THE ROYAL TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20005, 24 January 1927, Page 7

THE ROYAL TOUR

VISIT TO KINGSTON. AN INTERESTING PROGRAMME. (Pros* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) KINGSTON, January 21. Last night’s reception and dinner proved quite an experience for the Duke and Duchess of York, who found the company representative of all sections and races in the community. Hundreds of guests dined, and 2000 attended the reception. To-day's programme is arranged with a view to allowing other residents in the island an opportunity of meeting their Royal Highnesses. Landing amid scenes only slightly less enthusiastic to that of the previous day, the Royal party motored to the Spanish town,an old historic capital of the island. There they visited the Cathedral of St. James, and were interested in the inscriptions on the tombs, some of which dated back to the seventeenth century. After a meeting of notables, veiwing the Rodney monument, hearing the school children sing the National Anthem, the Duke and Duchess of York motored to several villages, through scenes which, with their gaily dressed negroes, as .they visited the green banana plantations, must have reminded them of their African experiences. They lunched at Moncaguc, and then proceeded along beautiful scenery to Annadale, whore the Governor held a garden party. The Royal party then wont by train back to Kingston, and boarded the Renown, where they spent a quiet evening.—Sydney Sun Cable. BRILLIANT NIGHT DISPLAYS. DUKE’S BUSY DAY. KINGSTON (Jamaica), January 22. (Received Jan. 23, at 11.5 p.m.) Kingston is still illuminated in honour of the Royal visitors, but tbc city found a rival last evening when the cruisers Calcutta and Colombo “lit ship” in honour of the Duke and Duchess of York. These vessels outlined their whole hulls, with funnels and masts in a brilliant electrical display. At the same time the Renown showed the York Rose as 41 as her own crest, a flaming flambeau, as the Royal visitors left the shore for the ship at the conclusion of the inland .Isit, the Renown fired a rocket and played her searchlight on the ducal standard 1 1 the masthead. The harbour, thereupon under soft tropical skies, blazed with light, making a most effective night display. To-day the Duke opened his busiest day with an unofficial visit to the Porto Royal old buccaneer headquarters, and at one time the richest city in Jamaica until an earthquake destroyed it, and the place is now only a ghost of its former greatness. There his Royal Highness met Mr Stubbs Mndge and other officers. The party was then taken to Fort Charles, in which in 1779 Nelson was then commander. He used to pace ‘"he ramparts as though on his own quarterdeck. They also visited the garrison church, where they were touched by many pathetic inscriptions on the tombs, recording the deaths of midshipmen, as young as 13 years, from fever or falls from aloft, etc. After a few minutes in the mess examining other old relics and records, the Duke of York returned to the Renown to carry out official visits to the Calcutta and the Colombo, which, accompanied by all ceremonial appropriate to the ccasion the Duke was piped over the side. All the ships and the Royal Guards were mounted, the National Anthem .vas played, and the crews marched past on their own decks. They then stood alert as the Royal barge moved from ship to ship. It was the most improssiv instance of naval ritual where tradition reflected in every item of Uie arrangements. The visits were over by noon, and the Royal barge immediately conveyed their Royal Highnesses ashore, where the enthusiasm of the welcome was unabated. They proceeded direct to the Ren >wn Club and the Sailors’ Rest, both institutions being designed to help cute- Ar. the sailors in Kingston. They then went to the cenotaph, where the Duke placed a magnificent wreath, in memory of the Jamaican soldiers who fell in the Great War. The next function had also a military significance. This was the laying c* the foundation stone of Kingston's war memorial. A short service was held in the parish church in the presence of a distinguished gathering. The memorial is in the form of a clock tower of dignified design, to take the place of one destroyed in the earthquake of 1907. The musical portion of the service was a most melodious one. A small choir boy, with a shining black face above a correct Eton collar and white surplice, presented the Duchess with a bouquet of carnations. After viewing Vice-Admiral John Benbow’s grave, which is in the church, the Duke and Duchess of_ York motored through the crowds, 'which were as large as ever, to Trafalgar Park, where they took lunch with Mr Mudge and later attended a garden party, which was confined almost entirely to the naval and military sections of the community. In the evening the Royal party entertained about 40 of Kingston’s leading dignitaries at dinner. This was followed by a reception on the Renown’s decks, which were brilliantly illuminated and decorated, all the resources of the ship being called upon for the occasion. These festivities will hardly be concluded to-night before the working parties will be hard at it swinging in the boats weighing anchor at dawn to-morrow ami carrying out all preparations for (Sunday).—A. and N.Z. Cable.