THE ROYAL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 9

THE ROYAL TOUR

VISIT TO JAMAICA KINGSTON’S ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME STREETS LINED WITH CHEERING CROWDS The Duke and Duchess of York received an enthusiastic welcome on arrival at Kingston, aud on landing they drove through flag-festooned streets between cheering crowds. By Telegraph.—Press association. Copyright. Kingston (Jamaica), Jan. 20. Working absolutely to schedule the Renown this morning stood in from the Caribbean, picking up the low-lying, palisaded coast, threaded . her way through the intricate navigation of the entrance, rounded Port Royal, of infamous memory, and moved majestically up the sunlit harbour of Kingston to her anchorage, followed by a Royal salute from the guns of a shore battery and two cruisers of the West Indian Squadron, dressed and manned to welcome her. The foreshore of Jamaica s capital was fringed with populace backed bv flagged houses peeping through trees, already flickering in a heat haze. The stately, silent ceremonial of anchoring, never changing, but ever new, went forward apparently without effort. The Renown might have been the Ancient Mariner’s ship, so little movement there seemed either on board or through the water, as the cables roared through the hawse-pipes. Then she broke her flags, wreathing herself from stem to stern in bunting, while the squadron’s guns blared out a Royal salute, and the flagship”s band played the National Anthem. The Renown did not answer according to the etiquette of the occasion. “Carry-on” was the order till official calls began. First, the Governor, Sir Reginald Stubbs, the Colonial Secrear}’, Mr. A. S. Jelf, and Colonel Mudge, O.C. of troops, were welcomed on the quarter-deck with a full guard. Here thev paid their respects to the Duke of York. They were followed by the Admiral of the Squadron and the Vice-Admiral. (Rec. January 21, 5.5 p.m.) Kingston, January 20. Kingston, on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York, left no doubt of its enthusiastic loyaltv to the throne. A public holiday had been proclaimed, the Government even prohibiting the newspapers from publishing. Everybody seemed to be abroad when the Duke aud Duchess landed, after lunch, in the Roval barge Cheering commenced as soon as the barge was sighted, and rose to a roar when it came alongside the jettv, where the visitors were received by the Governor and his wife, the Chief Justice, the Bishop, the officer commanding the troops, the Mayor, ViceAdmiral, members of the Legislative Council, and other dignitaries. The Duke of York, dressed in naval uniform, inspected the guard of honour furnished bv the Green Howards. The Duke and Duchess, followed by the Governor and others, drove through the flag-festooned streets, between hat-wav-ing, cheering crowds, while the black faces with flashing teeth contrasted strangely with the infrequent sight of English and Americans, the cordiality of whose welcome was no less vocal. During the drive the Duke and Duchess stopped twice to be welcomed bv a great gathering of ten thousand elementarv school children, waving flags, and shrilly singing an anthem. The acknowledgment of the. Duke and Duchess completed the happiness of the mothers and fathers, proudly watching the scene. On reaching the theatre the Duke inspected the naval guard of honour to the accompaniment of another great roar of cheering frqm the assembled thousands. ADDRESSES IN CASKETS OF JAMAICAN WOODS THE DUKE’S RESPONSE (Rec. January 21, 8.15 p.m.) Kingston, January 20. Responding to addresses in the theatre presented by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. A. S. Jelf, on behalf of the island, and by the Mayor, Mr. Dacosta, on behalf of the town, in caskets of Jamaican woods, the Duke of York said the loyal sentiments expressed would be presented to His Majestv. He felt that he was not a stranger, because he would always retain the’ happiest memories of his first visit to the island in 1913, as a naval cadet, when he was shown generous hospitality. Jamaica was one of the oldest and most interesting outposts of the Empire. There existed in England a genuine desire to understand and know the needs of. those dwelling overseas. The splendid part the Jamaicans played in the war was not forgotten. The Duke promised that upon Ins return he would do everything possible to promote the interests of the islanders and foster a spirit of understanding in the Mother Country. The daughter of the Governor presented to the Duchess a bouquet of orchids, harmonising with her Royal Highness’s beautiful , dress of bois de rose and crepe de chine. The Duke and Duchess had a rousing send-off when leaving for the King’s House, the Governor’s residence, where the Duchess inspected the Girl Guides and the Duke played tennis. Afterwards an official dinner took place, followed by the Governor’s reception, at which two thousand guests were presented. THE ROTORUA VISIT SPECTACULAR WELCOME BEING PLANNED PREPARATIONS WELL UNDER WAY Dominion Special. ■ Auckland, January 21. ( Rotorua is preparing to give the Duke and Duchess of York a fitting Maori welcome on a scale as magnificent and barbaric as the memorable . receptions accorded file present King j and Queen in 1901, and the Prince of i Wales in 1920. While the civic auth- | orities and European residents will be participating wholeheartedly in the festivities it is to the Maoris that the town is looking to provide the great spectacular incidents of the visit. Complete details of the reception in

