FIRST ROYALTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18584, 19 December 1934, Page 4

FIRST ROYALTY

TOUR OF THE DUKE GISBORNE CELEBRATIONS ** PROGRAMME FOR TOMORROW ASSEMBLY AT RESERVE Marking the first occasion on which a member of the Royal Family of England has paid ,a visit to Gisborne, the public assembly called for tomorrow, to offer a welcome to the Duke of Gloucester, will have a significance all its own. Whereas other cities and towns have their memories of earlier Royal visits, this town and district has had to content itself with glimpsing “tho smoke of their passing” on the far horizon. To-morrow there will be presented an opportunity for expressing to a son of the Sovereign, directly and personally, flie loyalty of which this district has.given so many manifestations in the past. , Spontaneity will be (he keynote of that expression of loyalty, and of the personal welcome to His Royal Highness from the residents of Poverty Bay and the East Coast. Interest in the prospect of the Royal visit, has been rising steadily since it 'was first announced that, the Duke of Gloucester would include Gisborne in his itinerary, and has received an additional impulse during the past few days by word of the appearances made by the Duke at various formal and informal gatherings arranged to do him honor. DEMOCRATIC QUA LUTES As a member of a R'oyal Family which has maintained a peculiarly intimate contact with its people, Prince Henry has demonstrated in a hundred ways in the course of his Australian and New Zealand tour that none of his brother Princes is more democratic. By that one quality, he has reached the goodwill of everyone who has had the opportunity of seeing him, even from a distance," and his arrival in Gisborne is being eagerly awaited by everyone, old and young. To the members of the younger generation has been assigned a major responsibility in respect of the Duke of Gloucester’s tour of New Zealand. There are no great State ceremonies for him to undertake in New Zealand, sueh as were reserved for his hand in Australia. Here his interest is definitely confined to the people, and particularly to the younger folk. MESSAGE TO THE CHILDREN In recent years most parts of the Empire have'been visited by one or other of the Princes of the blood, and thousands of children everywhere cherish recollections of having seen a member of; the Royal house and of having heard from him of His Majesty the King’s interest in his young subjects. To carry that message to the younger generation of New Zealanders is a major portion of the mission eutrusted to His Royal Highness, and it is by his wish that places of honor in all gatherings occasioned by his tour should be given to the children. For them he has a word from their Sovereign. From them he will receive the pledge of continued loyalty which, in their later years, may serve to hold against storm and stress the fabric of the British Commonwealth of Nations. So it is that in to-morrow’s assembly at the- reserve, the members of the coming generation, children of the first decade of the second century of European settlement in New Zealand, will take their places beside the ex-service men (vho survive from the last great cataclysm which threatened the foundations of the British Empire. On the one hand will be grouped a fast-diminishing ‘band of men, all of middle-age or more, veterans of a Great War with a record of service to the Empire which is nowhere outshone. On the other, the representatives of a new generation for whom the most fervent hope that anyone could hold is that they will be involved in no new conflict. To them, and to a great gathering of the general public, the Duke of Gloucester will speak as one on whom, in part, will rest the tracing of Britain’s history_ in the next 30 years—and with Britain ’s, the histories of all the overseas Dominions.

touring organisation the PRINCE AND PUBLIC PROGRAMME FOR tomorrow Behind the scenes of the Royal visitor’s tour lies a close network of official organisation, directed to securing the saiety of .His Royal Highness from all the usual hazards of travel in this country, and to enable linn to meet as many ~s possible of the people of the Dominion. The time spent on the roads is being reduced to a minimum, and the temporary introduction of one-way traffic regulations on many sections of the highways during his progress through the country is one of the measures taken for the Duke’s safety and for the convenience of the public. For instance, the Duke is scheduled to leave Napier at, 9.30 a.m. to-morrow, and In arrive at Gisborne at 4 p.m., after spending some time at various points eu route. To enable him lo keep that schedule, it will be necessary.to travel hist between stopping-places, and even with expert drivers, it is no light matter to face a. journey between Napier and Gisborne with a 'bare four and a half linnrs' running time in hand. CONTROL OF TRAFFIC police control of traffic on the highways will be reinforced, for the purposes of Ills Royal Highness’ journey between Napier anil Gisborne, and again between Gisborne and Opotiki, by county and borough officials, who in turn will be supported by a number of temporary officers. Traffic will be expected to give way to the Duke’s entourage at all times, and in a recent issue of the Herald, the details of stoppages and the operation of the one-way principle were outlined in detail for the information of those likely to be on the district roads at the same time as the Royal party. Briefly, it may be mentioned that the

