TOUR OF ROYALTIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16230, 3 January 1927, Page 7

TOUR OF ROYALTIES

FINAL PREPARATIONS EQUIPPING THE RENOWN (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received January I>, 10 a.m.) LONDON, Doc. 30. The Admiralty is issuing an appeal to amateurs who pick up the Renown's low wave messages either in Australia or England not to try to call up and tell the Renown or they will upset her plan for keeping up two-way wireless contact during the entire voyage. The Renown is resplendent with a new coat of silver grey, and is looking like a giant fairy. The ship was the scene of the greatest activity in Portsmouth dockyard yesterday, sailors and dockyard men constantly passing up the gangways, taking aboard furniture and stores, while carpenters, electricians, fitters and shipwrights arc putting on the final touches!

As a matter of fact, the Renown, to the civilian eye, appears far from ready, but there are really only the details of furnishing and decoration to bo done. The furniture includes a dining table 31ft. long, which will seat 18 each side. The drawing-room contains a handsome combined wireless sot, and gramophone, giving music from either ether or a record. There; is also on electric pijino aboard, and an additional electric gramophone. ' Into the depths of the Renown bluejackets are stowing immense quantities of foodstuffs, including a generous proportion of New Zealand and Australian canned and frozen products, also a ton of Cambridge sausage. The Duke of York has chosen as orderly Corporal Hunt, who accompanied the Prince of Wales. Major Hunton, an Anzac war-time Intelligence Officer, will have charge of a special squad of marines, and the buglers include a bugle-major and drum-major for ceremonial purposes. The whole of the Commonwealth's plate and souvenirs are housed on the deck adjoining the Royal apartments, so as to be visible to visitors in Australia. NEW ZEALAND LITERATURE ' PRESENTED BY SIR J. PARR (Received January 3, noon) LONDON, January 2. Sir James Parr presented 20 volumes dealing with New Zealand to the Duke of York's library aboard the Renown, four films for exhibition en route, and a supply of literature for the officers and crew. ROYAL DANCERS DUCHESS' KEENNESS LONDON December 13. Who is the best dancer in the Royal family? The Weekly Dispatch's society writer says: "Most of the young members are good dancers, but none exceptionally so. The Duchess of York recently had a great number of lessons. She is keen on the new dances, and was quick to take up the Charleston and tango," though the fox-trot.is her favorite. Her only grievance is that the Duke is not so keen as herself. "Although the Duchess is rather petite for modern dancing, she is com-/ pensated for that small deficiency by being one of tho gayest, wittest little partners imaginable. Nothing misses her quick, bright eyes, and the tallest man soon forgets his overbearing size in the brilliance of her small talk. "The Prince of Wales is an ideal partner from any woman's viewpoint. He is exactly of the right height, courteous and considerate, and maintains a rapid fire of amusing conversation." The Duke of York, on his Australian tour, will take a complete sport> ing outfit—rods for all kinds of fishing, golf sticks, racquets, etc., and especially guns. The Prince of Wales told him, says

the Evening JNews, tnat. u ne warns to get to know the people in Australasia the best way is to shoot with them. The Duke, as with other things, shoots left-handed, and his guns are specially made for him. ARRANGEMENT OF DETAILS DOMINIONS ATTRACT SOCIETY j LONDON, Dec. 18. ' The Daily News says the members : of the Duke of York's party for next year's tour of the Dominions are taking the usual precautions observed by Eiiglisl) people going to the tropics, mid are being inoculated against - typhoid. The vaccinations arc interrupting their social engagements somewhat. j I The Navy's reputation for scrupulous efficiency in currying out the I most minute details is visible in arrangements for the Renown's tour, especially in the efforts for the comfort of the guests. | Special preparations have been made in the Renown laundry to enable the maids to do the laundry work of the ladies of the party. I The chef who accompanied the battleship Hood during her Empire 'voyage has been appointed to the Renown. I The Royal cabins have been fitted 'with wireless installations, and the Royal saloon has been supplied with a costly outfit of cutlery and tableware, sufficient to dine a. party of 36. | The Renown will take on board stores sufficient for a voyage lasting eight months. I j Oil-tankers will refuel the Renown 'at Las Palmas, Jamaica, the Mar-, | quesas and Fiji. , ;' j The Royal visit will enable an in--1 terchango of amenities between British and Australian society leaders, says tho Daily News. ; i Mrs. Ronald Greville (Dame Margaret Grevillo), a favored hostess of< the younger Royalties, is arranging a tour to coincide'with that of the Duke and Duchess, leaving London on the Naldera on Christmas Eve. To-day she attended the lunch given to Mr, and Mrs. Bruce. ' It is suggested that the pleasures of the French Riviera, the Italian Lido, and Egypt are becoming stereotyped) illl( l 80Ciety has decided to investigate Australia, which Americans spending their holidays in Honolulu have already '' discovered '' The Duchess of York has been banned black, green and bright red dresses on the trip, preferring cream, pink, blue and pale gold.