SATURDAY’S ROYAL VISIT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 7 January 1935, Page 4

SATURDAY’S ROYAL VISIT

WALK ON WANGAMOA HILL On leaving Havelock for Nelson on Saturday afternoon the Duke of Gloucester took the wheel of his car and drove over the Rai Saddle and through the winding Collins Valley to the foot of.the Wangamoa Hill, the saddle and valley roads, expert driver as he is, causing him no trouble. <v ; . At the foot of the Wangamoa Hill the cars were stopped and His Royal Highness, discarding his hat and coat, took some exercise in a walk for .a mile up the hill accompanied by members of his staff and the Hon. J. A. Young. The time for exercise on such a tour is necessarily limited, and the Royal visitor in his desire to keep physically fit, seizes every possible opportunity. Following a busy morning and the drive from Blenheim. His Royal Highness was pleased to make such a break in the journey on Saturday. PRINCE’S USE OF OPEN CAR Meeting the desire of the people to gain a good view of him, the Duke of Gloucester has adopted the practice of transferring from his closed-in car to a tourer on reaching the outskirts of any town he visits. This thoughtful action on the part of His Royal Highness has been greatly appreciated by many people who have assembled to extend a welcome as he proceeds through the outer streets. The Prince always occupies the seat immediately behind the driver so that he can be readily clistinguished. AN APPRECIATION OF NELSON’S RECEPTION A visitor to the city for the reception of the Duke of Gloucester on Saturday, who had witnessed the receptions held in every town during the torn', stated to-day that Nelson’s civic welcome was a replica of Auckland’s magnificent greeting to His Royal Highness, but of course on a smaller scale. The roped off streets and distribution of the, onlookers so that all were provided with a good view of the Prince .were similar to the arrangements in the northern city. In Nelson the people did not clamber or break their linos, hut their orderliness in no way detracted from the warmth and sincerity of the welcome. NELSON CHILDREN’S RECEPTION A responsible visitor who has attended all the receptions to His Royal Highness so far on the tour of the Dominion stated after the children’s reception at the Botanical Reserve on Saturday that the Nelson function could be regarded as one of the three most notable that had been witnessed. A man in (he best possible position to iudge, he said he would place 'Wellington’s wonderful children’s reception first on account of its size, and Nelson’s second, a little ahead of Wanganui’s impressive indoor gathering. AT PELORUS BRIDGE

En route from Blenheim on Saturday His Royal Highness passed numerous groups of people who had assembled at convenient places to wave and cheer him. A particularly fine wayside reception was received by the Royal visitor at the Pelorus Bridge where campers at the Scenic Reserve lined the road in camping attire and extended a hearty welcome to the Duke as he passed driving his own car. Many of the girls were in “shorts” with bright coloured blouses while beach pyjamas were also in evidence. The bridge had been decorated and this little interlude in such beautiful surroundings made quite an impression on the minds of members of the Royal party. A UNIQUE FIGURE A unique figure in the festivities on Saturday was Mr William Green, of Stoke, who in his tastefully decorated horse-drawn express and wearing the red coat and tali hat of other years formed an interesting link with the past. It was Mr Green’s father who drove the Duke of Edinburgh when he visited Nelson in the 50’s. Mr Green senr. had been an English coachman and in his smart livery caused quite a mild sensation in the town ; in fact he was on several occasion* mistaken for the Duke himself. . Mr Green is a very old resident of Nelson having arrived as a boy of 11 However, in spite of his 90 summers he is still hale and hearty and enjoyed the days’s proceedings as much as anybody. For many years Mr Green has always appeared in the same way at such gatherings. FUN AT TAHUNA BEACH While the Ro-al party was bathing at Taliuna beach late yesterday afternoon they were evidently in high spirits, as well they might be on such a. beach, and one of them came in for a “ragging,” principally at the hands of His Royal Higliness. The Duke ?ound that the costume worn by one of rile nartv was.not as secure as it was intended to be and, as a. result, the unfortunate one soon found himself in an embarrassing state which was likely to render it necessary for him to prolong his swim in the water until darkness enshrouded him. Then the old costume could not be found and so a new one was sent for from the sheds. The fun had not yet concluded, however, for the embarrassed swimmer was subjected to quite a lot of gcod matured interference before he eventually pulled on the suit which had come to his rescue.