THE ROYAL TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 30

THE ROYAL TOUR.

.VOYAGE OF THE RENOWN. ! TRIP THROUGH THE CANAL. ■ COLON, January 25. The Renown arrived at Colon at 6 o’clock this morning, and was escorted op the harbour by the battles' ; p Arkansas, salutes being exchanged. Daylight (Saw an entire fleet of aeroplanes from the Francefield aerodrome circling over the Renown in squadron formation, making an impressive welcome to American territory. No time was lost in entering the canal, and the Renown was well within the dredged channel before sunrise. Mr Braithwaite, representing the British Ambassador at"'Washington, and the British Consul (Mr Ford) boarded the vessel while she was in motion, and were received by a guard of honour. Gatun Lock was reached at 7.30 a.m., the big battleship being handled most effijciently by the American pilot. The ship was held for some time at the lowest level on account of the low tide barely clearing the sides, while the necessity x 6f waiting for sufficient water at Balboa also caused delay. At the first dock Governor Walker, of Panama, General Martin (commanding the military), Admiral Day l( commanding the naval district), Admiral Lans (from the Arkansas), and their staffs paid an official call. The Duke of York received them with all ceremonial on the quarter-deck. After this the Royal party left the ship, and were received ashore by other dignitaries. The Band of the 14th Regiment played the National Anthem, while the Duke inspected the guard of honour. The party were then taken a short way to see the Gatun spillway, which was specially turned on for their benefit, making a fine waterfall display. The party returned in time to board the Renown at the upper level dock, and proceeded across Gatun Lake. , CEREMONIES AT BALBOA. PANAMA, January 26. The passage of the Renown through the Canal was uneventful. On the vessel’s arrival at Balboa the ships in the harbour were dressed, and two American submarines were manned. The whole community apparently turned out to welcome the Renown, which, as she drew near the wharf, broke out her flags, dressed the ship, and fired a salute. The official call on the Duke of York was made by the President of the Panama Republic, the members of his Cabinet, the British Minister, and other dignitaries, who were received by a full guard, the band playing the Panama anthem. The evening of an arduous day was spent by the Duke and Duchess of York and the members of their staff as the guests at a dinner in the British Legation, after which they attended a reception at which 800 guests were present. VISIT TO PANAMA. PANAMA, January 26. T’- Renown is anchored at Balboa. She will continue her journey to-morrow. The Royal travellers were honoured at a reception at the British Legation at Balboa last night. Not content with shaking hands with thousands of Panama residents last night the Duke and Duchess of York proceeded to a brilliant ball at the Union Club at which both had several dances. To-day, before 0 o’clock, they were astir and inspected an assemblage of the various British communities in Panama, who presented loyal addresses. Thereafter the Duchess was taken for a motor ride to view old Panama and other points of interest. The Duke made a round of duty calls, which, in an interesting manner, revealed the punctilio obtaining as regards the relations between the Americans and the Panamahs. The Renown was berthed at a wharf in the American territory, therefore it was necessary that an escott be furnished by American cavalry through the canal zone. At - the boundary line the Ameijjban escort was replaced by Panaman cavalry troops, who escorted the .Duke to the President’s palace, where the first official call was made. Then the Panama escort took his Highness back to the boundary line, handing him over to the American escort, which brought the Royal procession’ to the Administration Buildings, where the Duke called on Colonel AL L. Walker, Governor of the Canal zone. •?•’• .- The final ' official function during the stay at Panama was a luncheon given by the President at which the Duke and Duchess, their whole staff, and many leading officials and politicians, - both American' and Panaman, were present. ENTERTAINMENT AT MEL- ■• v BOURNE. ' MELBOURNE,■ (January 26.' The City Council allotted £lO,OOO to cover the expenses of entertaining the Duke of York. TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND. » AUCKLAND’S PROGRAMME. ‘ ’’ - AUCKLAND, January 26. The Duke and Duchess of York will . open their tour of New Zealand at Auck : land on the morning of Tuesday, February 22, and. will spend two busy days in • the city; . The Renown is expected in the harbour at 8.30 a.m. r -and half an ; hour later “the Governor-General- and the •<’ prime Minister will go abdtird. The

Royal party will then land, and the day will be occupied with official welcomes. A demonstration by school children, a garden party at Government House, and a civic “at home” in the evening will occupy the second day of the visit, and. that night the Duke and Duchess will leave for Russell in the Renown. The Royal visitors will remain in New Zealand until 6.15 p.m. on March 22, when they will sail from Bluff for Australia after having spent exactly 28 days 9 hours 45 minutes in the dominion. THE CHRISTCHURCH VISIT. PROGRAMME CURTAILED. CHRISTCHURCH, January 28. At the request of the Government, the programme for the Royal visit to Canterbury has been rigorously curtailed, and it seems certain that the citizens’ ball, the women’s reception, the Chamber of Commerce dinner, and all the Sunday arrangements will be cut down. Negotiations are proceeding with a view to the retention of some of the functions to which exception has been taken. ROYAL RACE MEETING. CHRISTCHURCH, January 29. The dispute about the Royal race meeting, whether racing or trotting, or both, will be held, is still unsettled. The Minister of Internal Affairs, in a telegram to the. C.J.C., advised the clubs to settle their differences in conference, and an effort will be made to bring the clubs together. The C.J.C. Committee is apparently willing to negotiate, but the Trotting Club is going ahead with its arrangements, obviously intending to hold a meeting. Whether the C.J.C. will persist in holding a race meeting in opposition to the trots may possibly depend on the negotiations. DUNEDIN’S PROGRAMME. GRANT BY HARBOUR BOARD. At the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last night it was decided to grant a sum of £lOO towards the entertainment expenses of the Duke and Duchess of York. DUCAL SLEEPING CAR. A TRIAL RUN. WELLINGTON, January 29. The new sleeping car, for use on the special train conveying the Duke and Duchess of York through the North Island, which has just been completed at Petone Railway Workshops, had a trial run into town yesterday, and wa-s inspected by the heads of several departments. The car, which has been built to the design of Mr G. 8. Lynde, chief mechanical engineer, New Zealand Railways, is an improvement on that of the de luxe sleeper which was put on the road during last-- winter. It is considered by several gentlemen with overseas experience that the car is quite up to the best standard to be found on the British railways, when consideration is given to the fact that there is a difference of Ift 2|in in gauge to the advantage of the Home designers. LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT. A CHRISTCHURCH PROPOSAL. CHRISTCHURCH, January 29. On the strength of his Royal Highness the Duke of York being an enthusiastic lawn tennis player, the Canterbury Association hopes to stag© a special invitation tournament during the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York. Although the proposal that the Duke should open the memorial gates at Wilding Park has been vetoed, Mr R. Browning, secretary of the association, is confident that a tournament will eventuate under Royal patronage.