store for Their Royal Highnesses are not vet available, as the plans have not been finally approved, but sufficient is known to perceive that Rotorua's manner Of welcoming the Royal visitors will be of an unique and unforgettable character. Preparations for the far-reaching event are now in progress. The scope and detail of the plan are being handled by Mr. lai Mitchell (one of the Arawa Chiefs and chairman of the Arawa Trust Board) and Mr. H. R. H. Balneavis, who, is private secretary to Mr. Coates in his capacity of Minister of Native Affairs, will provide the personal link between the tribesmen and the Government. Mr. Balneavis, who is now in Rotorua, is acting in close co-operation with Mr. Mitchell, and is confident that the welcome to be accorded Their Royal Highnesses will be fully in keeping with the elaborate customs and traditional hospitality of the Maori race. Desirous of securing adequate representation of the tribes, and at the came time avoiding too great a congestion of Maoris, in Rotorua, the organisers are inviting official nominees from every tribal unit in New Zealand to attend the ceremonies in an official capacity. These men will be specially picked to represent the various branches of the Maori race, and will be selected for their blood relationship to the great Maori tribes, their personal accomplishments, and their general fitness to represent their kinsmen before rhe Duke and Duchess. It is expected that 200 of these men, mostly chiefs hailing from the North and Souht Islands, will assemble at Rotorua to m homage to the Royal visitors in addition to the representative chiefs it is expected that hundreds of. Maoris from all parts of the North Island will augment the local Maori population. The task of sheltering and feeding some 2000 to 3000 Maori visitors besides the resident villagers is likely to test the ingenuity of the organisers to the utmost, but the Maori is never at. a loss when it conies to lavishing hospitality on the stranger within his gates. Even had the Government not offered to relieve them of fiart of the expense the measure of their generosity won d not be left in doubt, but as it is a liberal contribution to the cost of accommodating, the visitors will be forthcoming from Wellington, lhe Arawas have offered to house those taking part in the reception in five of their villages, including Olunemutu and Wiakarewarewa, and this will relieve the organisers of the necessity of providing outdoor accommodation at Arawa Park, as was done on previous occasions. These villages have already abandoned their habitual apearance of slothful ease and have .become regular hives of industry. Additional buildings are being erected, existing whares enlarged, and sites prepared for the erection of marquees, while a general cleanup is proceeding simultaneously Although time does not permit anything being done to put the mode •village scheme into operation, the sightliness of the pas should be very much improved by the time Thm Roval Highnesses arrive by special train at about 5.30 p.m. on Saturday, February 26. The initial welcome will take the form of a presentation* of an illuminated address on behal of the townspeople. Their Roxal Highnesses will then proceed to thei hotel, and after dinner will attend a Maori indoor entertainment. M a °ri dances, including the haka and noi dance, Maori songs, and other typical diversions will be given. Sunday has been set aside as a dav of leisure, and it will depend upon Their Roval Highnesses’ wishes as to wl ’ at form the day’s programme will assume A special morning service will be held however, in the Maori church at Ohinemutu, and in the afternoon it is probable that a motor trip will be made io some of the. places of thermal interest, principally Whakarewarewa, where the Duke and Duchess will view the geysers at play and watch' the Maori children diving fo Tl?e n S event of the visit will be a big Maori welcome at Arawa Park on Monday morning. . lhe festivities are provisionally timed to co> - mence at 9.30 a.m and will take the form of a massed approach to the Roval sthnd of several hundred warriors in full war paint. Their Roxal Highnesses will be afforded the unique spectacle of a Maori powhin on a tremendous scale, to the accompaniment of war dances bv men, and poi dances bv women. During the course of these primitive and exciting manoeuvres an address of welcome written m Maori and English and framed in carved totara. will be presented to Their Roval Highnesses on behalf of the combined tribes. Leaving the nark at the conclusion of the poxvhiti, the Roval party will proceed to the Government grounds, where, at 11.-w mm the Duke will unveil a war memorial' erected by the Arawa tribe ill commemoration of their . wa 7' ors /' fought for the Empire in the Great \v a r This monument, which is in course of erection near the bath-house, will'consist of a handsome column, surmounted by a statue of King George, and engraved wlth tl ’ e na " of the eight progenitors of the tribe and the names of those, xvho sen ed in the Alaori division during the war. Late in the afternoon the partv will leave Rotorua bv motor-car for Taupo and Tokaanu, where thev will go into camp for a day’s trout fishing. T he' xvill on Wednesday, March 2, bv car for the National Park to join a' special train for Nexv Plymouth. It is stated in Rotorua that an abundance of valuable gifts, in the shape of native mats, baskets, weapons and tribal tokens, are being prepared for presentation to Their Highnesses.