GREAT WELCOME

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 277, 22 November 1934, Page 8

GREAT WELCOME

DUKE AT SYDNEY.

CROWDS IN CITY.

Over 1,000,000 Visitors for

Royal Arrival. DEPARTURE PROM SUSSEX. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 2.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Thousands of citizens assembled at hundreds of different points this morning to witness the arrival of the Duke of Gloucester aboard the cruiser Sussex. Every headland was thronged with people, and thousands of others were afloat in ferries, launches, yachts and row-boats to welcome, the Royal "Ambassador of the Empire."

Accompanied by a naval and Air Force escort, H.M.S. Sussex entered Sydney Harbour at 8.30 a.m., and proceeded to her mooring at Farm Cove, salutes beingexchanged en route. Altogether 35 aeroplanes and seaplanes circled overhead as the crowd on shore cheered the Royal visitor, whose arrival had been so eagerly awaited.

From an early hour the brilliantly decorated streets began to fill with citizens, and roof-tops and windows in the vicinity of the route to be followed by the procession were soon occupied to capacity. It was estimated that over 1,000,000 were gathered in the city, while 50,000 were packed in Martin Place alone. After an official visit had been paid to the Duke aboard the Sussex by the Governor, Sir Philip Game, His Royal Highness was conveyed to the shore in the Royal barge to the accompaniment of a salute of 21 guns. Landing at Farm Cove, he was received by Gubernatorial, Parliamentary, and civic officials. An address of loyalty and welcome was presented by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Parker, after which the Royal procession, with military, aircraft, and police escorts, commenced. It stopped at the Cenotaph, where the Duke placed a wreath. Continuing to Government House, he inspected a guard of honour, also gatherings of Victoria Cross winners and blinded soldiers.Honours for Shipmates. Shortly after noon official calls wore paid to His Royal Highness by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir Philip Street, and the Premier, Mr. B. S. Stevens. 111 the afternoon he attended a special race meeting held in his honour at Randwick. Before taking leave.of H.M.S. Sussex, the Duke of Gloucester conferred the following decorations: C.V.O. on Captain Bonliam Carter, who also received an engraved Silver salver; M.V.O. on Commander Creasy, Surgeon - Commander Gunn, Engineer-Commander Simpson, Paymaster - Commander Cull, Major Quill of the Royal Marines, and Navigating Lieutenant - Commander Mack;

R.V.M.S. on Bandmaster Williams and Officers' Chief Cook Abbs, Petty Officer Stewart Morris, and Chief Petty OfficerTelegraphist Clipperton. The weather was fine, thoilgh an early change is threatening. Duke's Talkie Film. A wireless message from the Sussex when she was approaching Sydney stated that the Duke of Gloucester and his staff and the ship's company sat until nearly midnight watching the screening of the Duke's own talkie film depicting his activities at the Melbourne Centenary. The Duke himself was amused by many little asides which had escaped his notice in the excitement of the moment. Captain Bonham Carter asked His Royal Highness to accept photographs taken on board of himself and the ship's company: The captain said: "Tomorrow will be a sad, sad day for us. We are dreadfully sorry you are going. Please accept these photographs, which are not very great. They are homemade. On examining them you 'will see not only the ship's company' but 500 of the best-looking men in England." (Laughter.)