ALONG THE STREETS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 55, 7 March 1927, Page 5

ALONG THE STREETS

THE PEOPLE'S WELCOME

LOYAL, CHEERING THRONG

Long before : the time appointed for the' Royal arrival, people began to gather in the streets along which the cars would travel on their way from Lambton , Station to Government House. Positions of advantage, such as those opposite the Government House and the Government Buildings and at corners, were the first to be occupied, and then the streets along the whole route began gradually to fill up. Rope barriers across intersections and from verandah post to verandah post had the effect of keeping the crowds lined along the pavements, patrolling constables, and men. specially to control the traffic really having but little to do. Owing to'the length of the route and to the good sense of the populace in obeying the Mayor's behest to spread out, the crowd was at no point very dense; there was plenty of room for all, and no unduo crushing. The tedium of waiting was lightened by the playing of the bands which were stationed at various points along the route, and it was a good humouied and patient crowd which awaited Ihe coming of Their Royal Highnesses. Suddenly on the stroke of time boomed out the firsfoftho 21 guns fired from the forts as a Royal Salute. The Duke

had arrived! , Everyone was suddenly galvanised into excited expectancy, and before many minutes elapsed the cry was taken up, "Hero'they come!" Cheering in the distance, rapidly getting nearer and nearer and swelling in volume,' marked the -progress of the Royal procession. A momentary fear that tho Duke and Duchess were in a closed car was rapidly dispelled, and, disregarding barriers and police., every one pressed forward to gain a closer

glimpse of the visitors as they drove by. Bowing and smiling in-answer to the cheers and flag waving the Duke and Duchess seemed to have a greeting for all, whether in . the street, or on a balcony. The. procession as it moved slowly on chain after chain through the cheering crowds was one triumphal progress accompanied by'a remarkable demonstration of loyalty on the part of the citizens of Wellington. Everyone got a good view of the Duke and Duchess as they passed, and everyone seemed highly pleased that they had been seen and with what they saw.

The late afternoon sunshine, the flags, and bunting gaily fluttering in the breeze,; the • decoration and the multi-coloured dresses in the crowd combined to make a kaleidoscopic picture which.will long live in the memory oi those who saw it, the finishing touch and the centre of all of course being the girlish figure of the .Duchess in a beautiful shade of blue. When the last car had passed out of sight the crowd

was loath to depart, and groups re- i mained comparing notes or wandering | up. and down the streets looking at the decorations. But the thought of tea and festivities in tho evening finally sent the people home well satisfied with

the memorable welcome they had given to our Royal visitors, the Duke and Duchess of York.

An incident which was appreciated by the Duchess occurred as Their Royal Highnesses passed the Bank of Australasia. A voice from the line of specta

tors exclaimed, "Hurrah for Glamis" —a reference to the baronist home of the Duchess before she was married. No doubt tho owner of the voice had some happy recollection of the ancient castle in the valley of Stratmnore. The Duchess heard the exclamation, and turned in her seat with a gesture of surprise, as.though anxious to ser who had thus reminded her of her far-away homo.