All Port Chalmers Out For Arrival

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30057, 15 February 1963, Page 10

All Port Chalmers Out For Arrival

(New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, February 14. Port Chalmers came out in full force today to welcome the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to Otago.

The Britannia drew alongside George street pier at 4.55 p.m. and a red-carpeted gangway was hoisted into position 15 minutes later.

The Queen wore the peacock silk jacket and dress in which she arrived at Waitangi and stepped ashore at 5.35 p.m.

The Britannia had berthed after its longest, unbroken trip down the New Zealand coast. The distance from Picton to Port Chalmers is 372 nautical miles. Almost the entire Port Chalmers’ population of 3500 were out in the streets to see the Britannia arrive. The cliff road above the pier was crammed with cars and people.

Once again, the Queen and the Duke were met by the Minister in Attendance and Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and Mrs Holyoake. The ehairman of the Otago Harbour Board, Mr L Macbean Stewart, and Mrs Stewart, the general manager of the board, Mr W. Keir, and the Mayor and Mayoress of Port Chalmers, Mr J. S. Thorn and Mrs Thorn, and the Town Clerk, Mr K. B. Kendall, were presented. At the entrance to the pier, the Royal car slowed as it

passed car loads of crippled children. It was also a slow passage out of the township as packed streets resounded with cheers that presaged the most voluble welcome of the tour.

Two runabouts kept in step with the Royal procession as it cruised beside the Otago harbour on the Port Chalmers-Dunedin highway. The mist disappeared at Ravensbourne where the procession drove in sunshine. A group of men dashed back into a hotel after the Royal car passed there. It was two minutes before 6 o’clock. Crowds lined Anzac avenue three and four deep as the cavalcade moved into Dunedin. In Stuart street, which was bordered by huge flower baskets and masses of flags, the cheering increased in volume. The Octagon was in sight.