ROYAL VISITS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18408, 14 May 1920, Page 6

ROYAL VISITS.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH. KING GEORGE AND QUEEN MARY. 'THE GALATEA AND THE OPHIR. Very few of the present generation are aware that his Royal Highness Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, visited New Zealand on three occasionsOn tho first visit the Duke arrived at Wellington on April 11, 1869, fifty-one years ago. Landing from H.M.b. Cxalatea next day, .Governor Sir George Bowen received him in the presence ot a large and enthusiastic of colonists, who looked upon his coming as the harbinger of happier days, the colony being at that time involved in the last phase of the disastrous war with the rebel Maoris. After spending over a week in Wellington attending in numerable functions, the Duke left in the Galatea for Nelson on April 17. Ino citizens there went wild over the bailor Prince, who won all hearts by his bonhomie and his courage and skill in handling a team ot spirited horses. The ship reached Lyttelton on Apiu *2* The Christchurch peoplo strove to eclipse the sister cities by their demonstrations of loyalty- Leaving the Galatea anchored at Lyttelton, the Duke went on to Port Chalmers in H.M.b. Blanche (Captain Montgomerie), arriving on April 26, to be received >y the inhabitants of the Edinburgh qf the Antipodes with the liveliest demonstrations of loyalty. The Prince left Dunedin on April 30, rejoined his ship at Wellington, and reached Auckland on Ma-y 8, whore several weeks were spent in pheasant shooting, wild cattle huntin on Kawau Island, deep-sea fishing, Maori war canoe races, etc. He took his departure for Sydney on Juno 1. There were two further visits to New Zealand by the Duke of Edinburgh, in August, 1870, when he arrived on the Galatea from the Cape, and asked to be treated like any ordinary captain of a ship of war; and again in Decembeof the samo year, when he visited Taurauga, and Rotorua, and the Thames, then ’in the height of the gold boom, 110 imoressed the Maoris by his good horsemanship and swimming, and tho skill ancl vigour with which he paddled his canoe across the lake at Rotorua, and, perhaps above all, by his wearing of the kilt, which appealed to the Native idea of ease with dignity. The Duke loft many happy memories behind him as a fine sportsman with the unassuming manners of a sailor. The fine old frigate Galatea was one of the fleet in the days when “masts and yards” still provided the principal motive power for tho navy. She also had auxiliary steam power, and was described at the time as 1 one of the greatest triumphs of human skill is it possible to conceive.” The same description of the vessel gives the following details: —“ Tonnage, 32.1; length, 317 ft; breadth, 50it; horsepower, 800; speed, thirteen knots to the measured mile.” The Galatea carried eighteen lOin 86cwt guns, four bi ton guns, throwing cy indncaj shot ot 1151 b anci double shells of 1601 b with a bursting charge of 81b of powder. The visit of tho present King ana Queen, then as Duke and Duchess ol York, nearly twenty years ago-, is well remembered. The Royal party came by the Ophir, in fulfilment of the acceptance of an invitation to visit New Zea and after the celebration of the establishment of tho Australian Commonwealth in 1901. Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales were visited, and the Federal Parliament was opened by the Duke of York in person- After scenes of pageantry and enthusiasm in Australia the Ophir sailed for New Zealand. She arrived with her consorts, H.M.S. Juno and H.M.S. St George, and tho Royal party at Auckland on June 10, 1901On the next day the Duke and Duchess were officially welcomed by the Governor (Lord Ranfurly), the Premier (Right Hon R. J. Sedclon), and the Ministers, with the chief representatives of the City of Auckland. It was on this "occasion that the Mayor (Dr _ Logan Campbell) made the princely gift of a spacious nark to the citizens of Auckland, dedicating it to tho Royal visitor in the name of Cornwall Park. The next stage of the Royal tour was a visit to Rotorua, where all the Maoris of the North Island were represented in a vast gathering to do honour , to Queen Victoria’s grandson. The Duke and Duchess arrived at Wellington on tho Ophir on June 17, and landed next day, when the city rose to the occasion. On June 21 tho Ophir departed for Lyttelton, and next morning the Duke and Duchess landed at the Canterbury port. The celebrations in Christchurch, being held in the winter time, were to some extent interfered with by extremely cold and bad weather. ‘ The Duke and Duchess were received everywhere in Christchurch in the most loyal and enthusiastic spirit, and their railway tour s to the south was punctuated by patriotic demonstrations at tho various stations. From Dunedin the visitors returned to Lyttelton, the final port of departure. The Ophir left on the evening of Juno 27 and passed westward through Cook Strait. This was the, end of a visit which has left many pleasant memories in the Dominion. In a farewell letter to the Governor the Duke wrote •

“ Though, unfortunately, our stay has, from force of circumstances, been a short one, I earnestly trust that the experience and knowledge of tho country which I have gained, and my personal intercourse with its people, may in some measure tend to sustain and enhance the existing feeling of sympathy and interest between the Mother Country and New Zealand, and thus draw still closer those ties of affection and brotherhood by which, we are so happily united-” The Ophir, which conveyed tho Royal pair on their Australasian voyage, was not a ship of war. She wa3 a liner of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, and was converted into a Royal yacnt for the purpose of the voyage. She was built in 1891, and was of 6942 tons gross register. Her length was 465ftj her breadth 53ft, and depth 34ft.