THE DUKE ARRIVES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 94, 18 October 1934, Page 14

THE DUKE ARRIVES

SUSSEX AT MELBOURNE

VOYAGE UP PORT PHILIP BAY

CROWDS OF VISITOES

United Tress Association —By Electric Tele-

grapli—Copyright. (Received October 18, 2.30 p.m.)

MELBOURNE, This Day

In the early dawn H.M.S. Sussex, bearing the Duke of Gloucester to perform the essential task of his mission to open the- Melbourne Centenary celebrations, sailed through the mist at Port Philip Heads arid began her 4G- j milo voyage up the Bay to the city, j escorted by ships ■of the Australian Squadron' and H.M.S.s Diomede and Dunedin. Beflagged steamers, launches, and a hundred yachts set out early to take part in the gay sail past. Seventy-five aeroplanes roared overhead, and a salute of 21 guns was fired by the warships as tho Sussex slowly glided to her berth at Port Melbourne. Though she arrived at 10.30 a.m., the Duke will not land until 1.35 p.m., after receiving official calls from the Governor-General, the State Governor, the Prime Minister, and Premier. Hours before landing, hundreds of thousands of eager people lined the seven-mile route of the Eoyal progress to Parliament House, where the official opening will be at 3.30 p.m. TRAMWAY TROUBLE. While regretting that the Duke would have to perform the duty under the shadow cast by the unfortunate- tramway trouble, the people of MelUburne hope that the warmth of their welcome will dispel any unfavourable impression in the mind of the Koyal guest. Even late last night it was hoped that lastminute efforts might succeed in having the trams running today. The men, however, remained firm, notwithstanding the board's threat to recruit volunteer labour and man tho trains.

Four hundred New Zealanders arrived by the Wanganella to attend the- celebrations. Ships and trains from other States are crowded with visitors.