ROUSING WELCOME

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12306, 21 April 1937, Page 3

ROUSING WELCOME

FOR NEW ZEALANDERS CORONATION PARTY MR. AY. J. JORDAN TAKES SALUTE London, April 19. The New Zealand contingent for the Coronation arrived at Tilbury this morning and, in spite of the early hour, a large crowd welcomed the men at the dock. Their khaki uniforms and red-handed hats revived memories of the Great AA r ar. A large concourse gathered at St. Paucras Station when the boat-train arrived and an excited crowd rushed forward to greet the contingent, several women attempting to embrace the men in spite of the efforts of the police to keep the crowd back. A scramble followed for several minutes before the New Zealanders were able to form into line. They were then welcomed by Mr AAL J. Jordan, High Commissioner, in an impromptu speech from a platform. This was followed by three terrific cheers, and then the contingent marched off, headed by the Grenadier Guards band. They marched past the beflagged and garlanded New Zealand House, where Mr Jordan took the salute from the balcony. The only Maori member of the party had a special welcome at St. Pancras from three Maoris who

shout greetings as he stood in the ranks. Hiss Mitchell and Miss Adams, of the New Zealand Army Nursing Services, were surrounded by friends and will he billeted at St. Charles’ Hospital, Ladbroke Grove. The contingent had possibly a more demonstrative welcome than the Australians as they proceeded through the city, excitement reaching the peak when a dense mass of lojal New Zealanders surged on to the road outside New Zealand House, disorganising traffic and leaving only a small lane for the marchers. Mr Jordan’s appearance on the balcony brought the climax of enthusiasm. The troops bad lunch at Wellingtou Barracks and then marched to Waterloo Station, where they entrained for Pirbright, near Guildford, Surrey.