SUVA’S WELCOME

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 18 February 1927, Page 5

SUVA’S WELCOME

TO ROYAL TOURISTS NATIVES’ MESSAGE TO KING. SOME PICTURESQUE, INCIDENTS. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION-CO Pi RIO ti» SUVA, Feb. 17. Punctual as usual, the Renown anchored in tne picturesque harbour or Suva at 2 o’clock tnis afternoon, escorted tnereto by three or tour typical Sydney dinghies and motorboats anil a whole fleet ot native catamarans, their brown mat sails swelling to a favourable breeze, an their crews waving and cheering in emulation of the Europeans aboard the more civilised craft. From the sea Suva was looking most attractive, rising from the harbour with red roofs peeping above tropical foliage. In the harbour the ships were dressed for the occasion, but. the Renown neither dressed ship nor saluted, moving to anchorage with the same effortless expedition as ever. As soon as she anchored the Governor,Ey?e • Jlutson, and the Coknnal. Secretary, Mr. Seymour, went on board. "They were received with a full guard and with ail due formality, the Earl of Cavan welcoming them on behalf of the Duke of York. The Duke and Duchess landed at three o’clock. They received a- tumultuous welcome from the crowds gathered on the wharf, where the landing stage was placed They were received by k the Governor, the Mayor, the Chief members of the Executive Council, and other dignatories. The party proceeded to Government House to inspect the school children, and thereafter to a civic reception at the Town Hall. Afternoon tea, a native reception, and the presentation of addresses weie held at Albert Park. NATIVES EXPRESS LOYALTY. The native address expressed thanks for the -visit of a Royal representative of a mighty nation. They were especially grafeiul to tne visitors for turning aside to view the small islands. Tim visit would remain a living memory, as were the visits or the King and tne Prince of Wales. Tnev were grateful for the presence of the Duchess as a representative of Scotland, which had given Eiji many sons to govern and lead. They were pieased to see the Renown again as a symbol of the invincible fleet guardiug the Empire and ensuring peace. They gave their assurance that the form of“ government established by Great Britain after the cession of the islands was deeply appreciated. This benign rule, pieserving their interests and privileges, had increased theii knowledge and wealth. They prayed the Duke to convey to the King thenassurance of unswerving loy a .tv and thanks lor sympathetic government. They prayed for the prosperity, happiness and long life of their Royal Highnesses. * , The Duke of York expressed thanks on behalf of the Duchess and himseli, and said he would not fail to convey to his father the message of loyalty and gratitude. The Duchess. had been especially* touched by their reference to Scotland. He rejoiced to hear that the memory of the visits of the King and the Prince of Wales were still fresh. They had been told of the happy times spent in Fiji and ol their loyal reception. The welfare of native subjects in all the Dominions was ever near the heart of the King and all the Princes of the Royal House. “Continue to work with those set qjer you to guard your interests, and ait will be well for you and your descendants. I pray you will continue to flourish and prosper,” concluded the Duke. * . The address of the municipality tendered a welcome to the Duke and Duchess, with an assurance of loyalty. It referred to the King’s visit in 1881, and that of the Prince of Wales in 11)20, and acknowledged the further honour of the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York to the colony, ol which they hoped they would carry away happy recollections. The Duke of York, replying, sincerely thanked the municipality for its expressions of loyalty. He deeply appreciated the welcome, and said it was a pleasure to renew the personal ties of friendship established in the past by his father and brother, who retained the happiest memories of the times spent in Fiji. “We are looking forward to repeating the delightful experiences, and feel that such a visit will not faii to knit closer the bonds between the Mother Country and the distant portions of the Empire, which,” he assured them, “are not forgotten at Home. We realise to the full that the Empire is our greatest iieritage, something infinitely precious which we hold in trust from our forefathers for our children. We know, too, that il we are to keep that heritage- it is our duty to iearrr and to understand and to help each other. Then, united under one flag, and owning allegiance to on© sovereign, we may,, by co-operating, prove worthy oi the great trust handed down to us.” The Duke concluded by cordially wishing happiness and prosperity to all.

COLOURFUL DISPLAYS

NAT£VE CEREMONIES

SUVA, Feb. 17. Many picturesque incidents happened during the visit ashore of the Duke and' Duchess this afternoon. Exservicemen were presented before the guard of honour, furnished by sturdy Fijians moving with the precision of a line regiment, who, after being inspected, marched through the streets accompanied by admiring crowds. Gaily clad natives and Indian school children were assembled in the grounds at Government House, making a brave show of colours, ranging from deep black to white Europeans, but all displayed the same enthusiasm in their cheers in honour of the Duke and Duchess, who begged ct whole holiday foi them. The X>uchess was presented with flaming bouquets of ixora from both native and white tots, who were duly impressed by the importance of the occasion. The native ceremonial was most interesting, The Fijians attach the greatest importance to their various rites, and treat them all with the most becoming solemnity. A colourful scene greeted the Duke and Duchess on their arrival at the recreation ground, where there was a large gathering of chiesf and ehieftainesses, clad in all their pagan finery of tappa cloth.. whales teeth, and "garlands and girdles of leaves and flowers, seated on the

ground. The first ceremony was the presentation of a whale’s tooth “tambua” to the Duke, as a symbol of homage and affection. The announcement of his acceptance of this was received with a low-voiced chant from the seated chieitains. Then the women, approaching

slowly in two long lines, gracefully walking, poured water from the prow of a canoe, indicating the arrival of the Duchess from the sea and placing the “tambua” thereon. This ceremony is seldom performed. The presentation of yaqrona, or kava root, and the long and imposing ceremony of kava-making followed, at which the Duke and Duchess and several members of the staff had to partake of the drink, evidently not always with nnmixed satisfaction. This was the culminating ceremony in the acts of homage, and the people clustered behind the bowl wherein the liquor was made and maintained a chant throughout

At the termination of this solemn ceremony, which was punctuated by many cries of appreciation and soft hand-clapping, the address of weioome was read by the oldest- chief, after which another presented the whale’s tooth and expressed the pleasure the visit of the Duke and Duchess had gnen the people. The presentation of many splendid examples of native craftsmanship concluded the ceremonial.

The Duke and Duchess dined with the Governor in the evening, afterwards attending a reception and ball in the Pacific Hotel.