ROYALTY ON TOUR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20039, 4 March 1927, Page 7

ROYALTY ON TOUR.

WEST COAST OF NORTH ISLAND. THE JOURNEY BY TRAIN. £ SEVERAL TOWNS VISITED. SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM.

TOUR THROUGH TARANAKI. RECEPTION AT NEW PLYMOUTH. A ROUSING WELCOME. (Peb United Pbess Association.* __ NEW PLYMOUTH, March 3. The Royal train made a smooth and leisurely run .from Waimarino. Ram fell during the earlier part, but with the morning came fine weather. As the train reached Taranaki territory Mount Egmont stood revealed in all the majesty of his 80COft, the rising sun lighting up the almost perfect cone from the gently rising slopes to within a few hundred 'feet of the summit, which was veiled in cloud. Almost every wayside station and crossing showed groups of early risers, waiting fo»- a sight of the Royal car. Eltham people had a special opportunity, as the train stopped for a few minutes to permit the engine to slake its thirst. Stratford station, with its trappings of flags and greenery forecasting the formal welcome later in the day, was now deserted, but quite a number of people was round about the precincts and at every street crossing. These hailed the Ducal car ’and cheered and waved good wishes. On leaving Stratford, the train ran into misty rain, and the mountain was suddenly blotted completely from view. A stop of 50 minutes was made at Waiongona, where breakfast was partaken of in a typical Taranaki rural spot, clumps of trees dotting the landscape and hiding the farmsteads. Approaching New Plymouth, the drizzle came down again, making the prospect a dreary one. The Duke and Duchess arrived at 8.55, and were received at the station by the mayor and mayoress. They drove through streets lined with cheering crowd,- to Pukekura Park, where 10,000 people gave them a rousing welcome. The Duke inspected the guard and then proceeded to the dais, where an address was read and officials and prominent citizens presented. The Duke then inspected and chatted with the Maori War veterans, also the South African veterans and returned soldiers, and afterwards the Boy Scouts (who had erected a bridge, which he crossed) and the Territorials. The Duchess inspected the Girl Guides and Brownies, The pair then moved round among 3000 school children marshalled on the cricket ground, to a continuous accompaniment of cheers, the waving of flags and caps thrown in the air. It was a scene of immense enthusiasm in the wonderfully beautiful setting of the park grounds, marred only by a slight drizzle which fell during part of the proceedings, which otherwise were without the slightest hitch. Cheers again resounded when the party drove away to rejoin the train at 10 o’clock. Much regret was expressed that Mount Egmont was in coy mood and concealed by clouds. HAWERA REJOICES. DUCHESS AMONG THE GIRLS. A DELIGHTFUL INCIDENT. (Peb United Press Association.) HAWERA, March 3. Although light rain fell during the morning the weather was fine, if threatening, when the Royal train arrived at Hawera. The visitors were greeted by a cheering throng of 7000, including 3000 children. The Duke received the loyal address from the Mayor (Mr Pacey), and handed a written reply. A delightful incident occurred when Gwen GaUagher, one of the smallest pupils of the local school, presented a bouquet to the Duchess. She graciously accepted it, and kissed the child’s cheek. She is said to be the first child to receive the honour since the arrival of the Royal visitors. The Duchess inspected the Girl Guides, and the Duke the returned soldiers. The crowd gave them a rousing reception, and surged forward as the party left to rejoin the train. ROUSING WELCOME AT STRATFORD. ROUTE LINED BY CHILDREN. (Peb United Pbess Association.) STRATFORD, March 3. The Duke and Duchess arrived by train from New Plymouth at 11 o’clock, and were given a rousing welcome. After receiving thy address the Royal party walked 300 yards back to the station under floral arches held by school children, who lined the whole route. After a stay of ten minutes they left for the sou; !i, A STRENUOUS TIME, BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY TRAVERSED. The past 24 hours have been a strenuous time for the Royal tourists, carrying them over 400 miles on the railway journey, sleeping and having meals in the train on top of the morning’s fishing and the long drive across upland and plain to Waimarino to join the train. Though the weather was inclement when the station was reached this did not deter the Duke and Duchess from coming out after they had got settled in their coach, apd the Duke addressed a few words to those gathered around the platform, thanking them for the warmth of their reception and expressing the hope that the days ahead would be full of prosperity and happiness for them. The night was dark and drizzly, but by the morning’s dawn in the Patea district it was beautifully fine and clear, giving a fine view of Egmont. Everything but a few hundred feet of the top was plainly visible, the great cone standing out cameo-like from the light clouds. The summit was capped by mist, and those acquainted with the signs were pessimistic as to the prospect of the weather holding fine. Their foreboding proved praU founded, for as soon as Stratford

