THE DUKE’S TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22398, 20 October 1934, Page 13

THE DUKE’S TOUR

RECEPTION IN MELBOURNE BEYOND EXPECTATIONS (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) MELBOURNE. October 19. Recovering from the excitement of yesterday, Melbourne settled down today to enjoy the centenary celebrations and honour the royal visitor. The Duke held a levee at Government House this morning. In the afternoon he will attend a great children’s display, later opening the Royal Agricultural Show. Ho will attend a dinner given by the Royal Society of St. George in the evening. Describing yesterday’s reception, the Duke’s staff said it was beyond expectations, and expressed appreciation at the adoption of the suggestion for the curtailment of engagements, thus avoiding fatigue as much as possible, but all engagements made will be carried out. Unprecedented chaos occurred in the city area last night after the fireworks display. It is estimated that 150,000 watched the display, and all wanted to go home at the same time. Thousands of motor cars became hopelessly jammed at the inlets and outlets of the city. Those within the city area were unable to move for hours. The police used loud speakers to assist in directing the traffic. Pedestrians making for the railway stations were marooned for long periods on the footways, unable to cross the roads. The railways estimated that 1,000,000 persons travelled on the trains yesterday. CHILDREN’S DISPLAY MELBOURNE, October 19. (Received Oct. 19, at 11.30 p.m.) One thousand five hundred persons attended the Duke’s levee at Government House this morning. Twenty-eight addresses of welcome were presented, several from churches and welfare and patriotic societies. The weather was again gloriously fine. The scene in the ballroom was brilliant and colourful, and among those present were the officers of the visiting Indian sloop Hindustan and the Italian warship Armando Diaz. A pathetic touch was given by an address from the Braille Blind Institute, expressing loyalty and respect to “ you whom we cannot see.” After luncheon the Duke attended the most remarkable children’s demonstration ever seen in Melbourne, when 17,000 school children gave a physical culture display on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Duke was tumultuously received as he drove to the ground, which was packed by, 80,000 people. On the arena ’were thousands of gailydressed children in a living tableau of welcome, spelling out the word “ Victoria” in giant letters. Later in the afternoon the Duke opened the Royal Agricultural Show, which is the greatest display of Victoria’s wealth and resources yet seen.

QUESTION OF PROCEDURE CEREMONIES AND DRESS An outline of the correct procedmo for those taking part in functions connected with the visit of the Duke of Gloucester has been issued by the Department of Internal Affairs. During his visit to Wellington and Auckland his Royal Highness will be the guest of their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Blcdisloe, at Government House. For the remainder of the New Zealand tour his Royal Highness will be the guest of the Government. As on the occasion of former royal visits, it is the pleasure of his Majesty that the Governor-General he given precedence of his Royal Highness and the Governor-General will not, therefore, accompany his Royal Highness on the tour. In response to numerous inquiries on points of prescriptive etiquette, the following information concerning established practices will be of interest generally and in particular will serve to assist those responsible for the arrangements at local centres: — No gift will be accepted from commercial firms or private individuals unless in very exceptional circumstances, or unless the individual is personally known to the Duke of Gloucester. Mementoes from representative bodies may only be accepted on the recommendation of the Governor-General. It is desirable, however, that such presents be reduced to a minimum.

Applications from trading firms for an official warrant or for the patronage of his Royal Highness cannot be granted, as only the King, the Queen, and the Prince of Wales can give these official recognitions. The use of photographs or representations for advertising and similar purposes it not approved. Unless in very exceptional circumstances, applications for autographs cannot be favourably entertained. On those occasions when the royal guest is staying at hotels or private residences, it is deemed unnecessary that the Duke of Gloucester’s standard be flown. It has been ascertained that it is not the custom of his Royal Highness to take tea in the middle of the morning, and while he is not anxious to deprive others of this privilege, he would himself prefer to devote the extra time to meeting the people and seeing points of interest. At official functions during the daytime, morning dress would be correct for civilians actually taking part in formal proceedings or appearing on the platform with his Royal Highness, Alternatively, a dark lounge suit and bowler hat would be suitable. It is desired that the various local authorities at each place of call join in presenting one combined address of loyal welcome. Other bodies—religious, etc. —may. with the approval of the Gov-ernor-General and by arrangement with the local authorities, hand to the Duke of Gloucester at civic functions loyal addresses of welcome, and it has been decided that his Royal Highness will acknowledge all addresses at each place in one comprehensive reply. His Royal Highness will not make a speech at civic functions other than at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. It has already been announced that proposed addresses of welcome should be sent, in duplicate, as soon as possible and not later than October 81, to Sir Cecil Day, private secretary to his Excellency the Governor-General, Government House, Wellington, for submission to his Excellency and his Royal Highness. It is to be noted that either of the following forms of address will be appropriate: — (a) His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester. (b) His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, K.G., P.C., K.T., G.C.V.O.

