THE KING AND QUEEN IN NEW ZEALAND

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 22

THE KING AND QUEEN IN NEW ZEALAND

; MEMORIES OF THE ROYAL VISIT OF 1901

- A. great event in the King's, life was the;-tour which; he -made of the Do- :. minions in 19oiJ as Duke of Cornwall and York,-together with Queen Mary. ,The project.of a Royal visit to New Zealand' and -Australia had been broached; as early as 1893, when, a few Months after their marriage, the Duke'and Duchess were invited to honour with their presence this part "of the British Empire. On the occasionl" of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897 the invitation "was-renewed by the New Zea- ' land "Government. It was not, however, practicable for them to make the :journey» at this time. In 1900, when the consummation pf Australia's Federation marked a new development in . the .history \of the Commonwealth, while the enthusiasm with which both New, Zealand and Australia had sent the flower of their manhood to assist the Mother.Country in the South AM- ' can struggle seemed to merit some return, the consent of Queen Victoria : was obtained, and details of the journey were arranged. The Orient Company's steamer. Ophir was chosen for ,the vojjage, and a large" number of ■necessary alterations'were put in hand. . The death of Queen Victoria caused the postponement for a while of the ■ visit of the Duke 'and Duchess to the Antipodes, arranged in 1900 to mark - the establishment of the Australian Commonwealth, just as the death of King Edward VII forestalled King George's visit to South Africa to open the first Union Parliament. On March 16, 1901, however, the Ophir, accompanied by two cruisers, left Ports- ' mouth with the Royal party for Aus--trah'a. lis Melbourne the Duke, as he was opened the first session of ■the Commonwealth, Parliament before a great and enthusiastic crowd and similar scenes of enthusiasm charac- . terised the rest of the Royal tour of 1-Australia, ' ! ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. •~ .On June 11, 1901, the Ophir glided ' into. Auckland Harbour, and the Prefer/the late ]^ Sed- • ddn,: presented ah address of welcome , from New Zealand to its Royal guests .His Royal Highness, in reply, said:— The. readiness and. promptitude • -with which[..the Government and people of New Zealand sprang to . the assistance of the Mother Coun- .- try in the struggle, still > unhappily :■ proceeding in South Africa, will ever be remembered with gratitude by his.Majesty and by the people of the' United Kingdom. Your action • in,.-that matter has proved to the world Hhat your appreciation of the benefits you enjoy as citizens of the British Empire will, whenever the "occasion-arises, be shown by deeds, not words, and that you are prepared to . share in the responsibili- : ties and heritage which are your „■ birthright as much as that of the Motherland. ■ ■ '-' > ■ -In view of what happened in 1914 these words may be said to have been prophetic. A military display and " presentation of war medals, together ...■with.a veterans'banquet, were among the., principal events of the Royal stay in Auckland. A visit was next paid Rotorua..where. a magnificent wel- , come was -given." by the assembled re- , p'resentatives, of the Maori tribes, and ' hakas, and.poi. dances, were perform.£d Yon lavish scaled valuable gifts also 4peing made to the Duke and '. Duchess1." ".■ ; RECEPTION IN WELLINGTON. On Tuesday, June 18, the visitors ■arrived at Wellington, where elaborate ' preparations had been made" for their ..reception. An address from the citizens was presented by the Mayor, the late ; Mr. J. G. W. Aitken. The Duke .-later inspected the veterans at Government House, and chatted with them various campaigns. Afterwards, honours were conferred on men who had rendered signal service to New Zealand, including the Governor, l>pijd:,: Ranfurly, - : who- was made a . KMght:':Grana. Cross %ot "St. Michael <"H^qGeorgej': while ;,Sir : Joseph Wjard;:]»*!O wasvthen: the Rt. Hpii^ J. G. Watdi:^::maae;;a .Knight; Cbninjander as: a^Dufe-to-his Work as^ PostmasterGenCT^^ii^g/^rhiciii"period he. in-1;

augurated penny postage. The foun-dation-stones of the Town Hall and the railway buildings in Featherston Street were laid, and a State dinner at Government House was followed by a reception, at which between four and five hundred of the city's leading residents were presented to and shook hands with ;their Royal Highnesses. At a subsequent reception nearly seven hundred guests enjoyed this privilege. A dozen deputations offered loyal addresues. to the Duke who,.in replying, said:-p- .

His Majesty and the whole nation will never forget how the flower of New Zealand manhood, abandoning their peaceful avocations of a civilised life, promptly and with eagerness hastened to arms in support of the Motherland, and gallantly fought and died in the Empire's service.

A special compliment was paid to 82 survivors of the first pioneers, of whom the Duke*remarked^- .

I It is not too much to say that to your pluck and perseverance, together with that of your fellowworkers who have now passed beyond recall, may be attributed to a large extent the present nourishing . condition of New Zealand. During • the past week the Duchess and I have had the great pleasure of becoming acquainted with the Maori people, by whom we were received with enthusiasm and kindness, which has greatly touched us. I rejoice to think of that splendid race living in peace and contentment with you in a steadily improving condition under British rule. , . . ' - [ The Royal visitors reached Christchurch on June 22, where the Duke reviewed more than ten thousand troops paraded under the.old .volunteer conditions, after which the party went on to Dunedin, where they were received in the same enthusiastic manner as in all the cities of the Dominion. ... A FAREWELL MESSAGE. Before leaving New. Zealand the Duke wrote to the Earl of Ranfurly as. follows:— • L On the eve of our departure I am anxious to tell the people of New Zealand how happy we have been in their beautiful land,, with what regret we leave it, and what lasting feelings, of gratitude we carry away for the loyal enthusiasm, cordiality, . and kind-heartedness so universally accorded us . . . . Though unfortunately our stay has, through force of circumstances, been a short one, I earnestly trust that the ex- . perience and knowledge of the country which I have gained, and my personal intercourse with the people, may in some measure tend to sustain and enhance the existing feelings of sympathy and interest between the Mother Country and New Zealand, and thus draw still closer those ties of affection arid brotherhood by which we are so happily bound.

On leaving New Zealand for the return, journey to England, the Royal couple were accorded a tumultuous farewell, departing, with the -good wishes of all. On the way Home calls were made at Mauritius, Durban, and at Cape Town, in South Africa, and after a journey of 3300 miles at Que-bec,-Canada, where they were received with a warm affection'which was manifested wherever they went in the great Dominion. Finally they took their leave of St. John's, Newfoundland, on October 25, tod arrived in the Solent on November 1, where the late King Edward and Queen Alexandra were waiting to give them a warm welcome home on the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert.

During the tour over 45,000 miles were covered, of which 33,000 were by sea. No fewer than 11,390 were by fired in salute, 544 addresses were received, and 58 replies given. The Duke made 28 other replies given. The foundation-stones, reviewed 62,174 troops, including 10,407 Cadets, presehtedv4329'South African war medals, presented 8; new regimental colours, and ;bestowed. 142- investitures and fcrugHthoodsy added to wrhich thei Duke actually; shook. hands with -. more than 35,000 peopled ,v ;