A ROYAL MEMORY.

Hutt News, Volume 7, Issue 29, 9 January 1935, Page 8

A ROYAL MEMORY.

(Contributed.) The visit of the Duke of Gloucester to our Dominion recalls to my mind the occasion, some eight years ago, when hte present Duke and Duchess of York toured New Zealand. The particular event to which I would refer was the civic reception being tendered to their Eoyal Highnesses in the Wellington Town Hall. A most perfect day found us (a family of three) rather late in arriving at the vicinity of the Town Hall, where laig'e numbers were already congregated, all, like ourselves, eager for a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess. On the outskirts of the crowd we endeavoured to find some vantage point from which, with much craning of neck and standing on tip-toes, we might obtain the much desired view of the entrance to the Civic Hall. The royal car was due to arrive in ten minutes, when a man in uniform appeared from a side door of the building and hurriedly announced to some of us on the fringe of the crowd that a few places in the hall remained to be occupied. Who believed him? Nobody! Hadn't we all heard that people had waited for admission since before 7 a.m. and that the hall was packed. No fooling us! We preferred to stay where we were! Another minute or two passed and back he came, however , more urgently repeating his message. We decided to risk following him, and to our great astonishment were ushered to places right on the platform, the attendant explaining that these places had been held in reserve in case anyone of particular importance ariived late; but- at the last, those in charge had decided to fill tho vacancies with the waiting' public. In front of us were seated members ot Parliament and their wives, city councillors and their wives, also other notabilities, while in the front of the stage wore the special chairs for the Duke and Duchess, the Mayor of Wellington, and other im portant personalities. As we faced the vast audience in that flag-bedecked hall, we felt quite thrilled and marvelled at our good fortune. Very soon the strains of the mighty organ heralded the arrival of the royqal guests. I As they were escortcd down the aisle 'wo enjoyed an uninterrupted view of I the Duke and his winsome lady and later, when their Royal Highnesses were seated, wc could see the presentations and hear the addresses of welcome with the utmost ease. But there was one particular point about the speechmaking" which,- more than anything else, made a deep impression on me. When the Duke, in his cultured tones, made reply to the various speeches of welcome, several times he mentioned the King and Queen. This drew from the great assembly a mere sprinkling of applause, the titles King and Queen seeming to leave the audience cold. Later, however, when the Duke used the simple and homely phrase, "My father and my mother," then surely did the people respond! Tumultuous and prolonged cheering greeted those words, and one felt instantly the deep loyalty and love and the real spirit of welcome surge to tho .top. The grand titles of King and Queen had certainly been tremendously impressive, but it was the simple and natural "My father and my mother" which won all hearts.