DUKE AS SPORTSMAN NIGHT AT THE "TROTS” PRINCE BACKS SECOND HORSE Trotting, as the Duke of Gloucester learned in Perth on the night of October 6, is a very popular sport in Western Australia. As conducted there, there is nothing to compare with it in the eastern States of. the Commonwealth. The Western Australian Trotting Association—a non-proprietary body—has, with the support of the public, reclaimed 64 acres on the banks of the Swan River, a threepenny tram ride from the city, and has built a course which compares with anything in the world. The track is surfaced with shell grit taken from the river, and huge arc lights of 750,000. candle-power provide artificial daylight. The . Duke had an interesting evening. He had not expected such excitement, and he said so. There was a record attendance of nearly 20,000, and the Anzac House building fund will receive the proceeds, including the totalisator percentages, amounting to more than £15,000. Such is the interest in trotting in Perth that nearly everybody in the city had a small bet on the Gloucester Cup. There were 14 starters in the Gloucester Cup, of a mile and a-half. Each of these horses had won a qualifying handicap during the last few weeks, so that the pick of the State’s horses competed in the final, which carried a huge silver cup and £750 in prize money. PRINCE PRESENTS THE CUP. The Duke, standing in the middle of the ground, fired the starting pistol. After a great race, the State’s most popular trotter, Adonaldson, a magnificent black horse, bred locally and the holder of the State's record of 2mxn 12sec for a mile, won by two yards. Amid demonstrations of enthusiasm, the Duke of Gloucester decorated Adonaldson with a ribbon and presented the cup to the owner-trainer, Mr A. Thomas. The Duke had only one bet, £1 on the second horse, Northwood Lady, which is owned by the president of the Trotting Association, Mr J. P. Stratton, who acted as the Duke’s escort. The crowds were delighted at getting such intimate glimpses of the royal visitor. As the Duke walked down from the grand stand on one occasion, a sportsman shouted, “ Hello, Harry, how’s the Old Dart?*’ The Duke laughed heartily. According to programme, Prince Henry was to have left before the last race, but he was so interested in the proceedings that he remained until the finish. When the winners of the last race had weighed in, he inspected them and had their hopple gear explained. “ A great evening’s sport; we have nothing quite like this in England,” was the Duke’s comment on the meeting. DUKE AT THE YORK RACES. ■ The Duke, while at York on Monday, October 8, had lunch with the chairman and committee of the York Jockey Club in a marquee near the members’ stand. He talked about horses with the chairman,; Mr Morris Edwards,’ and he went round the horse stalls and the bookmakers’ stands, which are placed under a permanent roof for protection from rain and sun. When the Prince climbed into the judge’s box to watch the second race the "sun was beating down strongly, but there was a tempering breeze. The Duke remarked on the size of the field—there were 18 starters—and he was pleased at being informed that his visit had resulted in an unusually large number of metropolitan horses being entered for the provincial meeting. This was conducted on a prettily situated bush course, which has a tree-clad hill rising in front of it. Large crowds arrived from Perth, 60 miles away, by car and train, and there was a display of fashions such as had never before been seen at York. The Duke inspected the totalisator, worked on primitive lines compared with the electric totalisator made necessary at the bigger meetings, where a heavy volume of betting has to be handled. The tickets are just pasteboards in their various slots, and each one is stamped as it is purchased.