the same may be said of the visitors. It was a day °f extraordinarily vivid beauty, when the loveliness of the city and its surroundings was almost overpowering. It was most fortunate that what really is the most impressive kind of human spectacle that Xew Zealand can show was staged in such weather in a setting which -liould not have become less beautiful through familiarity. Youth is the most inspiring, the most hopeful thing in the world, and those thousands of our children, massed on the Domain and displaying their skill and discipline, were a sight as glorious and moving as the Duke and Duchess will see anywhere. The whole scene was inspiring in the highest degree, and it left many of those who witnessed it incoherent. There could be no filler manifestation of the promise of our young nation; nor could there be better proof of its loyalty than the enthusiasm with which the Duke and Duchess were greeted.

There is a practical side to this thrilling display. The size of the crowd in the Domain, like the throngs in the street, is a reminder oi' the growth of the city. Possibly after their experience in handling crowds since Tuesday,

task executed with skill and tact, the police have some new impressions about the development of Auckland and some new ideas about control. After last evening's crush at the Town Hall the city authorities may be wondering how the\ r are going to manage in future. Incidentally the eagerness of some citizens to see what was happening on the platform may be gently deprecated. Chairs are made to sit on, not to stand on. However, the crush was cheex-fully borne for the sake of the occasion, and mistakes in etiquette, like the surgings of crowds eager to see the visitors, do not mar the credit of the city's hospitality to our distinguished guests.