THE ROYAL TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3801, 18 January 1927, Page 31

THE ROYAL TOUR.

WITH THE RENOWN. LAS PALMAS, January 10. To-day tha Renown dropped anchor punctually outside Las Palmas, where a tanker was waiting with oil for her long Atlantic trip. Salutes were exchanged between the ship and the shore. The fears that the Royal party would be unable to land were unfounded. The first official function was the call of the British Consul, with Captain Ferrer, of the Spanish gunboat Bonifaz, who -is specially attached to the staff of the Duke by the order of the King of Spain. The Consuls and the captain paid their respects to the Duke and Duchess of Yo'fk in their apartments; then their Highnesses left the ship by the Royal barge, with its bright new coat of paint. The sea was lively alongside the gangway, and the ladies particularly found it difficult to board her, while the remains of yesterday’s swell, which was still running, made the trip ashore not particularly pleasant. The Duke was in full naval dress, and the Duchess wore a simple white costume. The harbour was gay with bunting, and the ships were all dressed. The Spanish Governor and other officials received them at the landing. The crowds cheered them en route. The Royal party visited the Queen Victoria Hospital, the Seamen’s Institute, and the British Club, where they met the British community. On returning to the Renown they were given an enthusiastic farewell by the Spaniards all along the streets. In the evening the Governor and other dignitaries were entertained aboard the Renown. FAREWELL SCENES. LONDON, January 12. The Renown’s departure on Wednesday morning from Las Palmas gave the Royal party some inadequate idea of what will happen to them on arrival at New Zealand and Australian ports. All the available tugs in the harbour came out to bid farewell. The last act was Earl- Cavan’s cable to the Military Governor, thanking him on behalf of their Royal Highnesses for their reception and enjoyable experiences.

Sport was the main feature to-day. After several hard-fought sets of tennis' ashore the Duke joined a game of deck hockey in the afternfeon. The strenuous exercise is emphasising his excellent physical condition. The Duchess spent the day quietly on board ship. Earl Cavan is sufficiently recovered to be able to dine with their Highnesses. Las Palmas, the capital of the Canary Islands—a Spanish possession—is an important port of call, with a wireless station and coaling depot. The most notable building is the sixteenth century cathedral, in the flamboyant style of Spanish architecture. There are other churches, a'museum, and a theatre. Las Palmas is a health resort, and has a population of 60,000.

SETTLING DOWN TO THE VOYAGE. H.M.S. RENOWN, Wednesday, Midnight. With the Canaries well astern life aboard the Renown dropped quickly into the usual channels of a long voyage. All deck sports were organised before Teneriffie faded from view. The Duke and Duchess of York ami suite attended a kinema show in the evening, and during a temporary breakdown of the machine they listened to the audience singing chanties; and after that the Duke, who has a machine of his own, helped the operators to discover defects. To-day their Highnesses made a thorough tour of the engine, boiler, and furnace rooms, exploring every part characteristic of the new oil-fired Navy. The Duchess did not require to don overalls, the Renown’s engine room staff boasting that it was unnecessary to wear anything over the ordinary clothes, everything being spotless, as it was. Their Royal Highnesses received a cablegram from Mr Bruce conveying Australia’s best wishes for an enjoyable cruise, and promising a warm welcome to Australia. The Duke of York suitably replied.

PROGRAMME AT SUVA. SUVA, Jauuar., 14.

The Renown will arrive at Suva on the afternoon of February 17, and will be escorted up the harbour by a fleet of native sailing canoes. The Governor will call at 2.15 p.m. on the Duke and Duchess, and the official landing will take place at 3. The party will proceed thence to Government House grounds and meet the school children. There will be a civic reception at 3.30, and they will go to Government House at 4.30, and to six native ceremonies at 8. A ball will be held at the Grand Pacific Hotel, and guests will be presented at 10 o’clock. On February 18 the Duke ,and Duchess will visit the war memorial and the hospital, and have a motor drive in the Afternoon. They will have dinner on the Renown in the evening.