was passed the train ran into a thick drizzle, and the mountain was hidden; not to be seen again. A halt was made at W aion gona, a siding out in the quiet countryside, away from any settlement, and here breakfast was served in the dining car. A few settlers’ families were waiting on the chance of getting a glance at the Royal visitors. New Plymouth was reached on time, and the cars in waiting took the Royal party to Pukekura Park, where the presentation of the citizens’ address of welcome was made by the Mayor and a suitable reply was handed to him. Similar incidents marked the subsequent calls at Stratford, Hawera, Wanganui, Feildiug,, and just before 6 o’clock the train arrived at Palmerston North, where the Mayor and other local leading men were formally introduced to their Highnesses. . ~ , The Earl of Cavan to-day stated that the Duke was extremely pleased with the manner the several towns visited had laid themselves out to make their brief visit interesting and enjoyable. Nothing could be better than the care taken and enthusiasm of the spectators in regard to himself and the Duchess. NEW PLYMOUTH’S WELCOME. New Plymouth’s welcome to the Royal guests was characteristic of the warmhearted descendants of the sturdy men and women of the South of England who colonised the place. The route from the station to Pukekura Park was lined by cheering, flag-waving thousands, while the park itself was a wondrous picture. The terraces on three sides were covered with people, while the flat recreation area was crowded with school children, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and their junior brothers and sisters of the “wolf” clubs and “brownies.” The soldiers of Maori, South African, and Great Wars were on parade, besides a detachment of territorials furnishing a guard of honour. After an inspection of the guard, an address of welcome was read, and the Duke’s reply was given to the Mayor. One striking feature was the word “Welcome” formed on the terraces on one side of the ground by the girls dressed in blue and white, and the general effect of the whole animated gathering, with its varied colour schemes, was very fine indeed. When the Duke and Duchess stepped down from the dais eventually and made a tour afoot among the massed children, the latter’s delight knew no bounds. A surging mass of little ones pressed round the Royal couple, who seemed to enter into the enjoyment of the moment as much as the cheering youngsters. The air was full of caps and any other article that could be detached and sent flying. Even moments of joy have their endings, however, and the inexorable schedule for the day soon put a finish to this one. The Royal pair entered their car to the sound of a wild acclamation and made their way back to the station with cheers ringing in their ears from thousands who still lined the route reinforced by many more who hurried out to the park to gel a last view of the Duchess, whose praises could be heard on every hand. As the train steamed out from the town crowds were gathered at every crossing and the hill beside the line, waving and cheering goodwill to the departing visitors. ARRIVAL AT WANGANUI. RECEPTION AT COOK’S GARDENS. MAORIS’ ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. GIFTS TO ROYAL COUPLE. (Per United Press Association.) WANGANUI, March 3. At the official reception at Cook’s Gar dens this afternoon a representative gathering numering about 25,000. welcomed the Royal visitors. A pleasing incident in the afternoon’s welcome was when Mrs Toia Barnes placed around the neck of the Duchess a tiki, which has been the treasured possession of a Wanganui tribe for many years, and the Duke received a mat and an address from the Maoris of the district. The address was as follows: Welcome, oh, Sir, Welcome. To the Duchess, Welcome. To you, our Royal guests, auspicious in your coming as the once appearing mystic white heron, welcome to Ao-tea-Roa and Te Waiaimumu, and to this district and town. Welcome to you, son of the Emperor. We rejoice in the effulgence of our Royal estate and your awe-awaken-ing presence, you, the living representative of the illustrious forefathers who have passed with the innumerable dead through the cold chambers of the grave to the dwelling place of the spirits. We welcome you, coming from your father, our gracious Majesty, King George V., who dwells in his far-famed stronghold in London, whose grandmother of illustrious memory, the beloved Queen Victoria, by We* Treaty of Waitangi, knit the Maori people into the greatest Empire the world has ever known, and by that act brought peace and Christianity to these shores. We are pleased that you come to weave more closely the strands of the great hawser that binds these islands to the Mother Country. Welcome ! Farewell 1 Convey to your father our kind expression of continued loyalty to the British Crown. Tel] him how glad we areAo be under the reign of British law. In conclusion, wo say that under the folds of the glorious flag of the mighty commonwealth of British peoples we have come to know what is meant by the words justice, fair play, and Christian principles. WELCOME AT FEILDING. DUCHESS RECEIVES BOUQUET. (Per United Press Asso vtion.) FEILDING, March 3. The Royal train stopped at Feildiug. The Duke and Duchess of York were welcomed by the Mayor (Mr Carthcw), Mr L. T. M’Lcan (chairman of the Kiwitea County Council, and Mr A. Campbell (chairman of the Oroua County Council). The Duchess was presented with a bouquet by the little daughter of the Mayor. Fifteen hundred school children, in their respective school uniforms, 100 Girl Guides, and the same number of Boy Scouts, with tlio returned soldiers and several thousands of town and district residents, gave their Royal Highnesses a rousing welcome.

