DUKE LEAVES WELLINGTON

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 December 1934, Page 7

DUKE LEAVES WELLINGTON

FINAL DAY’S PROGRAMME DELIGHTED WITH WELCOME [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, December 18. The highly-successful visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Wellington concluded to-night, when the Royal party left by train at midnight for Hastings and Napier. An hour and a-quarter will be spent at Hastings, and after arrival at Napier the Duke will spend a portion of the afternoon playing polo, one of his favourite sports. Although it was not part of the official programme, the Duke this morning inspected the ships’ companies of the four New Zealand vessels, berthed at Wellington. The officers and men formed lines on the Clyde Quay wharf, making an impressive sight as His Highness carried out his inspection.. The afternoon was free of official engagements, and the Duke drove his car to.Lyall Bay, and went swimming with the younger members of his suite. On return‘to Government House he played several sets of tennis. There was an official dinner in Government House in the evening, and His Highness joined the Royal train at 10.30 p.m. Large crowds sauntered about the illuminated streets, and the Royal car was cheered at intervals on the route to the station. “I am quite sure that His Highness has been highly delighted with his first impressions of New Zealand, and his reception in Wellington,” said Major-General R. G. H. Howard Vyse, the Duke of Gloucester’s Chief of Staff, in an interview to-day. His Highness, added Major-General Vyse, was particularly charmed by the friendly and homely way in which he had been everywhere greeted. It had been published in one quarter, that the Duke had said that the programme here seemed to run much more smoothly than in his Australian visit. Actually nothing had excited the Duke’s admiration more than the remarkable precision and smoothness, with which arrangements bad been carried through in every part of the Commonwalth, and this, in spite of a very complicated programme ,and many difficulties. Notwithstanding the. late hour, a large crowd assembled at Thorndon station to cheer the Duke. On his arrival, His Highness passed through an archway of flags, and entered his carriage in company with Mr H. H. Sterling. Some amusement was caused when it was realised that one of the Prince’s Australian terriers had been left behind in the car. The terrier was retrieved by Mr E. Casey, the Assistant-General Manager of Railways. Subsequently, the Duke returned to the platform for a final cigarette, and to give the puppies a walk. The dogs rejoice in the names of “Digger” and “Sally.” While on the platform, the Duke examined with Mr Sterling an album of photographs of Napier at the time of the earthquake. - The pilot train left at 11.45 p.m., and the Royal train left just after midnight.

TRAVELLING TO HASTINGS. HEAT WAVE CONDITIONS. HASTINGS, December 19. Sweltering hot weather conditions are accompanying the start of the North Island tour of the Duke of Gloucester. The Royal train, on board which all are well, is travelling to the scheduled minute, and arrived at Hastings a little after 10 a.m. There was a stop of several hours at Pakipaki, four and a-half miles south, the destination tor breakfast on the train. Always a lover of informality, His Highness, after breakfast, discarded his coat and vest, and sat in the carriage in his shirt sleeves. Some of the members of his suite made themselves similarly comfortable, and also took the opportunity to look over the scenery of the Pakipaki Valley, where graceful willows slept in basking sunshine. They expressed delight at the nature of New Zealand’s flora, being impressed particularly by the vitality of the tree growth. Connected with the Royal and official carriages is a complete telephone system, enabling contact to be preserved with any part of New Zealand. Before 8 a.m., Mt. Young, the Minister in attendance, was talking to his private secretary on office matters at Wadestown, Wellington, and later he had a word with his mother, now in her 91st year, at her home at Mount Eden, Auckland. Having, last night, examined an album of photographs of Hastings at the time of the earthquake, His Highness at precisely 10.6 a.m. made his acquaintance with the new Hastings. The welcome was one of unrestrained enthusiasm, an unforgettable* sight being a sea of waving flags, each conveying its loyal acclamation, at the racecourse. As a memento of the occasion. the Duke accepted a basket of this season’s peaches from the fruitgrowers of the. district.

In reply to the welcome, His Highness said: “I know that, as a soldier and a lover of sport, I shall find myself at. home among you, and it gives me great pleasure to meet ex-service men, who bore so conspicuous a part in the Great War. I o'ffer my sincere sympathy to all who suffered bereavement, or loss, in the terrible disaster over three years ago, and I am thankful to see that you have been able, to remove all traces of the damage caused. I earnestly hope that the people of this district will be rewarded with years of plenty and prosperity.’’ Speaking extempore to the children, he thanked them for attending, and announced that he had secured an extra day’s holiday for them. A wreath was laid on the cenotaph, and, following a short motor tour, the Duke visited the hospital, speaking to several patients in the wards. His Highness rejoined the train for Napier. NAPIER’S TEN THOUSAND. NAPIER, December 19. Six thousand adults and four thousand children participated in a demonstration at McLean Park, where His Highness made another lasting impression. Departing from the arranged programme at the end of the reception, he walked round the entire ground, amid scenes of great en- ’ thusiasm, and to the accompaniment 1 of resounding cheers, flying headgear, and fluttering hand flags. His reply speech to the welcome expressed • admiration for the courage shown by

the people of Napier in the earthquake period, and his pleasure at the complete restoration and beautification of the town. “May you be spared long to enjoy lives of happiness free from anxiety and trouble,” he added. As at Hastings, his remarks to the children were extempore, and the cheers rivalled those of the southern town, when he announced an extra day’s holiday. The Duke, in public, is to-day wearing a grey lounge suit with a carnation buttonhole. After his arrival at the Masonic Hotel, where he was accorded .another reception by the waiting crowds, he appeared on the balcony, hatless, and waved to the- assembled sightseers. This afternoon, the Duke is returning to Hastings for a game of polo, with the local club. He is dining at the Hawke’s Bay Club at Napier. LONDON PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, December 18. “The Times” regards the Duke of Gloucester’s laying of the foundation stone of the Wellington railway station as characteristic of New Zeaand’s courage and confidence in the future. It says the Duke spoke for the whole Mother Country when he expressed tlie hope that the Dominion would soon emerge into the sunshine of prosperity. It adds: 'New Zealand and Australia differ in many ways. They do not always see eye to eye. They are one, however, in their attachment to the Royal House, and in the warm affection with which they welcome the visits of its members.”