ON THE RENOWN. H.M.S. RENOWN, January 15. The ordered routine of the long voyage lias settled down on the Renown. There is daily drill in divisions and inspections with general quarters periodically according. to plan. Their Royal Highnesses ■"visited practically every part of the ship, i finishing with the mess decks/ The weather is a little more boisterous than -usual though a following sea reduces the rolling, but the ship-- is pooped heavily occasionally,

An interesting feature of general quarters is’ the opportunity given to check, through fire control instructions, gun efficiency, which pressure of work in connection with the tour had prevented since the full calibre concentration practice for the benefit of the dominion Prime Ministers, at which the Renown gained 100 per cent, efficiency. The results of this check _ are very satisfactory. It is the intention to arrange a regular routine of general quarters at which the check will be applied periodically in order to maintain the present high efficiency on the Renown, since it is very unlikely there will be much opportunity for gunnery training during the cruise.

ROYAL_ RACE MEETING. . CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. The tangle in regard to the proposed race meeting to entertain the Duke and Duchess of York during their visit to Christchurch, and for which the Government refused a special totalisator permit, has been further complicated by the receipt of a telegram from the Minister of Internal. Agairs by the Royal Reception Committee refusing to agree to the last arrangement. The Canterbury Jockey Club agreed to change the date of its summer meeting from February 19 to March 15. but the Minister states that the Government cannot agree to the change. He adds that he proposes to agree to the alteration of the New Brighton Trotting Club’s dates from March 17 to 19 to March 12 and 15, irrespective of whether his Royal Highness attends the meeting or not a matter which, it appears to the Government, must be left to the Duke to decide after his arrival. It is practically certain . that there will now be a trotting meeting at Addington for the occasion. OTAGO ITINERARY. A MISLEADING REPORT. According to a message from Wellington which was published in our columns °“ Saturday morning, it had been decided to alter the Otago itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of York so that their stay in Dunedin would-be curtailed by one day. It was reported that the Royal visitors instead of—as was originally intended —arriving here on the evening of Wednesday, March 16, and leaving on the morning of Saturday, March 19, were, by the new arrangement, to arrive a day later, and still leave on the Saturday. On receipt of this news, the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) forwarded the following telegram of protest to the Hon. W. Dow Pie Stewart (Acting Prime Minister) : —“Greatly concerned by notice in newspaper this morning of Duke’s visit to Dunedin curtailed one day. If information is correct will cause keen disappointment, as it is impossible to include programme arranged 'for two days’ visit in one day. Consider Dunedin should enjoy the same duration of visit as other main cities, and w;e look to yon to maintain the original programmes.” Mr Tapley stated on Sunday that he had received in reply a telegram from Mr Downie Stewart advising him that the information received from Wellington was incorrect, and that the original arrangements would stand.

The following is the proposed programme for the Dunedin visit which has ye tto b eapproved by Cabinet:— Wednesday, March 16.

The Royal train is expected to arrive at Dunedin about 6.30 p.m. from the north.

. The . Mayor and members of the executive will meet their Royal Highnesses at the railway station.

A guard of honour will be stationed outside the railway premises. The formal welcome concluded, the Royal party will proceed to the Fernhill Club via Stuart street, Octagon (round the west side, and past the Town Hall), Princes street, and Manor place. Bands will be stationed at various points en route.

During -dinner at the club, the members of the Male Choir will serenade the Royal party with vocal items.

After dinner, at an hour to be arranged, it is suggested that their Royal Highnesses might accept the invitation of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to make a brief visit to the rooms of the association. • The route fixed would afford an opportunity of viewing the illuminations in the city.

Thursday, March 17.

8 a.m.—Royal Salute. 10.45 a.m.—The Royal party will leave the Fernhill Club and proceed to Logan Park.

11 a.m.—Presentation of loyal addresses by the following:—City of Dunedin and surrounding boroughs, by the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr H. L. Tapley).Noon.—Visit to Otago University. 3 p.m.—Visit to Otago Boys’ High School

3.45 p.m.—Visit to Montecillo Red Cross Hospital, returning to the Fernhill Club by 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.—Citizens’ ball. Friday, March 18.