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR. SIX TOWNS VISITED. GREAT ENTHUSIASM EVERYWHERE. SOME BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS (Special to Daily Times.) PALMERSTON N., March 3. After a jolly two days at Tokaann, where the whole party would have liked to stay for a week, the Duke of York, tanned by a four days’ life iu the open, looked bronzed and healthy when he arrived at New Plymouth on time this morning, fit to go through the gruelling day before him. New Plymouth awoke and immediately became despondent, for a drizzling rain from a leaden sky spread a sense of desolation over the place. Still, there was the Duke and there the ram, and the programme had to be carried out. At the station, which was decorated with ferns and palms, the Royal guests were met by the Mayor, Mr F. E. Wilson, and after the usual amenities all concerned drove off to Pukekura Park, which bush Nature has made one of the fairest spots in the North Island. The rain had become a mere mist by the time the party reached the playing area, which is cupped in by three terraced hills separated by gullies aflush with the most gorgeous punga ferns. The not'irol adornment of the park was rivalled by the rows of boys and girls who lined the terraces as sailors dross a warship. After the usual presentation of an address ot welcome the Duke and Duchess, with that charm of social manner that endears them to the public, went round the grounds, the ever smiling and always beautiful Duchess inspecting the “Brownies, the Girl Guides, and schoolgirls, and the Duke the Cadets, Boy Scouts, and schoolboys. There was a great shout of ]oy from the boys as the Duke passed over a bridge built by the Scouts in the centre of the ground. The return to the station was through streets thronged with cheering people. Everyone regretted that the ram had deprived the Duke of a view of Mount bgmont. As a matter of fact he had seen it earlv that morning from Stratford and was greatly impressed with the symmetrical splendour of the mountain. DEMONSTRATION AT STRATFORD. Stratford did itself proud. There was to be onlv a 10-minutes spell there, but the people of Stratford, with Machievelhan running, arranged for the Duke and Duchess to leave the train at Regan street, and then inveigled them to a dais erected at the junction of that street and Broadway. Bv the time they reached that spot the 10 minutes had gone. There they were addressed by the Mayor, and a quartet of tiny girls presented floral confections to the Duchess, curtseying backwards very prettily as they faced the Duchess, who seems to take a special delight in small children wherever they are. Then the Mayor called for three cheers for their Royal Highnesses and three for the baby Princess Elizabeth over the water. A good laugh was raised by a stentorian voice shouting “And one for the referee.” The return to the station was made along Broadway, through an aisle of schoolboys who held arched hoops of lycopodium dotted with the white roses of the House of York. As the sun was now shining, the scene was quite stimulating. HAWERA EN FETE. Hawera’s reception was also very well managed. There a dais had been erected outside the railway station, and thousands of people gathered round to pay their respects to the Duke and Duchess. They were fittingly received by the Mayor (Mr E A. Pacey), whilst Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., and his wife were among the leading citizens accommodated on the dais. Here, again, the Duke, who was in mufti, inspected the veterans, returned soldiers, and Boy Scouts, and the Duchess singled out her Girl Guides for particular attention. The little ceremony took place in brilliant weather, and everything worked like clockwork. CHEERS BY THE ROADSIDE. What was noticeable as the Royal train travelled southwards was to hear sudden bursts of cheering from apparently unpeopled pastures. The explanation was the gathering of farmer folk at level crossings, knowing the time, the people from the vicinity, to the number of 40 or 50, had by common consent made suen points a meeting place, and sent up lusty cheers as the train slid by. Prom all cottages and homesteads along the route there was the same hearty recognition manifested. WANGANUI’S GREAT DISPLAY. It will be a long time before Wanganui forgets the Duke’s visit. Arriving there soon after luncheon the river town was found to be in high festival. Everyone was in a holiday mood, and looked it. Besides, there was something magical in the air. Mr Hope Gibbons (the Mayor) was so hearty and unconstrained in manner that he at once created an atmosphere that largely dissipated formality. At the station he and Mrs Gibbons extended greetings, and introduced Takarangi Mete Kingi, a' sober-visaged and much bcmedalled chief of the Wanganui tribe, and his fair daughter-in-law, the beautiful Mrs Tonga