VOYAGE OF THE RENOWN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20004, 22 January 1927, Page 11

VOYAGE OF THE RENOWN

ARRIVAL AT JAMAICA. STATELY NAVAL CEREMONIES. A PICTURESQUE OCCASION. (Freis Association—Bt Telegraph—Copyright.) KINGSTON, January 20. Working absolutely to schedule, H.M.S. Renown tliis morning stood in from the Caribbean Sea, and, picking up the lowlying palisades, threaded through the intricate navigation entrance, rounded Port Royal of infamous memory, and moved majestically up the sunlit harbour of Kingston to her anchorage. This was followed by a Royal salute from the guns of the shore battery and two cruisers of the West India Squadron which waited, dressed and manned, to welcome her. The foreshore of Jamaica’s capital was fringed with the populace, backed by flagged houses peeping through the trees already flickering in the heat and haze. . The stately ceremonial of anchoring, never changing but ever new, went forward apparently without effort. The Renown might have been the Ancient Mariners ship, so little movement there seemed to be either on board or through the water. As the cables roared ’ rough the hawse nipes she broke flags, wreathing herself from stem to stern in bunting, while the squadron’s puns blared out the Royal salute and the flagship’s band played the National Anthem, the Renown not answering according to the etiquette of the occasion. “Carry on” was the order till the official calls began. The first was made by the Governor (Sir Reginald Stubbs), the Colonial Secretary (Mr Jelf), and Colonel Mudge (Officer Commanding the Troops). They were welcomed or the quarterdeck with a full guard and paid their respects to the Duke of York. They iwere followed bv the admiral of the squadron.—A. and N.Z. Cable. SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM. CHEERING CROWDS IN FESTOONED STREETS. DUKE RESPONDS TO GREETINGS. KINGSTON, January 20. (Received Jan. 21, at 5.5 p.m.) Kingston on the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York left no doubt of its enthusiastic loyalty to the throne. A public holiday had been proclaimed, the Government even prohibiting the newspapers from publishing. Everybody seemed to be abroad when their Royal Highnesses landed after lunch in the royal barge. The cheering commenced as soon as the barge was sighted, and rose to a roar when it came alongside the jetty, where the visitors were received by the Governor and Lady Stubbs, the Chief Justice, the bishop, the officer commanding the troops, the mayor, the vice admiral, the members of the Legislative Council, and other dignatories. The Duke of York, who was dressed in naval uniform, inspected the guard of honour furnished by the Green Howards. The Duke and Duchess of York followed by the Governor and others, drove through the flag-festooned streets between hat-waving, cheering crowds, in which black faces with flashing teeth contrasted strangely with the infrequent sight of English and Americans, the cordiality of whose welcome was no less vocal. During the drive their Royal Highnesses stopped twice to be welcomed by gatherings of 10,000 elementary school children waving flags and shrilling singing the National Anthem. The Duke and Duchess’s acknowledgment completed the happiness of the mothers and fathers who were proudly watching the scene. On reaching the theatre the Duke inspected the naval Guard of Honour to the accompaniment of another great roar of cheering from the assembled thousands. Responding to the addresses in the theatre which were presented on behalf of the island and the town in caskets of Jamaican woods, the Duke said that the loyal sentiments would be presented to his Majesty. He felt that he was not a stranger, because he would always retain the happiest memories of his first visit to the island in 1913 as a naval cadet, when he was shown generous hospitality. Jamaica was one of the oldest and most Interesting outpost of the Empire. There existed in England a genuine desire to. understand and know the needs of those dwelling overseas. The splendid part which the Jamaicans had played in the war was not forgotten. The Duke promised that upon his return he would do everything possible to promote the interests of the islanders and foster a spirit of understanding in the Mother Country.

The daughter of the Governor presented to the Duchess a bouquet of orchids harmonising with her beautiful dress of bois de rose crepe de ehene. Their Highnesses had a rousing sendoff when leaving for King’s House, the Governor’s residence, where the Duchess inspected the Girl Guides and the Duke played lawn tennis. Afterwards an official dinner took place, followed by the Governor’s reception, at which 2000 guests were presented.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

