AT HAMILTON

Northern Advocate, 29 December 1934, Page 9

AT HAMILTON

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER LARGE CROWDS GREET HIM TEXT OF MAYOR’S ADDRESS. RECEPTION AT SEDDON PARK. [Special to "Northern Advocate.” l HAMILTON, This Day. Although the Duke spent little more than half an hour in Hamilton today, his visit had been awaited with keen interest. Victoria Street was gay with bunting, and at night was lit with coloured electric lights. The general post office was heavily draped with flags. At the Hamilton railway station the permanent surfacing has been completed and a large crowd was there today to see the Duke arrive.' Arrangements were made to bring many children into Hamilton from Thames, To Kuiti, Waihi, Huntly, arid other districts to see the- civic reception at Seddon Park. The following is the text of the address which was read by the Mayor of Hamilton on the arrival of the Duke of Gloucester at 1.15 p.m. today: “We, the people of Hamilton, and the Waikato, convey to you our deep appreciation of the high honour which is conferred on our town by your presence among us. We have very happy memories of the visit of their gracious Majesties the King and Queen and of their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York and we trust that your Royal Highness will find much to interest you in the course of your travels, and that you may long be spared to look back with kindly feelings upon your all too brief sojourn with us. “We pray that your Royal father \ may long continue to reign over us and that the love and esteem in which all the members of the Royal Family

are held may be considerably strengthened by your tour.” In replying to the civic welcome. His Royal Highness said their Majesties, the King and Queen often spoke of the beauties of New Zealand and the affectionate welcome given them. To him it had been a pleasure to visit such an important and historical district as the Waikato. Following the civic reception the Mayor presented the following to His Royal. Highness:—The Mayoress, Mrs J. R. Fow; the Mayor and Mayoress of Morrinsville, Mr and Mrs W. T. Osborne; the Mayor and Mayoress of Cambridge, Mr an.d Mrs C. H. Priestley; ,the Mayor and Mayoress of Te Awamutu, Mr and Mrs C, G. Downes; . the Mayor and Maporess of Ngaruawahia, Mr and Mrs R. Eyre; the chair•~man of the Waikato County Council, Mr J, A. Sampson; the chairman of the Mfaipa County .Council, Mr S. O. Macky, and Mrs Macky. The Hamilton Municipal Band and the Waikato Regimental Band played during the ceremony. From Hamilton, the Duke was . motored to the Ruakura State Farm, where he was conducted on a quarter of an hour’s inspection. . The Royal party reached Cambridge at 2.45 p.m. The Duke is the first member of the Royal Family to visit Cambridge. The farmers are anxious to see the Duke in the saddle at Cambridge, and hopes are general that the polo game will not be cancelled. FISHING TRIP GUEST OF SIR C. LEYS VISIT TO CINEMA AMENDED ITINERARY ISpeciat to “Northern Advocate ”1 AUCKLAND, This Day. Yesterday afternoon the Duke of Gloucester was the guest of Sir Cecil .Leys aboard the latter’s launch Rongo, which took a small party on a fishing trip in the vicinity of Rangitoto. The weather conditions were very pleasant, but the fishermen were not fortunate in securing a good catch. Last evening Prince Henry, accompanied by Lord and Lady Bledisloe, attended the screening of the film “The Count of Monte Christo.” The Duke was given wonderful ovations on entering and leaving the theatre. The Duke departed for Hamilton in the Royal train this morning. The amended programme of the Duke’s North Island tour, covering the next four days, was announced last night. One day’s delay at Auckland will, be overtaken in that period, and the original itinerary will be resumed at New Plymouth next Thursday. The Royal party is due to arrive at the Chateau from National Park station at 10.45 tp-night. The Duke will remain at the Chateau until midday on Monday, and will leave in the afternoon by road for a private visit to the homestead of Mr. T. A. Duncan, of Hunterville, where he will *epend two nights and will have an opportunity of inspectng Mr. Duncan’s fine stud of thoroughbred horses. On New Year’s Day he will attend the races at Marton. Whether it is likely that he will be able to ride in the Ladies’ Bracelet, as previously arranged, has not yet been indicated. No engagements for Wednesday have been announced, but it is possible that the Duke will attend the second day’s racing at Marton. In the evening he will board the Royal train, which is to leave Hunterville at 9 o’clock, reaching Ohakune at 11.30 a.m. and. New Plymouth at 9.45 a.m. on Thursday. WITHOUT CEREMONY. DEPARTURE THIS MORNING. [Special to “Northern Advocate.”} AUCKLAND, This Day. In contrast with his arrival last Monday the departure of His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester from Auckland this morning was entirely without ceremony, though not without its crowd of interested spectators.

’ The footpath along his route from Government House to the railway station was lined with people and, although the neighbourhood of No. 7 platform, from which the Royal train left,‘was closed to the public, crowds

gathered at vantage points, as near as they were allowed. While the Duke was in Auckland, the Royal train, of 10 carriages, was thoroughly overhauled and cleaned, and it was taken to the platform over an hour before its departure time, for luggage to be loaded into the van. Two engines were coupled to the ti'ain, the first bearing the Duke’s coat-of-arms on the front. Arriving by car from Government House a few minutes before the ti’ain was to leave, the Duke chatted for a while with the Mayor, Mr G. W. Hutchison, and then boarded the rearmost cax’riage of the train, his gait showing no sign of a limp as he crossed the platform between two x’ows of shrubs. Standing in the open door of the carriage, he returned the salute of officers of the police force, as the train pulled slowly out of the platform at 10.45.