THE ROYAL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 101, 24 January 1927, Page 11

THE ROYAL TOUR

— — v • EXPERIENCES AT KINGSTON OF THE DUKE AND DUCHESS GATHERING OF MIXED RACES BRILLIANT ELECTRICAL DISPLAY BY Tblegbaph.—Peess Association. COPYttlGaJ 1 - (Rec. January 23, 11.5 p.m.) Kingston (Jamaica), January 21. Last night’s reception and dinner proved quite an experience for the Duke and Duchess of York, who found the company representative of all sections and races in the community. There were hundreds of guests at the dinner, and two thousand attended the reception. To-day’s programme was designed with a view to allowing other _ residents in the island an opportunity of meeting Their Royal Highnesses. Landing amid scenes only slightly less enthusiastic to the previous day, the Duke and Duchess motored to .the Spanish town, the old historic capital of the island. There they visited the Cathedral of St. James, and were interested. in the inscriptions on the tombs, some of which dated back to the seventeenth century. After meeting a number of notables, viewing the Rodney monument, and hearing the school children sing t l ] 6 National Anthem ,tb.e Duke and Duchess motored to several villages, through scenes which, with their gaily-clad negroes, as they visited the green banana plantations, must have reminded them of their African expenenecs. They lunched at Moneague, proceeding thereafter along beautiful scenerv v. Annadale, where the Governor henl a g °The'Duke'and Duchess took the train back to Kingston, boarding tnc R'lioui. for a quiet evening. A BUSY DAY KINGSTON’S WAR MEMORIAL (Rec. January 22, 11.5 p.m.) Kingston (Jamaica), January 2Kingston is still illuminated in honour of g the Royal visitors, but the city found a rival last evening when tl e cruisers Calcutta and Colombo ht ship” in honour of the Duke and Duchess of York, outlining their whole hulls funnels and masts in a brilliant electrical display. At the same time the Renown showed the York Ko.e as well as her own crest as a flaming flambeau. , , As the Duke and Duchess left the shore for the ship at the conclusion of their inland visit, the Renown fired a rocket and played a searchlight on the ducal standard at the main masthead. The harbour thereupon, under soft tropical skies, blazed with light, making a most effective night dl l^ l - ! day the Duke opened his busiest dav with an unofficial visit to Porto Royal, the old buccaneer headquarters, and at one time the richest city in Jamaica, until the earthquake destroyed it, and the place is now only the ghost of its former greatness. His Roval Highness met Sir Reginald Stubbs, Colonel Mudge and other officers. The party was taken to bort Charles, in which in 1779, Nelson, then commander, used to pace the ramparts as though on his own quarterdeck. Thev also visited the garrison church there, where they were touched by the many pathetic inscriptions on the tombs, recording the deaths of midshipmen as young as thirteen from fever .or falls from aloft, etc.

After a few minutes in the mess, examining other old relics and records, the Duke of York returned to the Renown to carry out his official visits. to the Calcutta and Colombo. The visits were accompanied by all the ceremonial appropriate to the occasion. The Duke was piped overside and all the ships’ Royal Guards were mounted. The National Anthem was played, and the crews marched past on their own decks and then stood alert as the Royal barge moved from ship to ship. It was a most impressive instance of naval ritual, where tradition was reflected in every item of the arrangements. The visits were over by nooij, and the Royal barge immediately conveyed Their oyal Highnesses ashore, where the enthusiasm of the welcome was unabated. The party proceeded direct to the Renown Club and Sailors’ Rest, both institutions designed to help entertain sails in Kingston. Thence Their Royal Highnesses ashore, where the Duke placed a magnificent wreath in memory of Jamaican soldiers who fell in the Great War.

The next funciton had also a military significance This was the laying of the foundation stone of Kingston’s war memorial. A short service was held in the parish church in the presence of a distinguished gathering. The memorial is in the form of a clock tower of dignified design, to take the place of one destroyed in the earthquake in 1907. The musical portion of the service was most melodious. One small choir boy. with shining black face, above a correct Eton collar and white surplice, presented the Duchess with a bouquet of carnations. After viewing Vice-Admiral Jolih Benbow’s grave, which is in the church, the Duke and Duchess motored through the crowds, which were as large as ever, to Trafalgar Park, .where they took lunch with Colonel Mudge, and later attended a garden party, which was confined almost entirely to the naval and military sections of the community. In the evening th c Duke and Duchess were entertained by about forty of Kingston’s leading dignitaries at dinner. This was followed by a reception on the Renown’s decks, which were brilliantly illuminated and decorated, all the resources of the ship being called upon for the occasion. These festivities will hardly be concluded tonight before working parties will be hard at it swinging in the boats and carryng out all the preparations for weighing anchor at dawn to-morrow (Sunday).