THE ROYAL TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 51

THE ROYAL TOUR.

CROSSING THE LINE. INITIATION OF NOVICES. SYDNEY, February 2. A wireless message from the Renown states that the ceremony of crossing the equator began yesterday, when, according to custom, the ship stopped, and Neptune and his retinue came on board, bearing the formal permission to cross the Line. All the details had been arranged for shaving and ducking the novices. These number nearly 1000. Both the Duke and Duchess have previously crossed, and therefore the Duchess will be invested with the order of the freedem of the seas and mistress of the mermaids, sea nymphs, and all such creatures. During the afternoon the Duke and Duchess presented medals to the winning football teams in the ship’s competition, and also the rifle shooting medals. A ROYAL INITIATION. SYDNEY, February 3. A wireless message from the Renown states Neptune's revels having always been the right of the lower deck of the ship's company took full advantage of their privilege and swarmed over every point of vantage, sitting along the awning stays and on the barrels of the loin guns watching gleefully every item of the proceedings from the time King Neptune and his consort arrived on board till the last novice had been initiated. Neptune boarded at 9 o'clock, and held court on the quarter deck surrounded by his consort Amphitrite, and the barbers, bears, and doctors. He harangued the captain, the Duke and Duchess of York, and others regarding the importance of the occasion. He refused to accept the Duke of York's initiation on board a liner as in order, and requested him to undergo the ceremony again, investing him at the same time with the order of “Old Sea Dog.”

A merry time followed during which the Duchess was invested by Amphitrite with the order of “The Golden Mermaid.” Other members of the staff were likewise decorated. The Earl of Cavan was made a “General of the Horse Marines,” and Mr H. F. Batterbee, a “Flattened Kipper.” Several other members of the ship’s company were also variously honoured. On adjourning forward the initiation ceremonies proceeded with despatclj. The Duchess and her ladies were excused on the intercession of Amphitrite, and were merely sprinkled with sea water. The first to be ducked were the Duke and Captain Sulivan, who were afterwards presented with the order of the “Skipped Sardine.” Both were faithfully dealt with and vigorously ducked to the accompaniment of roars of delight from the bears. They were quickly followed by the whole ship's company from the commander downwards. The commander s appearance was the signal for cries of “Give him more” from his delighted sailors. The fun increased apace, four novices being expeditiously treated at once.

The acme of the day's enjoyment was reached when at the request of the Duke the mainbrace was spliced, and a tot of rum was served to the whole company. After a strenuous morning the Royal party joined the officers in the wardroom for a belated breakfast. ROYAL RACE MEETING. A SETTLEMENT REACHED. CHRISTCHURCH, February 2. The tangle over the Royal visit race fixture has been unravelled. The Canterbury Jockey Club has agreed to stand down in favour of the New Brighton Trotting Club and a trotting meeting will be staged at the Metropolitan Grounds on March 15 for the entertainment of the Duke and Duchess of York. This decision was arrived at this morning at a conference of representatives of both clubs. Everything was quiet and orderly. There were no recriminations, and the representatives shook hands after the business. VISIT TO AUCKLAND. Advice has been received by the Auckland Harbour Board from the Department of Internal Affairs to the effect that the Renown will not now berth at Princes wharf on her arrival, but will remain in the stream until her departure for the Bay of Islands late on the evening of February 23. The Royal visitors will spend two days in the Bay of Islands and will return on the Renown to Auckland early on February 26. They will go on to Rotorua, leaving by special train at 8.30 a.m., and the Renown will then berth at Prince* wharf.