THOUSANDS AT WAITANGI

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30049, 6 February 1963, Page 14

THOUSANDS AT WAITANGI

Preparations For Queen’s Arrival (New Zealand Press Association) WAITANGI, February 5. Among the 25,000 people expected to watch the arrival of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Waitangi tomorrow will be 9000 children who will assemble in the morning from all parts of Northland.

Two thousand Maoris are already camping in tents on the Waitangi marae. But by 10.30 a.m., when the Queen will land from a barge off the Royal yacht Britannia, another 3000 are expected to arrive for the welcoming ceremony. The Britannia has dodged bad weather on the second day of her voyage from Fiji and was steaming tonight in a moderate swell at 16} knots. But the day at Waitangi tomorrow is forecast to be cloudy, warm and humid, with the possibility of light showers. The Royal yacht and her escorting frigate, H.M.N.Z.S. Otago, may also run into rain in the morning.

The Britannia was spotted on radar this afternoon by a Tasman Empire Airways, Ltd. Electra flying from Nandi to Whenuapai.

The radar picked up the Britannia at 5 p.m. when the aircraft was about 100 miles north-east of the Bay of Islands. The Royal yacht was 35 miles to the east of the Electra.

Because of heavy cloud, the commander of the aircraft, Captain C. H. Tredrea, and his crew of three did not sight the Britannia. They were flying at 19,000 feet above a cloudbank which they struck 400 miles north of Auckland and did not clear until the Electra was on its descent path over Whangaparaoa peninsula.

At 4 p.m. today, the Royal Standard and the Union Jack were struck from the main and mizzen masts of the Britannia. The scarlet and gold Admiralty flag remains at the foremast, but the other flags have been replaced by tab personal flag designed for the Queen’s use in New Zealand and the New Zealand ensign.

Rehearsals of tomorrow's ceremonies were held today at Waitangi. Final work was done on the grounds in front of the house of the British Resident of the 1830’s and the grounds in front of it where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840.

The anniversary of tae treaty signing is recognised by statute as Waitangi Day. Though not a public holiday in New Zealand it is celebrated by New Zealand’s overseas representatives as tae Dominion’s national day. From early this afternoon the roads to the Waitangi area were jammed with cars, and launches scudded across the bay with visitors from Russell.

An. R.N.Z.A.F. Sunderland touched down near Russell at 12.33 p.m. with tae GovernorGeneral (Sir Bernard Fergusson) and Lady Fergusson and tae Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and Mrs Holyoake, who will be first to greet tae Queen and tae Duke.

The Governor-General and his party later spent almost two hours rehearsing taeir parts in tomorrow’s arrival ceremony.

The rehearsal was carried out early this afternoon under a blazing sun while most of tae public attended a preview of Maori action songs and poi dances in the Treaty House grounds.

At 4.30 p.m. another Sunderland arrived with the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) and the three chiefs of staff.

The remaining members of the Cabinet came by train to Opua tonight This morning a full-scale dress rehearsal with tae 100man guard of honour from tae cruiser Royalist was held. Low cloud prevented Canberra jets from flying past.