Takarangi, who presented the Duchess with a kuir and wild pigeon mat. Cook’s Gardens is designed for pageantry, and the 25,000 people who were present when the Duke and Duchess arrived so disposed themselves round this great natural basin as to make a perfect picture of a certain historic value. The playing area was wholly occupied by some 7000 children, including a fine strawhatted battalion from the Wanganui Collegiate School. Mr Hope Gibbons declaimed his address like a Roman senator in the forum, determined that as many as possible should hear his voice. Then he introduced the city councillors and leading citizens to the visitors. Of these the most picturesque figures were Rangipaori Marumaru, of ancient lineage, and his aunt, Toia rfeta, who presented the Duchess with a very old and valuable greenstone tiki. Then music lent enchantment to the fair scene, and the Duke and Duchess inspected the children in their usual happy and spontaneous manner. Then troops of school boys and cadets and bands marched back tc/ the station, whilst the Duke and Duchess motored to St John's Hill to take in the fair vista of beautiful Wanganui. so that by the time they arrived back at the train the whole of Wanganui had reassembled at the station to give 11,0 visitors a rousing farewell. BRIEF STOP AT FEILDING. Feildiug was not on the official progiarnme, but somehow or other a atop there was managed, and a wonderful welcome was accorded the Royal visitors by a crowd numbering about 6000. The visitors were received by the Mayor (Mr Win Carthcw) and his wife, whilst their small daughter handed tin; Duchess a lovely bouquet. ARRIVAL AT PALMERSTON north. Palmerston North was reached at 5.40 p.m. An immense concourse of people gathered at the railway station, where the Mayor (Mr F. J. Nathan) accorded the visitors a warm welcome. The Duke and Duchess arc staying at the Grand Hotel to-night, whilst the official retinue aro disposed at the various hotels in the citv TO-DAY’S PROGRAMME. At Napier to-morrow night they will sleep on (ho Royal train. It may not be generally known that the Royal coach is the last one on the train That is not only for the sake of safety, but for the convenience, of the .others on the train, as it would not do to allow everyone to pass through the Royal apartments continually. The Duke and Duchess and their staff also have their own dining car. To-morroW at 9.15 a.m, the civic reception will take place nit the hand rotunda, and the Royal train will leave for

Dannevirke, Hastings, and Napier at 10 a-ra. The Duke is keen on seeing some of our big industries, and an attempt is to be made to work in a visit to the woollen and meat works whilst he is in Wellington. It wag at his personal request that a stop was made at the Waharoe dairy factory last Saturday, and he is no less interested in the other great industries on which New Zealand’s prosperity has been founded. VISIT TO MANAWATU CLUB. After dinner this evening the Duke paid a visit to the Manawatu Club, where he met most of the members. He was enthusiastically received, and the healths of the Duke and Duchess and the King were drunk with enthusiasm. RENOWN FOR GISBORNE. DEPARTURE FROM AUCKLAND. SCENES AT THE WHARF. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND. March 3. With as little trouble as the ferry boat leaves for Bayswater, the mighty battlecruiser Renown drew out from Princes Wharf this morning just as the city clocks chimed 8.30. The Band of the Royal Marines on the quarter-deck played a lively tune, while the music of Bonnie Scotland sounded from the deck below the bridge, where a petty officer and two sailors played the bagpipes to the accompaniment of vigorous drumming by three seamen. A squad of sailors from H.M.S. Philomel assisted in the work of casting off the lines, and the departure of the Renown was made with a minimum of fuss. The preparations for leavi. were well advanced by 8 o’clock, when Captain Norman A. Sulivan and his officers said good-bye to the harbourmaster (Captain H. H. Sergeant). Princes Wharf was closed to the public till 8.25, so that the sailors on the wharf might not be impeded in their duties. Two or three hundred people had congregated on the promenade between the wha;" and tho ferry buildings, among them being a number of disconsolate “flappers,” who occasionally waved their handkerchiefs in the direction of the warship. From Auckland the Renown will proceed to Gisborne, where she will anchor in the roadstead for four hours. She will then go to Wellington, where their Royal Highnesses- will embark for Picton. DUNEDIN PROGRAMME. DETAILS OF ARRANGEMENTS. PREPARATIONS WELL ADVANCED.’ It is now less than a fortnight till Dunedin has the pleasure of extending a characteristically whole-hearted welcome to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York. As the various parts of the programme are carried out smoothly .and naturally few of the public will give a thought to all the labour and planning that have been going on for months beforehand. Only those actually engaged in the preparlaions realise how much is involved in it all. Fortunately the burden is widely spread over many capable shoulders. To begin with there is the big centra! committee, witli his Worship the Mayor (Mr 11. L. Tapley, M.P.), and councillors at its head. Then there are the Entertainments Committee, the Routes Committee, the Lighting and Decorations Committee, the Children's Demonstration Committee, the Finance Committee, and these again are working in conjunction with any number of specialised sub-centres appointed to take in hand some special section of the wo»k. The names on the main committees probably number quite 100, and these again are informally in touch with a much wider circle still of those who are working in one way or another to make the Royal visit the happiest possible success Already in such circles the atmosphere is thick with rehearsals and preparations down to the smallest detail, and the indications are that on Wednesday, March 16, Dunedin will be wholly prepared for her eagerly-expectant visitors. A handsomely illustrated and com plete official programme will shortly he ready for publication. TBtE CHILDREN’S DEMONSTRATION. Perhaps the most important event of their Dunedin visit in the eyes of the Duke and Duchess will be the children’s demonstration, which is to take place at Logan Park at 10.45 a.m. on Friday, March 18. It is being planned on the same lines as’the children’s welcome to the Prince of Wales that was given at Tahuna lark. It is expected that 7000 children of Standard IV. and upwards will be on parade, and about 2500 standard 111. pupils will be mustered at the side of tho grounds to watch the proceedings without actually taking part. The. children are to come froni Palmerston in the north to Waiwera in the south, including the Owaka district and taking in Central Otago as far as Roxburgh With the exception of those trom the Roxburgh district all the child* ren will be able to make the trip and return in the one day. The return trains will leave in the vicinity of 2 p.m. Tho Roxburgh children will arrive hero on Thursday afternoon, and the Otago Education Board is for their care and supervision av* their stay till Saturday morning. About 140 who have no friends or relatives here will require to be billetted, and in response to the board’s request for hospitality for them about 250 Dunedin homes v ere opened to them, many of the hosts being willing to take two. It is evident, therefore, that all who have volunteered to assist in this way will not be able to have children allotted to them, and the Billetting Committee is going to distribute the children as satisfactorily as possible, giving preference to homos convenient'to the Railway Station and Logan Park. The Royal Party will ho stationed on a small dias in front of the centre of the grand stand at Logan Park, and the children will be drawn up by their schools in long rows four deep. At: a given signal the front rows will march inwards from left am] right, and then wheel in the centre and march in column of eight straight to the royal dias, where they will wheel to loft and right; again and return to their former positions. This manoeuvre will bo repeated by each succeeding row. When the march past is completed the presentation of mementoes from the school children of Otago will follow. It consists of a very handsome example of local jewellers’ craftsmanship, which has been purchased by penny subscriptions gathered in all the schools. In addition there will bo the further gift from the children to the baby Princess Elizabeth of a Mosgiel rug manufactured here from locally grown wool and boautifuly embroidered. The pennies received from the children so far have totalled in value about £SO. The presentations will ho made by a group of 10 girls selected from various Dunedin schools who are being carefully trained for their important part in the ceremony. The presentation will ho followed by the Duke’s inspection of the ranks, alternate lines being turned about so that he may inspect the double lines simultaneously and reduce by half the walking necessary. The children will then he moved into close formation. The National Anthem will be played by the hands, ami sung by the children, and tho whole ceremony will conclude with cheers

