TOWN HALL FUNCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21991, 24 December 1934, Page 11

TOWN HALL FUNCTION

ADDRESS FROM CITIZENS

TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN RETURNED SOLDIERS* PARADE One of the most interesting glimpses of Prince Henry should be provided when he arrives at the Town Hall this morning after the drive from the station. Outside the building the Princo will inspect a guard of honour provided by the First Battalion, Auckland Regiment, thus lending to the occasion a touch of military ceremonial. The Mayor will escort the Prince to the council chamber and present to him the members of the council and their wives. At 10.15, the official party, consisting of the Mayor and Mayoress, His Royal Highness and his staff, the Government representative, and the town clerk, will leave the Mayor's i;oom, and proceed to the platform of the Town Hall, the audience rising as the party''enters. As soon as the members of the Royal party take their places on the platform, one verse of the National Anthem will be sung. The Mayor will then read an address of welcome to the Prince, from the citizens of the metropolitan area, and the address, in its casket, will be presented to His Royal Highness. Departure oi Royal Party After the Prince has read his reply, addresses will be handed to him by Archbishop Averill on behalf of the Church of England, the Rev. J. Laird on behalf of the Baptist community of New Zealand, and Miss J. A. Mowbray ' on behalf of the Victoria League in New Zealand. A collective reply will be read by the Prince. The function will be brought to a fitting close with the singing of "Land of Hope and Glory" by Mr. Geoffrey Colledge and, with the audience standing, the official party will return to the Mayor's room. A few minutes later His Royal Highness will be escorted by the Mayor to his car at the Queen Street entrance to the hall, and will proceed via Upper Queen Street, Karangahape Road and Symonds Street-, to Government House, entering the grounds by the main gate at the corner of Princes Street and Waterloo Quadrant. The doors of the Town Hall will be opened for the function at 8.15 a.m. and will be closed when seating accommodation is filled, or by 9.30 a.m. Organ music will be played by Mr. E. S. Craston, one of the honorary city organists, while the public is assembling. A loud-speaker will be .installed in the concert chamber, where accommodation will be available for those unable to obtain seats in the Town Hall. The Grey's Avenue exit from the Town Hall may be used as soon as the Duke and the official party have left the hall, but the police authorities insist that the Town Hall vestibule and the Queen Street entrance must be kept clear until the cars have left for Government House. Ceremony at Cenotaph At 11.15 a.m. a party representing the blind people of New Zealand will be presented to the Duke at Government House. There will probably be about 100 persons in the party, which will include representatives of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind.

lii response to the expressed wish of I His Royal Highness to meet as many ex-servicemen as possible, a parade of returned soldiers, sailors and ex-service-women will be assembled on the Court of Honour, fronting the War Memorial Museum, at noon. On the arrival of His Royal Highness, the guard will salute and the National Anthem will be played. The Duke will be met at the Court of Honour by Major-General Sir George Richardson, and will then place at the base of the Cenotaph a wreath specially provided by the British Legion in England. After laying the wreath the Prince will enter the museum, which will be closed to the public _ during the ceremony. He will be received by Sir Cecil Leys, chairman of the museum council, and will visit the . Hall of Memories. Returning to the Court of Honour, His Royal Highness will inspect the assembly of ex-servicemen, including old soldiers from the Veterans' Home, members of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association arranged by units of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Old Contemptibles, exImperial naval and military units, overseas Dominion forces and ex-service-women. Colonel Sinel, D.5.0., will be in charge of the assembly on the Court of Honour, and the president of each association will accompany His Royal Highness during the inspection of his unit.

Ex-servicemen from country districts who are at present visiting the city, are invited to attend. The public is requested to remain outside the Court of Honour, and not to stand on the front steps of the museum. An informal visit to the Auckland Club will be paid at 12.20 p.m., and the Duke will remain at the club for 15 minutes.

A dinner will be held at Government House to-night.