ARRIVAL AT ROTORUA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 28 February 1927, Page 10

ARRIVAL AT ROTORUA.

ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME. MAORI VIES WITH THE PAKEHA. ARRIVAL IX THE RAIN, Our Special Reporter.) EOTORUA, Sunday.

There had been heavy rain on Friday night, and there was much anxiety on the part of the people of Rotorua lest it should continue and so spoil the arrangements made for the reception of the Duke and Duchess. By morning, however, it had slackened off to a fine drizzle, and this continued throughout the day. For a couple of hours before the arrival of the Royal train the people were gathering outside the railway station, where a platform had been erected for the civic reception, and they etidftrcd the moisture in all cheerfulness, with the protection of umbrellas and that afforded by the fine plantation of trees bordering the station entrance. A score of Maoris, rehearsing a liaka in their shirt sleeves, made nothing of it, though they were soaked to the skin "in a very short while.

The Royal train did not arrive for half an-liour after the time scheduled, and it was not until a quarter to five that a great cheer from the crowd announced its approach. On the platform were the Prime Minister and Mrs. Coates, Sir Maui Pomare, the Maori M.P.'s, Messrs. A. T. Ngata, H. W. Uru, and Tau Ilenare, with twenty-five high chieftains of t .ic Maori racc, the Mayor and Councillors of the Borough of Rotorua, with their wives, the Chairman of the County Council, and Airs. Ford, and the Town and County Clerks and their wives.

As the Duke and Duchess stepped out on to the platform of the prettily decorated station, the band outside burst into the National Anthem. The Duke was attired in a suit of grey check, and his beautiful Duchess, radiant with that ever-charming smile, was a dainty figure in fawn, with fawn hat and sidefeather, as pretty a feminine figure as might anywhere be seen. They were received by Mr. Coates, who introduced them to the Mayor, Mr. Clinkard, who presented the councillors and their wives. This done, Sir Maui Pomare presented the Maori chiefs, who bowed low in obeisance as they took the hands of the Duke and Duchess. It was a moving scene, to see these leaders of a great and once warlike race thus paying homage to the great-grand-son of the Great White Queen whose troops their own ancestors had met in bloody battle, and to the gracious little Lady who smiled at them with such unall'ected friendliness. Hakas and Addresses. When the Koyal couple emerged into the open air there was a great outburst of chec-ring from the five thousand people waiting there, and at once the Maori guard performed a Royal liaka of welcome. Fortunately, the rain had ceased altogether, and it remained off during the brief period in which the Mayor of Rotorua read the address of welcome, to which the Duke did not give verbal answer, but handed to the Mayor a typewritten reply over the signature of "A Ibert." The Duke's reply was as follows:— "The Duchess and 1 tiiank you and the people of Rotorua very sincerely for your address. We much appreciate the sentiments of loyalty which you have expressed, and I will convey them, without fail, to His Majesty the King. We are delighted to liave the opportunity of coming here and meeting your citizens, and seeing something of the waters, with their health-giving properties, and the natural wonders, which have made this district famous throughout the world. We are looking forward, too, t. participating in the ceremonies of the Maoris, and we hope to leave here with increased Knowledge of the life and conditions in these parts, for it is only by acquiring such knowledge that we shall be able to promote the interests of the Dominion when we return home, and help to maintain those cordial relationships to which you have referred. "Again I desire to express our gratitude for your welcome good wishes, which we cordially reciprocate, and we ask that the children may at some time be granted a whole holiday to commemorate our stay." At the close of the ceremony, a pretty little live-year-old child, Enid Clarke—a pink fairy, with white wings—approached the dais and handed the Duchess a beautifully,designed spray of (lowers. The little fairy then bowed and retreated, but lingered, charmingly confused, to gaze back at the admiring and friendly smile of the Duchess, who must then have-seemed to her the essence of all that was beautiful. The rain was falling gently again by now, but the Royal couple drove to their hotel in an open car so that they could be seeu by all and wave their pleasant greetings as they passed the cheering people who lined the streets. There was another crowd at the hotel, and these people did not disperse for a considerable time, and then not until the Duke and Duchess had come forth from their apartments 011 to the verandah and waved them further salutation.