THE MAORI WELCOME. ENTHUSIASTIC PREPARATIONS. FESTIVITIES AT ROTORUA. GREAT TRIBAL GATHERING. [Special to Dailt Times.) AUCKLAND, January 21. Rotorua is preparing to give the Duke and Duchess of York o fitting Maori welcome on a scale as magnificent and barbaric as the memorable receptions accorded the present King and Queen in 1901 and the Prince of Wales in 1920. While the civic authorities and European residents will be participating wholeheartedly in the festivities, it is to Maoris that town is looking to provide the great spectacular incidents of the visit. Complete details of the reception iu store for their Highnesses arc not yet available, as the plans have not been finally approved, but sufficient is known to perceive that Rotorua’s manner of welcoming the Royal visitors will be of a unique and unforgettable character. Preparations for the far-reaching event are now in progress, the scope and de'nil of plan being handled by Mr Tai Mitchell, one of the Arawa chiefs and chairman of the Arawa Trust Board, and Mr H. R. H. Balneavcs, who, as private secretary to Mr Coates in his capacity of Minister of Native Affairs, will provide the personal link between the tribesmen and the Government. Mr Balneaves, who is now in Rotorua, is acting in close co-operation with Mr Mitchell, and is confident that the welcome to bo accorded their Highnesses will be fully in keeping with the elaborate customs and traditional hospitality of the Maori race. Desirous of securing an adequate representation of the tribes, and, at the same time, avoiding too great a congestion of Maoris in Rotorua, the organisers are inviting official nominees from every tribal unit in New Zealand to attend the ceremonies in an official capacity. These men will be specially picked to represent

the various branches of the Maori race, and will be selected for their blood relationship to the great Maori tribes, their personal accomplishments and their general fitness to represent their kinsmen before the Duke and Duchess. It Is expected that 200 of these men, mostly chiefs, hailing from the North and Soutn Islands, will assemble at Rotorua to do homage to their Royal visitors. In addition to representative chiefs, it is expected that hundreds of Maoris from all parts of the North Island will augment the local Maori population. The task of sheltering and feeding some 2000 to 3000 Maori visitors, besides the resident villagers, is likely to test tne ingenuity of the organisers to the utmost, but the Maori is never at a loss when it comes to lavishing hospitality on the stranger within his gates. Even had the Government not offered to relieve them of part of the expense, the measure of their generosity would not be left in doubt, but, as it is, a liberal contribution to cost of accommodating the visitors will bo forthcoming from Wellington. The Arawas have offered to house those taking part in the reception in five of their villages, including Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa, and this will relieve the organisers of the necessity of providing outdoor accommodation at Arawa Park, ns was done on previous occasions. These villages have already abandoned their habitual appearance of slothful ease, and have become regular hives of industry. Additional buildings arc being erected, existing whares enlarged, and sites prepared for the erection of marquees, while a general elean-up is proceeding simultaneously. Although time does not permit anything being done to put tinvillage scheme into operation, the sightliness of pas should be very much improved by the time their Highnesses arrive.

The Royal party will arrive at Rotorua by special train about 5.30 p.m. on Satur day, February 26. The initial welcome will take the form of presentation of an illuminated address on behalf of townspeople. Their Highnesses will then proceed to their hotel, and after dinner will attend a Maori indoor entertainment. Maori dances, including the haka and the poi dance, Maori songs, and other typical diversions will be given. Sunday has been set aside as a day of leisure, and it will depend upon their Highnesses’ wishes what form the day’s programme will assume. A special morning service will be held, however, in the Maori church at Ohinemutu, and in the afternoon it is probable that a motor trip will be made to some of the places of thermal interest, principally Whakarewarewa, where the Duke and Duchess will view the geysers at play and watch the Maori children diving for pennies. The great event of the visit will be the big welcome at Arawa Park on Monday morning. The festivities are provisionally timed to commence at 9.30 a.m., and will take the form of a massed approach to the Royal stand of several hundred warriors in full war paint. Their Highnesses will be afforded the unique spectacle of a Maori powhiri on a tremendous scale to the accompaniment of war dances by the men, and poi dances by the women. During the course of these primitive and exciting manoeuvres an address of welcome written in Maori and English, and framed in carved totara, will be presented to their Highnesses on behalf of the combined tribes. Leaving the park at the conclusion oi the powhiri the Royal party will proceed to the Government grounds, where at 11.30 a.m. the Duke will unveil the war memorial erected by the Arawa tribe in commemoration of their warriors who fought for the Empire in the Great War. This monument, which is in course of erection near the bath house, will consist of a handsome column surmounted by a statue of King George, and engraved with the names of the eight projenitors of the tribe and the names of those who served in the Maori Division during the war. Late in the afternoon the party will leave Rotorua by motor car for Taupo and Tokaanu, where they will go into camp for a day’s trout fishing. They will proceed on Wednesday, March 2, by car for the National Park to join a special train for New Plymouth. It is stated in Rotorua that an abundance of valuable gifts in the shape of native mats, baskets, weapons, and tribal tokens are being prepared for presentation to their Highnesses. The lavish generosity of Maoris in this respect is legendary.