ROYAL TOUR

Northern Advocate, 18 March 1927, Page 5

ROYAL TOUR

WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILED SOLEMN CEREMONY, FEW DRY EYES. (Per. Press' Association.) DUNEDIN, This Day.

The unveiling of Dunedin’s fine War Memorial, performed by the Duke of York yesterday, was a solemn ceremony. The Dunedin Pipe Band threw the stocks and ribbons of their pieces over their shoulders and' hearts thrilled to the long drawn wailing notes of “The Flowers of the Forest,” that Highland Lament, the origin of which is lost in- the mists of antiquity. At intervals in the wailing tune came the solemn beat of the drum, like the slow distant firing of a Royal Salute. ,

Among the old Scottish men and women present, who had lost bravo sons at the War, there were few, if any, dry eyes as the wailing tune died away and the bugle band sounded the sad notes of the Last Post and then blew the Reveilee.

CHILDREN’S DAT. MANY FAINT. ! OWING TO THE STRAIN. DUKE INSPECTS ANTIQUES. DUNEDIN, This Day. At the children’s demonstration tojday, soon after the Duke arrived, many of the children became seized ’ with faintness,- and presently teachers and Boy Scouts were busy carrying out for ; treatment dozens of boys and girls 'avlio had either fainted or Avere on | the point of fainting. This usually happens in connection A\dth children’s demonstrations, but in, Dunedin the | number that succumbed to the excitement after the strain, in some instances very long journeys, was exceptionally large and the first-aid -station was kept busy attending to them for a considerable time. The Duke walked between the lines of, 9000 children so that all were able to see him. Then having been conducted to the raised platform in front of the parade ground 10 girls, dressed in Avhite, advanced and handed gracefully to him a fine -travelling rug and handsome inkstand. The girls making the presentation represented the pupils of the schools taking part in the .demonstration.

Afterwards there Avas a march past lof children, then the singing of the j National Anthem, The whole parade 1 was concentrated in close formation. ilt is true that one section of the j parade was several beats behind the !- other but -showed their loyalty all the -same. The commands given by the ’’director •through an amplifier somewhat spoilt the effect of the demonstration, Avhich was not nearly -so effective as at Christchurch, Avhere the music w-as more complicated. The evolutions and drill were done excellently by signals, j The Duke opened the Royal Art Gal- ’ lery Avhere the proceedings were mostly ! formal.

| Earlier in the day he visited the Early Settlers ’ Museum which he seem--1 eel to find extremely interesting. He (turned the handle of the first English /Church organ imported to Dunedin !from -which came the music of “Come (All Ye Faithful.” The Duke was par- | ticularly interested in this hall of old (memories and in the old people whom jhe met there. Amongst the e’xhibits jAvas an old whisky still which was (found on 'Whore Flat.—Press Assn.

DUCHESS TO RE-EMBARK. ON SUNDAY NIGHT. WELLINGTON, This Day. It was officially announced today that the Duchess would embark on the RcnoAvn late on Sunday night and proceed direct to the South Island, where the Duke Avill join the ship -on completion of his New Zealand tour. Owing to her recent illness, it is desired that the embarkation of the Duchess at Wellington should he quite ■private. The wharf will therefore bo closed to the public and her Royal Highness will embark privately—Press Assn.