ROYAL PARTY ARRIVES TO-DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 3539, 22 February 1927, Page 7

ROYAL PARTY ARRIVES TO-DAY

Escorted by Ships of Naval Division AUCKLAND ARRAYED IN\ (JALA GARB [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND. Last Night. Auckland to-night presents a rather bedraggled appearance, fairly heavy showers this afternoon upsetting the calculations of people in the leading thoroughfares who bad left their decorations to the last minute so as to have them as fresh as possible for to-morrow. With wind- in the north tending to easterly local weatherwise ones,shake the head in 1 a manner resembling Mr Bates at bis gloomiest. A spirit of optimism prevails however that the day will dawn favour- ■> ably and enable the programme to be . carried out without a bitch. The holiday crowd is already a big one. The city and Queen Street this afternoon before the rain cam* on had a gala air. Given kindly sunshine to-morrow there should be a ‘ brave show .to welcome the Duke and Duchess of York when they- land from the Renown which la- expected , to drop anchor at about nine o'clock. Th e Governor-General will call upon Their Royal Highnesses immediately, followed by the Ministers of the Crown a few minute* later. At this meeting the formal address of welcome from the Government will bo presented. At 10 o’clock the Duke and Duchess of York ar« to land and will proceed to the Government House till 11.15, when they leave for the Town Hall where they will be accorded a civic reception and presented with the «d- I dress of welcome. Sir Heaton Rhodes will accompany the Royal Party during Its tour throughout the Dominion as Minlster-In-attendahce. Seventy-two constables selected from all over New Zealand are to form a Royal escort. They paraded ■I i this morning and were Inspected by the Commissioner of Police, Mr/ W. B. Mcllveney, All are men of splendid physlqu e and height, averaging six feet three inches. The HiMiS. Diomede proceeded to sea to-night to meet the Renown, and the sloops H.M.S. Veronica and Laburnum are also going. The three will escort the battlecruiser Into the harbour. ■ Her ■ Excellency, Lady Alice Fergusson, is convalescent after her ill- ■ ness, but will be unable to take part In the social gatherings arranged in honour of their Royal Highnesses. PERSONNEL OF SUITE. The Duk e and Duchess of York have a personal staff of eight, who were specially selected for the present \ iour. The Earl of Cavan, who is the ■ Duke's chief of staff, Is the sixteenth ;>■ holder of the . earldom, which was created in 1647. He is a distinguished soldier, having served In the South African and European Wars. In 1921 he visited Washington as the head of the military members of the British delegation to the Washington Conference. In February, 1922, he was appointed Chief of the Imperial General Staff, a position which he vacated last February. The Countess of Cavan, formerly Lady Joan Mulholland, is accompany-' V Ing the Duchess as lady-ln-waittng. She was Princess Mary’s lady-ln- y waiting. . • The other members of the staff are;— The Hon. Mrs Little-OUmour, lady-ln-waltlng; Mr H. F. Batterbee, of the Dominions Office, political ' secretary; Mr. P, K. Hodgson, prt- ■ w vate secretary; Commander Colin Buist and Major \ Terence E. G., Nugent, equerries, Surgeon-Com-i ; mandet H. E. White, medical adviser. Captain E. P. O. Boyle, military v. secretary to the Governor-General of -; New Zealand, joined the Renown at : Suva and will be attached to the staff of Their Royal Highnesses during the visit to New Zealand.