THE ROYAL TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22003, 9 January 1935, Page 11

THE ROYAL TOUR

HOSPITABLE west coast

ENTHUSIASM for prince

BEAUTIFUL SCENIC DRIVE

ARRIVAL AT WAIHO GORGE

[by telegraph—special reporter] WAIHO GORGE. Tuesday

South Westland extended its hand literally as well as figuratively to the Duke of Gloucester to-day when he travelled down to Waiho. Thp train had remained for the night —and a very wet one it was—at the South Beach siding, a little out of Greymouth. After breakfast the rail journey was resumed to Ross. On the way gold miners waved from the claims and all the people of the countryside appeared to be on the lookout. The Hokitika reception, held at the railway station in bright sunshine, had all the West Coast heartiness, and an unusually large number of people shook hands with the Prince. What might be called the-custom of the country in this matter prevailed, and His Royal Highness acted like a true West Coaster.

The reception under old trees in front of the hall at Ross that commemorates 'the coronation was one of those intimate little functions which have'their own special atmosphere.

Memories of the Past

The sight of an old-tim«r in the crowd wearing a modern khaki tunic dyed blue, with shoulder straps which once had carried badges, did not recall the war, but the golden age of the coast. One could almost hear the tramp of the feet of those thousands of miners in what is now almost a deserted village.

6 When, at the wheel of his car, the Duke set off on the long, lovely forest grade to Waiho, cloiids hung heavy on the tops of the bush-clad ridges and the lower vistas were dimmed by a vaporous kind of mist through which the red blossoms of the rata often shone. Those gems of loveliness, Lakes Waihapo and Mapourika, were grey this day, but still a feast for the eye. Rushing Water of Rivers

The whole route wa:? a plethoric feast, and some of the visitors wished that it could have been extended over two or three days. Unending scenic beauty for 90 fairly' fast miles brings a sense of repletion to the brain. The rivers were rushing with muddy water, the result of > six inches of rain that had fallen the previous night, but none of the open watercourses that had to be forded gave any difficulty, though here and there small slips had demanded attention that morning. The Duke reached the friendly Waiho Hotel about two o'clock, and soon afterward heavy rain was falling, but the tuis continued to in the trees around the'house.' and now and again a wood pigeon glided overhead. The usual seven wood pigeons perched on the low ribbonwood tree outside the dining room window in the evening.

VISIT TO GLACIER

TRAMP THROUGH SHOWERS

INVIGORATING EXPEDITION

TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION"] WAIHO GORGE, Tuesday

There was a slight break in the weather at Waiho late this afternoon, and Prince Henry, without bothering with the services of guide, tramped with a member of his suite for the three miles. to the morrain of the Franz Josef Glacier. He spent some time admiring the glacier and traversed the ice on its terminal fjice. He heaved a stone into the crevasse ahead of him. There were several showers of rain during the outing, but it was an invigorating one for the Duke, who returned to the hotel at nightfall. He had no engagements after dinner. To-morrow's programme is indefinite, but a trip to the Fox glacier is planned, and it is not unlikely that a second visit will be paid to the Franz Josef glacier. The Royal party will leave by car early in the evening for Boss to rejoin the train and proceed through the Otira tunnel to Timaru. where ciyic ceremonies will commence at 10 o'clock the following morning.

FLOWERS FOR PRINCE

OLD SOLDIER'S TRIBUTE

ROYAL TABLE DECORATED

[BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WAIHO GORGE. Tuesday

A humble token, presented to Prince Henry bv an old-*aian at South Beach, provided the floral decoration for the breakfast table on the Royal train this morning. Carrying a freshly-picked hunch of gladioli, the donor shyly offered it to a member of the official staff, and, with the words, "Will the Duke accept these from a returned soldier?" hurried away among the ne 2l by sand dunes.

NORTH AUCKLAND TOUR

NO VISIT TO WHANGAREI

[by TELEGRAPH OWN correspondent] WHANGAREI, Tuesday 3ho Mayor of Whangarei, Mr. W. Jones, to-day received advice that the Duke of Gloucester will not he ahle to accept the invitation to visit Whangarei during his visit to the Bay of Islands. According to arrangements already made the Duke will leave I'aihia at 9 a.m. on January l 2'i ami will journey by motor-car to Kaikohe and via Wainiatenur to Troimson Kauri Park, where lunch will ho served. In the afternoon the Hoyal party will visit the A\aipoua State Forest., where exhibitions of tree climbing will be given hv experts. Neither l>argaville nor Whangarei will lie visited. His Royal Highness will spend the night at Opononi, returning to the Bay of Islands the following dfiy.