Rain-Soaked Multitude Says Good-bye

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28512, 15 February 1958, Page 16

Rain-Soaked Multitude Says Good-bye

A triumphal ceremonial drive by Her Majesty the Queen Mother for seven miles and a half through two walls of cheering, shouting, flag-waving people yesterday morning in Christchurch was described by members of the Royal entourage as the highlight of the tour and the greatest demonstration of public affection a Royal visitor to New Zealand can ever have received.

“It was just staggering,” said a member of the Queen Mother’s party at the airport before boarding the plane to Australia. “Even before this she said she was genuinely sorry to be leaving.”

It was not so much the size of the crowd—conservatively estimated at 70,000 persons—that staggered the officer and his colleagues (although the number was double that expected), but the fact that so many had gathered, undeterred by a persistent downpour of rain, to pay homage.

Her Majesty was ending a 14-day tour of the Dominion. She left Christchurch airport at 12.35 p.m. for Canberra to start a tour of Australia.

Earlier in the day Her Majesty had bidden New Zealand farewell in a broadcast from her drawing room in the Clarendon Hotel. “I can never hope to tell you how deeply I have been moved,” she said. At the airport, the end of the ceremonial drive, the Queen Mother was visibly moved by the incredibly emotional demonstration. Her Majesty compressed her lips as if to hold back her emotion as she faced tremendous crowd.

Her Majesty left the Clarendon Hotel at 11.33 a.m. This was two minutes earlier than planned, Entourage chauffeurs and police drivers had been told that crowds were larger than expected, and to keep well up to a good speed so that the airport could be reached on time at 12.5 p.m. It had been thought the crowd would peter out at Carlton Mill bridge after the Park terrace section of the drive, but there was still a solid mass along Harper avenue, Fendalton road, and Burnside road. Speeds up to 50 miles an hour were reached in the last stages, but the airport was not reached until 12.16 p.m. ■ Qiiridpn Stnn At one point—the Ham road intersection with Burnside roadthe cavalcade stopped suddenly

Someone had thrown an object towards the Queen Mother’s limousine, which waS following a police scout car. The object was later thought to be a yellow rose, but not knowing what it was the driver braked suddenly. Immediately two carloads of police and detectives behind were

on the road to break up a surging crowd making the most of -its opportunity to rush at the stationary limousine to see the Queen Mother at close quarters. They were not needed, for the Royal car, once the chauffeur had realised nothing serious had happened. was leaping forward once

more. Uncomfortable and disappointing as the rain was in the morning, it was the rain which gave emphasis to the warmth of the demonstration. At the airport an Army guard of honour in khaki drill and with rolled-up shirtsleeves, soaked to the skin, gave a Royal Salute as a military band played the National Anthem. The precision of the guard suffered in no way from the rain. Anyone who could see the Queen Mother closely could observe that she was impressed. The last moments at the airport were full of effiotion.

The salute and the inspection of the guard of honour over, the director of the Royal tour (Mr A. G. Harper) escorted the Queen Mother to her waiting plane—a white, red and silver Super Constellation. The GovernorGeneral (Viscount Cobham) and Lady Cobham, and the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) made their farewells.

The Queen Mother had furled her black umbrella and .walked up the steps to the airliner with rain beating down on her. At the top she turned to face the crowd. Below, the Associate Minister o f Maori Affairs (Mr Tirikatene) and his family were singing “Now is the Hour.” Her Majesty waved three times, each time turning a dazzling smile on the segment of a cheering crowd lucky enough to be on her side of the plane. Then she turned 'into the plane and the steps were taken away. Inside the entrance the Queen Mother stopped and turned to the crowd once more. She started at the explosion of the first of a Royal salute fi fl^ d a ?5-P<>under field guns stationed yards away.

Farewell Wave As the salute boomed out she said, “Good-bye,” and waved again. Her Majesty seemed to sag as she leant back against the bulkhead,* and her right hand plucked nervously at her white saincoat. She turned to someone inside the plane and tried to say something, but was overcome and could not go on. Then a member of the plane crew reached across and shut the door from the inside. The starboard inner motor of the Constellation, Southern Sea, fired and the crowd moved back from the plane. “There she is!” a woman shouted, and once again the crowd was cheering, this time a dimly-seen face and a fluttering white glove behind one of the rear windows. The plane taxied forward, and took off at 12.35 p.m. Telegram Sent To Queen Mother A telegram from the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) to the Queen Mother was radioed to the aircraft shortly after it left Christchurch. “As you soar over the plains of Canterbury, may I on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand convey our grateful thanks for the unforgettable legacy you have left to New Zealand by your visit,” said Mr Nash.

“From the moment of your arrival you have captured the hearts and the minds of all who met and heard your voice. Your friendly smile created happiness in those who saw you. Your friendly contribution to our pleasure, joy, and welfare is not altogether . expressed by the spontaneity of the enthusiasm wherever you have travelled. You have also created an affection for yourself, the Royal Family, and the Commonwealth that cannot be fully expressed in words. “Will you accept our devotion and convey it also with our loyalty to our beloved Sovereign Queen Elizabeth 11, to Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Princess Anne. . “With our heartfelt '.good wishes we will pray for your safe journey through the States of Australia and to Great Britain, the Mother Country,” concluded Mr Nash.

QUEEN MOTHER MEETS PILOT Much-Decorated Airman

Mr D. J. Scott, a former group captain in the Royal New Zealand Air Force and New Zealand’s most decorated pilot of World War 11, met the Queen Mother at her request for about five minutes yesterday. Mr Scott is now an importer in Christchurch.

During the war Mr Scott met the Queen Mother on a number of occasions, the most important being when he was decorated by King George VI at Buckingham Palace. He had a brilliant record as a fighter pilot, and rose from the rank of sergeant pilot in 1940 to group captain in 1944, when he was the youngest officer of that rank in. the Allied forces.