10.30 a.m.—Visit to Early Settlers’ Museum and meeting with assemblage of pioneer settlers of Otago. 11.15 x a.m.—Children’s demonstration, Logan Park. "; ' •

At the conclusion of the display their Royal Highnesses will proceed to the Art Gallery buliding in the park, .whichhis Royal Highness will formally .open as a public Art Gallery, and will also present to the city a statue of St. George, as a memento of British participation in the late Exhibition. ■

3 p;m.—His Royal Highness will unveil, the Citizens’ War Memorial in the Queen’s Gardens, and inspect a parade of members of the Rcturned' Soldiers’ Asso-

ciation and other ex-service men bf all ranks.

4 p.m.—lnspection of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, and Girls’ Citizens’ Corps on the sports ground at. Logan Park. 9 p.m.—Public reception in the building used as the Australian Court at the late Exhibition, Logan Park. - - Saturday, March 19.

The Royal party will leave by train for Central Otago.

AUCKLAND’S PREPARATIONS. AUCKLAND, January 14. School children to the number of about 15,000 will welcome their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York, on Wednesday, February 23, when a great massed display will take place >n the domain. The Boy Scouts and Girl Guides will have a prominent part in the spectacle.

■ “It is anticipated that the display will be even more spectacular than that which was held in honour of the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1920,” said the Mayor (Mr Geo. Baildon) to-day. “For one thing, there will be many more children taking part on this occasion, and special displays of Boy Scouts and Girl Guides will be a distinctive feature.'’”

The childreu’s exhibition will probably comprise massed effects and flags. Those taking part-will be in costumes of appropriate colours, z and will be thoroughly trained so that the elaborate formations which are to be arranged for the entertaimfient of the Royal visitors will be quickly and easily achieved.”

“Nothing has been fixed as yet concerning the days which are to be holidays for the business people,” said the Mayor when questioned on this point. “However, I propose to ask the citizens to observe Wednesday as a holiday, and perhaps to close for a couple of hours on Tuesday in order that everyone may see the midday celebrations in connection with the arrival of their. Royal . Highnesses. That will have to be gone into fully a little later.” Special illuminations wil make the Town Hall brilliant during the evening hours of the Royal visit. It has been decided to abandon the old scheme of picking out the lines and facades of the building in thousands of small electric bulbs. “That system, though effective, was not as arresting as a scheme of flood lighting would be,” said Mr Baildon. It has been decided that the whole of the Town Hall would be vividly it by means of huge flood lights. It was probable that searchlights, with lighthouse reflectors, similar to those which play on Albert Park, \ would be used. Experiments would be made iu order to obtain the best results.

POLICE ARRANGEMENTS.

WELLINGTON; January 14.

“We are working on the matter as hard as ever we can,” said the Commissioner of Police, Mr W. B. Mcllvveney, to-day in reply to an inquiry as to the arrangements being mode for police patrol duty during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. “There are a hundred and one things to be done, but it has been definitely arranged how that there will be a detachment of police detailed for duty throughout the Dominion during the term of the Royal visit.” The Commissioner will personally control the arrangements, and will be assisted by Mr C. R. Broberg, of Wellington, the senior superintendent of the New Zealand Police Force, who is attached to the Commissioner’s staff, and who will accompany Mr MTlveney during the tour. The detachment will consist of approximately 80 men, who have been selected by Mr MTlveney himselt. The. shortest constable is 6ft in height, and the heights range up to 6ft sJin, so that the detachment should make a very imposing display. VISIT TO DUNEDIN. The Duke and Duchess of York are to stay at the Fernhill Club during their visit to Dunedin, the Mayor (Mr H. L. Tapley, M.P.) having been notified that the Government will be pleased to accept the offer of the president and members of the club to place the building at the disposal of the Royal visitors. It is interesting to note that the Duke of Edinburgh (the great-uncle of the Duke of York), King George and Queen Mary (then Duke and Duchess of York), and the Prince of Wales all stayed at the Fernhill Club during their visits to Dunedin.