DELICATE MACHINERY

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1927, Page 11

DELICATE MACHINERY

BURNING EOYAL TOUR .. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Special Reporter.) WOODVILLE, This Day. At Napier this morning the mebers of the touring party, who had stayed at the hotel, were earlfr . astir. Before 7 o'clock the baggage master had collected al the luggage, and half an Lour later a line of numbered motor-cars drew up to th" hotel. The machinery of the Royal tour was again in motion. It is complicated and rather delicate machinery, with no bolts left loose to jangle and upset the smooth running which is essential in a quick-change tour. Nothing can be left to chance. Everything must be pre-arranged, for a time-table arranged in minutes for a month ahead does not lend itself to . eleventh-hour alterations. That is why the officials in charge of the tour must send firm but courteous refusals to telegrams which still arrive daily, begging for an extra ten minutes here or a new stop there. Royal travelling must be by clock time and like clockwork.

It was for this reason that an early departure had to be made from Napier, but early as was the hour a crowd gathered at the hotel and at the station in a. last hope of seeing the Duke. and Duchess. It was the same along the line. At every small station or crossroads there were waving and cheering parties. At Takapau, where a short stop was made for water, the Duke sent for Enginedrivers L. H. ■ Sigglekow ami J. F. Pine and the fireman, A. Anderson who were presented. The Duke talked with the men for several minutes asking about the work on different sections of the line, the men's experiences, and how they came to be allotted this special job. On learning that mere seniority itself had not entered into the matter, the Duke was impressed remarking that.it was good to see that merit received its recognition