THE ROYAL VISIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19567, 21 February 1927, Page 12

THE ROYAL VISIT.

TOUR OPENS TO-MORROW RENOWN DUE AT 9 A.M. DISPLAY OK THE JfARBOUK. BUSY THY FOR VISITORS: ROUTES'TO BB FOIXOWEI). Auckland is* now ready to give a warm welcome to the Duke and Duchess of York when th'ey arrive ' by H:M.S. Renown to-morrow morning. Tile latest advice is that the great battle-cruiser will drop anchor in the Waiteniata at nino o'clock, and from that hour the complete programme, prepared for tho reception and entertainment of the Royal visitors will engage the attention of the citizens. Tho city will bo in holiday mood and it only requires the inspiration of a perfect Auckland summer day to make tho welcome spontaneous and memorable. Business in the -city and suburbs will receive little attention to-morrow morning. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and the Mayors and chairmon of the surrounding suburban districts have asked employers to grant their staffs time off to witness the arrival of H.M.S. Renown and to take part in the functions at which Their Royal Highnesses will be given their first taste of a New Zealand welcome. Many firms and associations, of employers have decided on a halfrliolidayunti'l after lunch-time, and the remainder' have arranged for,their employees to have leave to witness tlie arrival of the vessel and tho earlier ceremonies. Decorations in the City. A number o£ ; iirpis and local authorities have agreed t(V declare ft whole holiday on Weunesday, when the great demonstration i>y 'titer school children will'.be given in tne Domain. Realising the interest; .of the: children in the visit both to-morrow.and Wednesday have been declared school holidays.' Ail excellent response is being made to the request of the Mayor that business houses in Queen Street and the principal thoroughfares thro.ugh; /which the} visitors will 'pass , should, kg decorated, and already j'these; streets are taking' on a gay appearance*. • Mhcli' more ■ decoration lids' been planned for to-day and by this' evening the; general effect should be worthy of the occasion. ; , - There . should fbe record crowds, in Auckland for the Royal, visit. People from all parts of the province have already commenced to come into the city and a great influx may be expected today. A special train service has been arranged by the Railway Department, and this will enable all who wish to visit Auckland to do so in time to take part in the welcome. Accommodation in the city will be taxed to its utmost. Tho Harbour Pageant. H;M:S. rDiomede-, acting-flagship of the New; Zealand Division of th,e Royal Navy, * will leave port early to-morrow morning": and \vill meet the Renown/in the ,Hauraki:' Guif,'where salutes will be exchariged.; r The Renown,, will then, steam up the: Channel and when she has passed • the Rangitoto : Beacon the Auckland - pleasure; yachts will form an escort and accompany; the big 'ship into thb .harbour:" Tlie arrival'should provide a striking spectacle for the 'thoh,sands ,of citizens vvjio " will assembled' On all points" of vantage on both'sides of the harbour. As 'the great vessel swings around North Head, • she will have - the sailing yachts to port and the large fleet' of power boats to starboard, while, the Diomede-.wiU.. b® some, disiance: to the ; rear. The roar of guns, from North Head will signal, the, entrance of the Duke, and Duchess, to the Waitefrlata. 11.M.5. Renown will' drop anchor in the man-of-war anchorage, directly off tho' basin between Queen's and '.Central Wharves anc}. in line with ( Stanley,,Pojnt, and the Diomedov'.will, moor astern ,of her. , The . first visitdr to board the Renown will be the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, with members of his staff, and he will present, the Prime Minister, members of the Cabinet, the general officer cpmmanding and the commodore, who will go aboard about ten minutes later. The ceremony of presenting the Government address will follow. Landing Arrangements. Their Royal Highnesses will land at the Admiralty steps, at 10 a.m. Here the Duke will inspect the naval guard of honour, and the wives of members of the Cabinet will be presented. In company with the chairman of .the Harbour Board, tho Royal visitors will mount the dais, whore the Harbour"Board address of welcome will be presented. Wives of members of the board will next be presented and the Puke and Duchess, will . be escorted to the wharf gates.between ranks of returned' soldiers. After an inspection of the returned men the Duke and Duchess- will b'e met at the gates by tho Mayor and members of the, Citv Council and will then drive to Government House t>y. way'"of' Queen • Street, Customs Street East and ; Anzac Avenup. They will leave Government Jlouse, again at 11.15 a.m, and will drive down Aiizac Avenue, along- Customs Street East and up Queen Street to the Town Hall, where the civic reception .will be held, commencing at 11.30. This ceremojiy will take from 20 to. 30 minutes, and the Royal party will then drive up Upper Queen Street and through Ivarangaliape Road to Svmonds Street, thence going by way of O'Rorke and Princes Streets to Government House. Motor Tour of City. The-Duke and Duchess, with members of their staff, will spend to-morrow afternoon motoring around the city and environs, leaving Government House at 2.30 p.m. and returning two later later. The only official function in the evening will be a dinner at Government House. The first function on Wednesday will be the presentation of addresses at Government House by chiefs of Samoa and the Cook Islands." Their Royal Highnesses will then leave Government House for the Domain, where the parade of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts and the children's gathering is to commence at 11 o'clock. The route to be taken will be along Princes Street, through O'Rorke Street, up Svmonds Street, across Grafton Bridge, along Park Road and down the Domain Drive to the lower gates of the Domain cricket ground. They will return to Government House by the same route, An official luncheon will be held at Government House at 1 p.m., and this will be followed by a garden party at Government House. In the evening the civic At Home will be held in the Town Hall. Their Royal Highnesses will leave by the Renown at 11 p.m. for the Bay of Islands, where they will spend two days deep-sea fishing.' Returning to Auckland by the Renown at 6.30 a.m. next Saturday, the Royal visitors will leave for the Waikato and Rotorua. AEEANGEMENTS AT ROTOETJA. DECORATION OF STREETS. [by telegeaph.—own* cqkrespondekt. ] ROTORUA, Saturday. Fmal arrangements are being made for the reception of the Duke and Duchess of lork. A dais is in course of erection in the station grounds. A large arch will be erected at the entrance to the town and flags, bunting and greenerv will decorate the route to the hoteL *