Preparations At Nelson

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30055, 13 February 1963, Page 14

Preparations At Nelson

(From Our Own Reporter) NELSON, Feb. 12.

Nelson went about its business today in an unhurried way with preparations for the Royal visit running smoothly to plan behind the scenes. Little flags strung across the main streets and coloured lights—which have been there since Christmasheraldic banners posted along the Royal party’s route from the port to the city, and pictures of the Royal Family in shop windows proclaim tomorrows celebrations.

Final preparations have been going on quietly all day at Trafalgar Park where the public welcome to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be held. About 14,000 people, as well as 5000 school children from as far as the West Coast and Golden Bay area are expected to be at the park. Late in the afternoon visitors began pouring into the city, taxing Nelson’s hotel accommodation to capacity, to make sure of vantage points to see the Queen and the Duke after they set foot m the South Island at 9.40 a.m.

This evening the tempo at the park increased as marching girls, gymnasts and axemen went through their final rehearsals. Women members of the Nelson Horticultural Society worked feverishly till very late arranging the floral decorations in the stand around the Royal dais.

The park will be open at 6 a.m tomorrow to admit spectators but small-boat owners will probably be down at the port even earlier

preparing their craft to form a lane through which the Royal barge w’ill pass.

The forecast is for a tvarm day. The United States Navy tanker Tombigbee will break with tradition and dress ship in honour of the Queen when the Britannia arrives at Nelson.

The Tombigbee has been granted permission by United States Navy authorities to stay over in Nelson for the

Royal visit. She was to have remained at McGlashen quay, where the Royal barge will tie up m the morning, but about 100 ft astern of her original position. This morning, however, she was shifted to the main wharf at Nelson, where she will be showing her bunting practically out of sight of McGlashen quay. The Tombigbee’s place will be taken by the coaster Puriri, which is to load serpentine on Thursday