A ROUND OF VISITS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1927, Page 8

A ROUND OF VISITS

BUCCANEER RELICS

RUINS OF PORT ROYAL

KINGSTON (Jamaica), 22nd Jan,

Kingston is still illuminated in honi our of the Boyal visitors, but the city, found a rival last evening when the cruisers Calcutta and Colombo "lit 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 Benown showed the York Bose as 1 well as her own crest as a flaming flambeau.

As the Duke and Duchess left tho shore for the ship at the conclusion of their inland visit, the Benown fired a rocket and played a on the ducal standard at the main masthead. The harbour, under soft tropical skies, blazed with light,.making a,most effective night display. To-day the Duke opened Ha busiest day with an unofficial visit, to Port Boyal, the old buccaneer headquarters, and at one time the richest city in Jamaica, until the earthquake destroyed it. Tho place is now only the ghost of its former greatness. His Boyal Highness met the Governor, Sir Beginald Stubbs, Colonel Mudge, and other officers. The party was taken to iort Charles, in which in 1779 Nelson, then commander, used to pace the ramparts as though on his own quarter-deck.-They also visited the garrison church, where they we're touched by the many pathetic inscriptions on the tombs, recording the deaths of midshipmen as young as thirteen from fever or falls -from aloft, and other causes. : ' IMPRESSIVE NAVAL RITUAL. * After a few. minutes in the mess, examining other old relics and records, the Duke of .lark returned to the Benown to carry out his official visits to tho Calcutta and Colombo. The visits were accompanied by all tho ceremonial appropriate to the occasion. The .Duke was piped overside and all tho ships' Eoyal Guards were mounted. The National Anthem was played, and the crews marched past on their own decks and then stood on the alert as the Boyal 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. 5 _ The'visits were over by noon, and the Boyal barge immediately conveyed Their Boyal Highnesses ashore,- where the enthusiasm of the welcome was unabated. The party- proceeded direct to the Benown Club and Sailors' Best, both institutions designed to help entertain sailors in Kingston. The Duke place a magnificent wreath in memory of Jamaican soldiers who fell in the Great War. WAR MEMORIAL. The next function alao had 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 moat melodious. One small choir boy, with a shining black face, above a correct Eton collar and white surplice, presented the Duchess with a bouquet of carnations. After viewing Admiral 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 tho community. BACK ABOARD SHIP. In tha evening the Duke and Duchoss were entertained by about forty of Kingston's leading dignitaries at dinner. This was followed by a reception 01\ the -Renown's decks, which were brilliantly illuminated and decorated, all the resources of the ship boine called upon for the occasion. , These^ festivities will hardly be con- - ol^? d to-night before working parties will be hard atut swinging in the boats and carrying out all the preparations (Sund ciS) g anCh°r &t da™ **S™"