A TRIUMPHAL TOUR.

Otago Witness, Issue 3808, 8 March 1927, Page 18

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR.

SOME BEAUTIFUL DISPLAYS PALMERSTON N„ March 3. After a jolly two days at Tokaannf where the whole party would have liked to stay for a week, the Duke of York, tanned by a four days’ life in 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 rain, ‘ 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 tile .party reached the playitfg area, which is cupped in by three terraced hills separated by gullies aflush with the most gorgeous punga ferns. The natural adornment of the park was rivalled by the rows of boys and girls who lined the terraces as sailors dress a warship. After the usual presentation of an address of welcome the Duke and Duchess, with that charm of social manner that endears them to the public, wmit 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 joy 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 rain had deprived the Duke of a view of Mount Egmont. As a matter of fact, he had seen it early 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 only a 10-minutes’ spell there, but the people of Stratford, with Machievellian

cunning, arranged for ,the Duke and Ducliess to leave the train at Regan street, and then inveigled them to a dais erected at the junction of -that street and Broadway. By 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 forl 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 whoJhtfld 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 opt 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 sucn points a meeting place, and sent up lusty cheers as the train slid by. From 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) y was so hearty and unconstrained in man-’ ner 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 bemedalled chief of- the Wanganui tribe, and his fair daughter-in-law, the beautiful Mrs Tonga Takarangi, who presented the Duchess with a huia 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 Heta, 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 to the station, whilst the Duke and Duchess motored to St John’s Hill to take in the fair vista of beautiful Wanganui, so that bv the time they arrived back at the train the whole of Wanganui had reassembled at .the station to give the visitors a rousing farewell. BRIEF STOP AT FEILDING.

Feilding was not on the official programme, but somehow or bther a stop 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 Carthew) and his. wife, whilst their small daughter Iftfiided the 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 are staying at the Grand Hotel to-night, whilst the official retinue are disposed at the various hotels in the city 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.