VISIT TO ULSTER

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 9, 11 July 1934, Page 4

VISIT TO ULSTER

A WAEM'GREETING

THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

CROSSING MADE BY AIR

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, May 31. Tho Duke of Gloucester, who is also Earl of .Ulster, must have been thrilled by his reception'in Belfast. In no part of the British Empire is the spirit of patriotism and loyalty to tho Koyal Family so deeply ingrained. Large crowds braved a cold bre.czo for. over three hours on Saturday evening- in order to. give the Duke an enthusiastic welcome on his arrivalat tho Aldergrove Aerodrome. Tho Duke travelled in the' new sixscater aeroplane' of the Prince of Wales, with Flight-Lieut. Mellor as pilot. The machine -'was held up by. a high wind, a stop being necessary at Manchester to refuel, and it, did. not land on Ulster soil until shortly' before 8 o'clock, or almost two hours later than had been arranged. The machine was escorted from Portpatriek to Blackhead by a squadron of B.A.F. flying-boats, where it was picked up by an escort from the Ulster Bomber Squadron, which accompanied the Royal visitor to Aidergrove. The machine circled over the aerodrome and then made a perfect landing. ' . ' ' ; The Duke, attended by Captain Howard Ken-, was welcomed by representatives of tho Government," by th'o Marquis of Londonderry (Minister .of Air), Lady Londonderry, and ; Lady AJary Stewart. A guard of honour, pro-vided-by the Royal Air Force, was inspected by the Royal visitor, after which he left for.Government House, Hillsborough, to the accompaniment of hearty cheers. GREAT WELCOME BY PEOPLE. On leaving Aldergrove Aerodrome the Duke passed through Crumlin, Glenavy, and Magheragall, beiiig welcomed by crowds of country folk, while flag's were displayed from private houses, Orange halls, and other buildings. "Only in Ulster could the Duke of Gloucester have received the welcomo which he did-at Hillsborough on Saturday evening," says the "Belfast-Tele-graph." "Along the road'from Lisburn to Hillsborough drummers beat an unmistakable welcome on the Lambegs; cars from surrounding, districts, complete with flags, showed their welcome,- while either side of the road was lined with pedestrians.

"Hillsborough itself was full of

people. The residents onc>'and all wore out of theii- houses, while visitors by motor and bus and hundreds of cyclists filled the main street.

"Every; drummer in the neighbourhood was in town, and; headed by tho famed . instrument beaten by tho Prince, they paraded up and down, beating unceasingly." '•'As the lloyal car approached, later than, was expected, the cheering could be heard far along the road, and tho cheers of those in Hillsborough almost drowned the drums."

Shortly before midnight the Duke made His appearance in the Square opposite to the entrance to Government House, Hillsborough, wljere a drumming contest had been going on for some time. Seizing the opportunity one of tho drummers took off his drum and transferred it to his Royal Highness, who, to the delight of all, tried his hand at beating a few "Lambegs, 7' and he was then presented .with the drumsticks. The Duke attended service in the Hillsborough Parish Church on Sunday morning and in the afternoon he visited Lord Londonderry at Mountstowart. ' . A GREAT HALL OPENED. On the Monday tho .Duke and' his party lunched at Stormont Castle, with Viscount Craigavon, the P.rhno Minister. Unfortunately, Lady Craigavoii, being confined to her bed by doetor-'s orders, was unable to be present. His Royal Highness subsequently received addresses in the Great Hall of the Houses •of Parliament. The company represented all the commercial and industrial enterprises of tfie province. Addresses were presented; by churches, the .University, two corporations, ten county councils, and thirtyfive borough councils, and other public bodies.

In replying ,thu Duke concluded with tlio words:'- "I-wish to tell you how proud I am to hold the title of Earl of Ulster."

The Monday and Tuesday in Belfast were, yery full and strenuous days for the Duke. The Eoyal Ulster Agricultural Society has erected a- , great arched building-similar to Olyinpia in London, and one of the events was.the official opening of this as the initial ceremony of the Eoyal Ulster Agricultural Show. The King's Hall, which seats 8000 people and-affords accommodation for over 200 exhibition s.itands, occupies a conspicuous site on the main toad from Belfast to.Lisburn, which is also, the principal, highway between Northern and Southern Ireland.

Clothing, ■ tobacco, and linen factories were visited by the Duke. His Royal Highness showed great inffercst iii the manufacture of cigarettes and pipo tobacco, especially, in the amazing battery of machines, each of which turns out cigarettes at a rate of 1200 a minute. He learned that additional machines are .being installed to cope ivitli the clcmand. He also learned of

the.rebirth, of the habit of snuff-taking. | which is regaining much of its old| popularity. Snuff was seen in its transition from.the stems of the. tobacco leaf. ' ; : .

On the Tuesday the Duke paid a visii to the shipbuilding yards where he saw work in progress, and took part in a little ceremony which initiated work on H.M.S. Penelope. He saw a Blur Star .liner and the new Shaw, Saviil ship almost ready for the water. The Harbpur Commissioners entertained the Jhike ■. at luncheon. ' Afterwards \he visited Glenmorc Bleach Works and Messrs. Van Den Bergh's arid Jurgens' maTgarinc -jvorks. In the evening"-ho attended the first .-Royal command-per-formance at the Royal; Opera House'