ROYAL GUESTS LEAVE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 109, 11 May 1927, Page 7

ROYAL GUESTS LEAVE.

Conclusion of Canberra Ceremonies. INDIA'S GIFT OF GOLD. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, May 10. The Canberra ceremonies on the whole were highly successful. The investiture of honours by the Duke of York \ras a brilliant spectacle. At the presentation of overseas delegates to Their Royal Highnesses, Diwan Bahadur, the Indian representative, placed around the neck of each of them , a garland of solid gold, richly studded with jewels. This is recognised as the highest honour an Indian potentate can bestow. Newspaper proprietors had great difficulty in getting news telegraphed. It is stated that at 8 p.m. 100,000 words of ' Press matter awaited transmission from Canberra. The efflux of visitors commenced at the conclusion of the opening ceremony. The roads are in a very bad state and many . motor cars were bogged. Canberra is quiet to-day. Their Royal < Highnesses each planted a tree on the slopes of Capitol Hill. iTree-planting ; on a large scale is to be a feature of j the beautification of the new capital. "The Duke lunched at Duntroon Military College. Delegates Entertained. A reception was tendered to the oversea delegates by the members of the Federal Cabinet at Parliament House. Mr. Bruce said the presence of representatives from Canada, New Zealand, India, and South Africa was a striking manifestation of the unity of the Em- < pire. Although congratulations on Australia's nationhood had been received ] from the great Powers of the world, it 1 was the messages from the sister Do- ' minions and the Mother Country that pleased them most. The Hon. A. D. McLeod, on .behalf of ( New Zealand, read a message from the * Prime Minister,. Mr. Coates. Affirming '. the sentiments therein, Mr. McLeod said • that in addition to their common heritage of Empire, Australia and New Zealand had another bond of unity in their common sacrifices, immortalised in the sacred name of "Anzac."