THE FINAL STAGES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 44, 19 January 1935, Page 4

THE FINAL STAGES

VISIT OF THE DUKE

CHRISTCHURCH EN FETE. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 18. Christchurch is en i'ete for the concluding stages of the Duke of Glouicester's New Zealand tour. The city is gay with hunting, and a carnival spirit was already in evidence tonight, when exceptionally large crowds thronged the streets and inspected the various decorative schemes. Light ! showers fell at intervals, and the 1 weather forecast for the ensuing 24 hours is not particularly hopeful. A feature of the proceedings will be a riverside carnival and fireworks, and fire brigade displays. Numerous novel attractions have been arranged, one of them being an illuminated procession of decorated rivercraft, which will temporarily convert the Avon into a miniature Venice. The Duke himself will traverse the carnival course by motor-launch. There will also be rowing and speedboat contests and the course will be flown over several times by aeroplane. There will he Alaori canoe races and Maori hakas and poi dances. The Nortli Haglev Park Football Ground will be used for dancing from 10.3 G to midnight. The private visit of the Duke to Longbeach concludes in the morning, when His Royal Highness resumes his final round of official ceremonies, beginning with the Ashburton reception. He devoted this morning to riding round the Grigg Estate, hut on account of rain remained in doors in the afternoon. There was a private dance at the Grigg homestead tonight. Ashburton's demonstration piomises to provide a fitting prelude to the Christchurch welcome. The township will have the distinction c-f licing the only place in New Zealand supplying a mounted escort for the Duke.