AT CHRISTCHURCH

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 99, 21 January 1935, Page 10

AT CHRISTCHURCH

Spectacular Welcome to Duke RIVER CARNIVAL Brilliant Illuminations and Fireworks By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, January 20. it is estimated that forty live thousand adults and children participated in the welcome Christchurch extended to the Duke of Gloucester yesterday. The reception had a character of its own in two respects: The first was that the people spread themselves evenly through the city to provide t!)t longest and perhaps the deepest human lane through which the Royal procession has passed on the tour, and the second was that it was a waving rather than a cheering demonstration. This latter feature was attributable doubtless to the distribution of the citizen*-- in wellordered lines throughout the city streets. Replying to the loyal address in Cranmer Square, bis Royal Highness said that, other members of the Royal Family retained the happiest recollections of their visits to New Zealand and to the Canterbury Province, and he in turn would not forget the charm of the Cathedral City and ils warmhearted welcome. He felt at home in a city which was so English in its origin, its character, and appearance. Responding to a loyal address'from the Methodist Church of New Zealand, the Duke paid a tribute 'o the untiring efforts made by members of the Church from the early days in the service of the people. Unofficial Stop. A brief unofficial stop had been made by his Royal Highness on his trip through from Ashburton to receive at the hands of a woman a bouquet ot earnations. The Duke, who was <1 riving himself at the time, left the ear to shake hands with the donor. His first official act on entering Christchurch was to deposit a wreath at the base of the Gallipoli pillar of the Bridge of Remembrance. In the presence of an exceptionally large gathering. his Royal Highness performed the ceremony, after which the “Last Post was played by two buglers, one or whom was a crippled ex-serviceman. The Duke spent a considerable amount of time inspecting the returned soldiers and chatting with different members of the parade. An opportunity for concentrated cheering presented itself at Cranmer Square, and the voice of the city, in response to the Mayor's call, spoke with a real volume. After luncheon at the hotel the Duke attended the trotting meeting at Addington King Carnival Reigns. Surrendering itself to the spell of King Carnival and casting traditional restraint to the' winds, Christchurch, ■by its illuminated riverside and fireworks displays, provided last night the most spectacular and demonstrative reception the Duke of Gloucester has been accorded during his Dominion tour. For several hours the Avon became the Venice of New Zealand with gaily decorated and lighted river craft of every description bobbing and twinkling gondola-like down the still water of the carnival course. The darknesi of night accentuated the impression that the scene was one from a fairy picture book. Across the waler floated a melody of Maori voices, harmonising with the gentle swish of processional skiffs and attuning with the romantic atmosphere of the moment. Lining the banks was a crowd which the authorities estimated at forty thousand, and which, carried along by ti great wave of enthusiasm, showed its Royal guest how completely he had won the heart of its city. In some places the sightseers stood twenty deep on each side, but in spite of this concentration, the ranks were preserved in a most orderly maimer, and the spirit of jollity and fun-making was not destroyed. Thunderous Acclamation. Immediately the Duke. escorted overhead by tin illuminated aeroplane, arrived at the riverside thousands of throats burst in thunderous acclamation and as each successive cheer was raised, the volumes ;,f sound increased. Nothing approaching so tumultuous an expression of •ilfeetiou has been experienced on the tour and it is doubtful whether any Australian demonstrations eclipsed it. Christchurch had found an appropriate method of giving full vent in dignified fashion to its emotions. Seated in bis launch with floodlight illumination, bis Highness presented a striking figure visible to all and one on which every eye qested as he traversed the course before mounting a dais to watch the procession and subsequent tireworks display ami fire brigade exhibition. There were many novel features in the fireworks display, one of the most' vivid of them being i lie development as the sparks spread of a full-face portrait against the inky blackness of the Duke himself. The cumulative effect of the carnival fireworks and the demonstration was not lost oji his Highness. who, with members of bis suite, was obviously impressed with ami delighted by the performance. Al the Trolling Course. .Saturday afternoon gave the citizens several opportunities to see the Duke of Gloucester other than in the role of a soldier in which he met them in the morning. Outside his hotel and along the route to Addington, large crowds assembled to cheer him. and at the trotting course he received a magnificent welcome. 'l’he Duke watched with interest Indianapolis clip a second off the New Zealand and Australian mile record. Nonchalantly mounting the starter’s stand he released the tapes for the start of the Sussex Handicap and remained oil the rostrum during the running of the event. There were fifteen horses In the race, and Ills Highness set them off to a perfect start. Dashing Horsemanship. Although in recent years interest in polo in Christchurch has languished, several thousands of people assembled in Hagley Park to watch the Duke and members of his staff play five chukkas against local sides. His Highness again displayed dashing horsemanship, initiative in attack and anticipation in defence. He scored several goals, each winning shot being the sig-

mil for excited cheering from the delighted spectators. The waiting crowd outside the hotel received a thrill of its own when the Duke alighted from the ear still wearing his polo uniform. The size of the assemblage grew when the news spread that the Duke would be reappearing to attend a dinner at the Christchurch Chib, and the cheering was renewed when he left the hotel to begin his evening engagements. Sunday’s Engagements. Following Saturday's unsettled conditions, the weather was gloriously tine to-day for the second day of the Duke’s visit." In the morning he attended Divine service at the Cathedral, where Lord Bledisloe read the 1 Lessons, and the sermon was preached by Bishop West-Watson. Driving the ear himself, the Duke visited the home of Sir Heaton Rhodes at Tai Tapu and lunched f'ere with the Governor-General. Later he visited the home of Major G. F. Hutton, at Homebush, and spent the balance of the afternoon playing tennis. As was the case yesterday, crowds congregated in the Square to witness every arrival and departure of the Duke from the hotel. To-mOrrow. which marks the end of the tour officially, contains a heavy list of public engagements. ASHBURTON’S WELCOME Duke Has Mounted Escort B.v Telegraph - t’ress Association Ashburton, January 19, Accompanied by a mounted escor* of an officer and eight men from the B Squadron of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, the Duke of Gloucester made a triumphal entry into the Ashburton domain to-day amt received a welcome as sincere as it was enthusiastic The local population was supplemented by settlers from outlying districts, many of whom travelled long distances for the event. In addition to the mounted escort the same squadron supplied a mounted guard of two officers ami forty-four other ranks. A third feature was a large children’s demonstration. Replying Io the civic address his Royal Highness said it had given him great pleasure to star in such a wellknown part of Iho Dominion ami to gain experience, under the most favourable conditions of its pastoral industry.