CHRISTCHURCH SCENES

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 61, 14 March 1927, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH SCENES

ROUSING RECEPTION CATHEDRAL BELLS PEAL i • (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHEISTCHUECH, 13th March. There was a clear sky and the sun shone warmly when the Duke of York arrived at Christchurch. """ After a formal reception at the railway station, the Duke, who had changed into uniform in the train drove through . Christchureh streets, which were densely thronged with men, women, and children, who gave him a rousing reception. The crowd appeared to be larger than that which assembled cither m, Auckland or Wellington, and the people displayed unbounded enthusiasm.

As the Duke reached the vicinity of Cathedral Square a. unique touch for New Zealand was given to the welcome by the joyful pealing of the Cathedral bells. Thence the route took the procession of cars back through the centre of the city and across the Avon to the Drill Hall, near the Bridge of Remembrance. Here there . was an inordinately lengthy musical performance more especially by the band, but the vast assemblage of several thousands gave the Duke a rousing welcome and one that he is not likely, to forget. An unusually large' number of local notabilities were presented to him. At the close of this ceremony, which was advanced to before : instead of after dinner, the Duke, after a very long and busy but most interesting day, drove to his hotel:

Everyone agrees that the - Cathedral City excelled itself in the magnitude 'and enthusiasm of its demonstration, the joyful pealing of the Cathedral bells above the 1 cheering of the, great assemblage being a unque addition to the loyal demonstration. • .

Another point in which Christehureh excelled.was the illuminations, especial ly in Cattiedral Square. The tramway shed was fortunately; hidden in a bower of greenery, and the tall, spire of the cathedral dominating the square-seen in the dim light added a \fiVal effective touch to an entrancing scene. Last evening the Duke dined with Mr. H. D. Acland, president, at' the Christehureh Club, and on returning to his hotel received another demonstration from the. crowd which was E^il,l waiting in front of Warner *s. To-day the Duke attended, the morning service in the Cathedral and visited Christ's College. Thi3 afternoon he will visit the residence of Mr. Humphries, the French Consul, and in the evening he will dine with a brother of an old friend who was in /the Navy with him. /