DUKE IN THE SOUTH

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 64, 17 March 1927, Page 12

DUKE IN THE SOUTH

JOUKNEY TO DUNEDIN

A BUSY DAY

SPEECH AT WAITAKE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, 16th March

After heavy showers during the night at. Christchurch the day brightened, and the journey of His Royal Highness the Duke of York and party across the plains was made in brilliant sunshine, the foothills of the Southern Alps showing out of the disappearing mists forming a fitting background to the stubble and grass of the plains, with their pine plantations.

At Ashburton, where the ; Hon: W. and Mrs Nosworthy were on' the platform, there was a large crowd of adults and children, who waved their flags and cheered the Duke. Here a new note was struck in the decoration of the arch that rose above the platform on which the Duke was welcomed. Two carcasses of Canterbury lamb were suspended on the pillars, whilo other products of the plains, such as wool, butter, and cheese were prominent in the scheme. The visitors were afterwards interested in glimpses of the Southern Alps, including the shadowy form of Aorangi, the monarch of the farther range, with the mists wreathing themselves about the shoulders of the great massif. Interest also centred in the mountains Beyond Mesopotamia, at the foot of which on. Mr. Nosworthy's sheep station are now the ruins of the home in which Butler began the first chapters of "Erewhon." / TIMARU VISIT. The visit of the Duke of York proved a brilliant success, everything passing off without a hitch. After a showery morning the train reached Timaru on schedule. The weather was perfect in every way, and there was a record attendance of the general public. Every viUage or hamlet in South Canterbury contributed its quota to the cheering throng which acclaimed the Duke. The Duke left -the train at Caroline Bay/ whero the Prince of Wales was detrained seven years ago, and was informally, received by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and. Mrs. G, J. Wallace. The chief function was held at the gardens in the proximity of the soldiers' memorial. Leaving tho bay, the Duko motored to . the Gardens, via Stafford street, which was lined by cheering throngs. The .-journey to the rendezvous was something in tho nature of a triumphal march. The whole town, but more particularly Stafford street, was gaily bedecked with bunting of all descriptions, and presented a brilliant appearance. At the Gardens thero was an enormous crowd to welcome tho Duke, who was received with deafening cheers. Tho Mayor read an address of welcome signed by the Mayors and chairmen of the various local bodies in South Canterbury, and at its conclusion the- Duke handed to tho Mayor his written reply, expressing appreciation of the warm weleomo accorded him and regretting tho unavoidable absence of tho Duchess. After a few introductions the Duke inspected the Girl Guides and tho Boy Scouts and children, who sang a song composed for the occasion. By the time this was finished the time allotted for Timaru had almost expired, and the Duke departed on the last part of his journey. HALL 01 MEMORIES. ■ At Waitaki Boys' High School the train stopped to enable the Duko to open the Hall,.oil Memories. This was a most impressive ceremony. Tho Memorial ■ Hall is built of Oamaru stone, and.has a fine stained glass window depicting in. the centre'a modern soldier in uniform, Alfred the Great on one side and Richard C'oour de .Lion on the other. It commemorates tho oxpupils who fell in tho war. In Oamaru itself tho people rose to tho occasion ay.d wero much more enthusiastic than the crowds in Timaru. In unveiling the memorial tho Duke left tho track of the stereotyped address of moro formal occasions, speaking- effectively as follows::— "I propose to say very little to-day because a Hall of Memories requires very few words. Its associations and nil that it stands for calls for silence rather than speech, but I do ask you not to lot those words 'Hall of Memories' become merely an empty name to you. Keincmbcr that this room stands for all that was best and noblest in thoso who gave their lives for tho Empire to which you and I belong. Eomombcr the loyalty and sclf-sacrifico of thoso old boys, and see to it that tho generations which come after you shall also learn tho lessons which they taught, for as they served their country in var, bo must you servo her in peace, and if you cherish thoso ideals of truth and right for which they fought you will bo completing tho task they began, and their lives will not have boon given in vain I havo now much plcasuro in declaring tho hall open." ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN. Arriving in Duriedin, tho Duke drove through cheering crowds from the railway station through tho Octagon, and along the main streets to the Club at Fernhill, whero he is staying. The music of bands and the skirl of the bagpipes Vcre heard at intervals. Tho crowd seemed almost as largo as that at Christchurch, but not quite so enthusiastic! The train drew into the station precisely at 6.30, according to time-table, and in a small enclosure formed by decorations, foliage, and pot plants stood the Mayor of Dunedin and his colleagues. The Mayor welcomed tho Duko ana presented his councillors, and the party then moved away. Outsido the station a largo enclosure had been kepi clear, but round the barriers a great concourse of peoplo had congregated, and cheers went up as the Duke appeared. Ho inspected tho guard and entered an open car for the procession through the c:ty to the Dunodin Club, whero ho and his staff will stay during their sojourn in Dunedin. A closed car had been provided for him, but His Royal Highness expressed a desire to follow his customary practice of appearing before ' the people in an open ear. Fortunately thero was one open car in the fleet provided for the party, ana that accordingly was sent forward to the head of the procession for the Duke. The route to the club was via Stuart street,, round the west side of the Octagon, past the Town Hall, ana along -Princes street and Manor street. It was quite a long distance, but the route was thickly lined with people all the way. The central portion of the roadway had been roped off, and tho people of Dunedin were accordingly provided with ample space wherein to witness the progress of the Duko through tho city. They certainly took

a keen interest in what was passing, and at times raisijl cheers, but it was not until the procession was nearing the club that anything in the nature of hearty cheering was heard. There was, indeed, throughout the Southern tour a most marked restraint in the matter of vocal salutation, and it was only occasionally,, such as at the Waitaki Boys' High School, that real cheering was heard. Th< record of Christchurch in the heartiness of the welcome in articular form by the people has been surpassed nowhere in New Zealand. A VERY FINE IMPRESSION. The Duke certainly created-a very fine impression wherever he went. Ho is bearing up wonderfully in what is really a most exacting ordeal, and many people were surprised to notice how fresh and alert he was' to-day after Ins big day in Christchurch on Tuesday. He manifested throughout a punctilious regard for the expectations of the people, and carried through all his engagements with the most cordial affability.