and the waving of the small flags with which every child will be provided. The important matter of dress is agitating the minds of head masters, teachers, parents, and children not a little. It will probably be found that in most cases where it is at all possible the chidren will be uniformly dressed in the colours of their school. It is to be clearly understood, however, that in no case is such uniformity to be in any way insisted on, and no child is to absent itself from the historic ceremony merely for lack of some particular garment. Doubtless in many schools there will be no attempt at uniformity, and a general “jazz” pattern will be the broad result. Mr A. P. Roydhouse, the Education Board’s physical instructor, will be in charge of the whole spectacle. Ambulance tents are to be erected in case of emergency, and the conveniences necessary for the children. A large volunteer staff of teachers from all the Dunedin schools will be on duty for a considerable part of the day, preparing and serving out iunches to approximately 3000 children from a distance, who are not being billeted here, but returning the same day. For such country children a lunch will be provided immediately after the ceremony, and to all those who will be late in reaching their homes in the eveting a second meal will be given for them to take with them LIGHTING AND DECORATIONS. The arrangements for special lighting and decorations during the Royal visit are in excellent hands, and are now well advanced. From Knox Church to Manse street, Princes street and George street will be hung with five thousand coloured electric lights, giving a total increased lighting of about 100,000 candle power. These lights will be intertwined with tastefully hung greenery, suspended the whole length of the street. Plans are being made for erecting two miles of decorative festoons. At the Town Hall 800 coloured lights will pick out the windows and parapets, and the tower will be brilliantly lit up with flood lights from below. The present flag pole s to be emoved from alongside the War Memorial in Queen’s Gardens early next week, so that there will be no interference with the general effect. Four concrete boxes about two feet high round the base of the column will each contain a flood light of 1000 candle power, these providing together a brilliant night illumination of the handsome memorial column. ENTERTAINMENTS. The citizens’ ball on Thursday evening is to take place in the Art Gallery and Early Settlers’ Hall, which have been combined by the opening up of a new archway between them. The applications so far are coming in quite well, but it may be necessary to extend the time of receiving them a little later than had been intended. It is estimated that 250 couples can be accommodated in the space available, and it is desired that the full number of tickets be taken up. Music will be provided by a jazz band, and the decoration of the hails is being carried out under the direction of a strong committee of ladies. The public reception in the Australian court at the Exhibition buildings on Friday evening will be open to anyone who wishes to be present. A musical programme will be provided' by a large choir under Mr W. P Gale and by the Orchestral’ and Philharmonic Societies. A special committee is entrusted with the task of arranging seating accommodation for the public, and are planning to provide for 7000. TWO HANDSOME GIFTS. The two principal presentations to be made to the Royal visitors are very fine examples of local craftsmanship in wood, greenstone, and the precious metals. The casket, which will contain the illuminated address of loyalty and welcome from the citizens, is based on a rarely beautiful knot of mottled totara. On two large slabs of rough greenstone stands a sixlegged carvel model of a Maori wham. The carving is very finely executed and finished down to such details as the characteristic pawa eyes of the figures. The legs are of grass tree. On one side of the wliare is the Dunedin coat of arms, and on the other the presentation place with the following inscription;—“To commemorate the visit of the Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York to the City of Dyncdin and New Zealand, 17th March, 1927.” The roof of the wliare is hinged on one side, and lifts to contain the address. The other notable gift is that from the school children of Otago. It is a tray of mottled kauri, with Maori-carved border and corner posts. The words “Aroha, ake, ake” (“Welcome for ever and ever”), the Duke’s crest, “Otago, N.Z.,” and the city arms all worked in gold are set into the tray. There is also an inlaid greenstone tiki and koropepe. On a rough slab of dark greenstone in the centre are two kiwis of solid silver supporting a silver book, whose pages contain the brief address of welcome engraved in blue enamel. "’he words are: “To their Royal Highnesses th Duke and Duchess of York, with loyal greetings and loving wishes from the pupils of the Otago Schools, Dunedin, New Zealand, March 18, 1927.” The book is symbolical of education, and the whole original design is strikingly effective. Both pieces of work have been executed by Messrs Dawson, and will be on view in their window next week. THE APPROVED PROGRAMME. