LETTING THEMSELVES GO

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 55, 7 March 1927, Page 12

LETTING THEMSELVES GO

DEMONSTRATION IN - THE

STREETS

Scenes of unbounded enthusiasm marked the'departure of the Eoyal pair from'the Town Hall. As they step-

ped into their ear, the great crowd i which -thronged the sides of the fopediu enclosure cheered and cheered again, but made no effort to break the barriers. From window and roof-top, the acclamation was caught up and reechoed, and the excitement communicated itself to the waiting crowds further up Cuba street. As the Duke and Duchess came up to the turn into Manners street, the assemblage could be restrained no longer, and the whole vast gathering poured across the road, almost completely blocking the way. With difficulty, the Royal car was-pilot-ed through the throng, the valiant efforts of the traffic. officers and police being of. little' avail-against the pressure, from benind. Many' found out for themselves, the. charm of the Duchess's personality as revealed in the wonderful smile; which she bestowed with that graciousness which has set the seal of success on' the royal* visit. On her right, the. Duke saluted repeatedly, and bowed to the clamouring people, and so, slowly and amid cheers which can only bo.compared with those witnessed, during the tour of tho^Princo of Wales, Their Highnesses came to Courtenay place. Here again the barriers were brushed aside like so much tissue paper, and the tumultuous welcome of the citizens was repeated. Never' aid bunting flant more gaily or flags wave more vigorously than at this stage. Wellington was transformed in a. twinkling from a. prosaic commercial city into an openhearted and affectionate City of Empire, and. her citizens were gathered to pay homage to the representatives of a beloved Royal family., The same story was told all the way along the route to the opening of the Karitane Home at' Ifrolrose. Wellington's citizens for once belied their reputation for coldness on such occasions; they gavo of their loyalty and homage, as befitted the people of the Dominion's capital city, freely and spontaneously.