CONCLUDING DAYS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 40, 15 January 1935, Page 5

CONCLUDING DAYS

THE ROYAL TOUR. DUKE AT MT. COOK. Per Press Association. THE HERMITAGE, Jan. 14. The Duke of Gloucester’s road journey from Queenstown to the Hermitage covered 192 miles, and His Royal Highness remained at the wheel all the time. He reached the Hermitage at 7.30 p.m., apparently unmoved by the arduous nature of the trip, which traversed country which gave all the appearance of being a wildernes, notwithstanding that it produces some of the heaviest fleeced sheep in New Zealand.

The section of Central Otago motored through, particularly from Pembroke onward, was arid and uninteresting and roads were never tree from the dust nuisance. The oppressive absence of habitation was reflected by the number of wayside greetings. Miles separated the few homesteads passed on the route, yet groups of people, some of them surprisingly large in the circumstances, were at long intervals on the road to cheer the Duke’s car. The party had lunch at Pembroke, and picnic tea alongside a river some miles out from Omarama, His Royal Highness again fiuding diversion in “skipping” stones over the top of the water. The drab nature of the motor trip from Pembroke had its compensation in the grand spectacle of the Southern Alps and nature’s foothill liandiwoik. A mist shrouded the peak of Mount Cook, but the snow line was visible, and if the weather is fine in the morning His Highness may visit the Tasman Glacier, his experience of Franz Josef having given him a liking for ice climbing. The Duke’s official programme for to-morrow terminates with the laying of the foundation stone of the pioneer memorial Anglican church at Tekapo. He will then motor to Longbcach und stay at a private estate until Saturday morning, when the ultimate phase of the official schedule will be resumed. He is duo at Ashburton at 10 a.m. on Saturday and at Christchurch for ceremonies there at noon. On Monday night official farewells will be exchanged on board the Alls-

tralia, which sails at daybreak on Tuesday for Russell in the Bay of Islands. The Duke will have two days’ deep-sea fishing. He will attend Divine serivee at Waitangi, and motor through the Waipoua State forest, and Trounson Park. The Australia will leave Russell for Suva on January 29.