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16. The Royal train will arrive from the north at 6.30 p.m., and the Royal party will be met at the railway station by the Mayor, the mayoress, city councillors, and town clerk. When the formal welcome is concluded, the Royal visitors will motor to the Dunedin Club, taking the folowing route:— Stuart street, through Octagon, Princess street, and Manor place. Bands will be stationed at positions en route. THURSDAY. 10 a.m.—The Royal party will leave the Dunedin Club for Logan Park, reaching the park at 10.10 a.m. A guard of honour will be provided at the park. The route to be followed will be as follows: Manor place, Princes street, Lower High street, passing railway station to Anzac square, entering Logan Park by main gates. Loyal addresses of welcome will be presented from the grandstand—(a) bj Mic Mayor of Dunedin, on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin and the surrounding boroughs; (b) by Mr J. S. Douglas representing the Scottish Societies of Otago. 10.45.—Their Royal Highnesses will inspect the Girl Guides, Ctrl Citizens’ Corps, and Boy Scouts on the playing areas in front of the grandstand. 11 a.m.— Visit to Otago University, after which the return to tho Dunedin Club will be made, leaving Logan Park by Union street to the University, thence into King street, passing the Hospital to St Andrew street; thence via George street and Princes street and Manor place to Dunedin Club. 2.45 p.m.—His Royal Highness will unveil the citizens’ war memorial in the Queen’s Gardens, where a parade of returned soldiers and other ex-service men will assemble, returning to the Dunedin Chib about 4 p.m. The following route will bo taken to and from the Queen’s Gardens:—Via Manor place, Princes street, to Anderson’s Bay road; thence via Crawford street to the Gardens; returning to chib via Princes street and Manor place. 9 p.m.—Citizens’ ball at Early Settlers’ Hall. The route to the hall will be via Manor place, Princes street, and Lower High street., FRIDAY. 10 a.m —Visit to Early Settlers’ Museum and meeting with tho pioneer settlors of Otago. 10.45. —Children’s demonstration at Logan Park. At the conclusion of the children’s demonstration their Royal Highnesses will proceed to the Art Gallery in tiie park, where his Royal Highness will

formally open the Public Art Gallery, and present to the city a statue of St. George as a memento of British participation in tho late New Zealand and South Seas International Exhibition. He will be asked to do so by the British Trade Commissioner, Mr L. B. Beale. The route to and from Logan Park will be as follows:—Manor place, Princes street, High street, to Early Settlers’ Hall, and thence down Anzac avenue to Logan Park, entering by the main gates; returning via Union street, George street, Princes street, and Manor place. 3 p.m.—Visit Montecillo Red Cross Hospital, returning to the Dunedin Club by 4 p.m.; the route to be traversed being as follows: —Up Melville street to Stafford street, to Eglinton road, • returning by the same route. 9 p.m.—Public reception in the building used as the Australian court at the late Exhibition, Logan Park. The route to and from the park will be as follows: —Manor place, Princes street, George street. Union street, returning by same route. SATURDAY. 9 a.m.—Train conveying their Royal Highnesses to the south is timed to leave Dunedin at 9 a.m. The route from the Dunedin Club to the station will be via Manor place, Princes street, through Octagon, down Stuart street, to railway station. THE ROYAL TRAIN. CENTRAL OTAGO ARRANGEMENTS. The Royal train, conveying their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of York will leave Dunedin at 9 o’clock on the morning of Saturday, March 19, for Cromwell. According to the running schedule drawn out by the Railway Department, Ranfurly will be the only official stop between Dunedin and Cromwell, although there will, of course, be watering stops along the route. A stop of ten minutes will be made at Ranfurly, where the train is due to arrive at 12.54 p.m., and Cromwell will be reached at 4.3 p.m. From Cromwell, the Royal party will motor to Pembroke and will join the train again at Kingston on Tuesday, March 22, for the journey to Invercargill, Owing to the longer tablet sections on the Central Otago line, the interval between the pilot, Royal, and emergency trains will be 45 minutes instead of 15 minutes, as on the Christ-church-Dunedin run. THE NIGHT OF ARRIVAL. To prevent congestion at the railway station on the evening on which the Royal visitors are due to arrive at Dunedin, the express which usually arrives from Invercargill at 6.23 p.m., will stop for half an hour at Caversham, where passengers, if they so desire, may alight. Arrangements have been made with the Tramways Department for a suitable tram service to be run from Caversham to the city on the arrival of tho express!