police will stop southward traffic at Aluriwai at 1 p.m. to-morrow, to eusui| that the Whaftrata Hill section will clear for the passage of the Duke; that the main highway between Makaraka and Muriwai will oe closed at 2.45 p.m., and that on the section between Alakaraka and Gisborne, all movement of traffic will be stayed within a reasonable time of tho Duke’s passage over that section of the main highway. On Friday morning, the Duke will leave Gisborne at 10 o’clock, and will pass Ormond at 10.15 o’clock, Te Karaka at 1.0.30 o’clock, and Otoko at 11.5 o’clock, reaching Matawai at 11.30 o'clock. There will he an unscheduled slop at Matawai, and Hie party will then proceed via the Waioeka road to Opotiki. Traffic blocks will be instituted at the following points and times: —Ormond, 9.30 a.m.; Te Karaka, 9.30 a.m., Otoko, 9.45 a.m., and Matawai, 10.15 a.m.; these being effective only in respect of vehicular movement which might tend to interfere with the use of the highway bytfie Duke. The Waioeka gorge section will be kept clear by means of a block established at the Opotiki end at 9 a.m.,' all traffic from that hour until the passage of the Duke through Opotiki being diverted by way of the Motu-Opotiki road.

THE ROYAL ENTRY ARRIVAL IN GISBORNE CONTROL OP PARKING.. ■ - ‘,lk Pedestrian traffic in the Gisborne Borough is to be interfered with only so far as it is necessary to prevent the possibility of accidents. The Duke’s party is scheduled to reach Gisborne at 4 o’clock to-morrow afternoon, and for some time prior to that hour vehicular traffic will rot be allowed to move in Gladstone road. Cars will not be parked in the main business thoroughfare, but pedestrian traffic will use that route freely until within a few minutes of the Duke’s arrival. . It is expected that many people wilt wish to witness the entry of His Royal Highness snd his party into Gisborne, ana will line Gladstone road for this purpose, before hurrying on to the reserve to join in greeting the Duke ot Gloucester. The clearing of cars from Gladstone road will facilitate the movement of pedestrians, and will also improve the opportunity of seeing the Duke when he drives down the street to his hotel. The route to be taken by Prince Henry from the borough boundary to his quarters will he by way of Gladstone road, to Customhouse street, thence down Customhouse street to Childers road and back to Lowe street, and along the latter road to the Masonic Hotel.

Lowe street will be closed from 3 p.m. to-morrow until 10 a.m. on Friday, so far as wheeled traffic is concerned, and the movement of pedestrians will be limited as far as possible to those who have business in the street. Out of consideration for His Royal Highness, the neighborhood will he kept as quiet as possible during the night. Police and borough traffic officials will unite in their efforts to keep clear the route of the Duke’s progress later to the Childers road reserve, for the official public reception. His Royal Highness will travel by way of Gladstone road, Carnarvon street and a portion, of (Sliders road to the reserve, and later'jJiß return to his hotel via Childers road and Lowe street.

Cars may rot be parked on the outward route, and Roebuck road will be reserved as a stand for official cars and for. the cars of those holding tickets of admission to the stand and the dais.

Parking will be permitted in all other streets near the reserve, up to a reasonable density, and in the lower part ot Childers road, where a lane will be kept clear for the return of the Duke to the hotel after the welcoming ceremony. Once the Duke has re-entered his quarters, special control of traffic will be relaxed, except insofar as it affects Lowe street between Childers road and Gladstone road.

In the evening there will be a renewal of control on certain streets in the town, which will be under conditions similar to those which govern Christmas Eve traffic. Routes will be kept open for through traffic, but the areas reserved for public celebrations, particularly in the neighborhood of the Trafalgar Rotunda, will bo prohibited to wheeled traffic.

THE PUBLIC WELCOME SPECTACULAR FEATURES PROGRAMME AT RESERVE Spectacular effects will accompany the demonstration of loyal sentiment by residents of. Poverty Bay and the East Coast, when the Duke of Gloucester makes his appearance at the Childers road reserve to-morrow afternoon, »L meet the public of the district atfan official function, the first in, which a member of the ltoyal family lias participated in Gisborne. The assemnly is likely to be the largest ever recorded here, and many features of the display will bo unique as far as Gisborne is concerned.

The entry of the Duke of Gloucester into Gisborne will be made at 4 p.m., according to the schedule laid down by the Department of Internal Affairs, and approved by His 1 loyal Highness. He will be met at his hotel by the Mayor, Mr. John Jackson, and the town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins, who will accord the Royal visitor a formal welcome to the Borough of Gisbgrne. The Mayor and town clerk will then precede the Duke to the reserve, and await his arrival there, which is timed for 4.20 p.m. The route to he taken by the Duke to the reserve is outlined above, and the journey will not occupy more than two or three minutes, it is anticipated. The official party will enter the resene by the double gates at the intersection of Disraeli street and Childers road, and will drive up to the alighting point, about 50ft. from the dais. There Mis'Royal Highness will he met by the ' Mayor, and by the officer in charge of the guard of honor, A. Blackburn. The guard will ire drawn up on the left of the lane by which the Duke will approach the dais, and the first not of Prince •Henry will be to inspect the guard. The Royal salute will be accorded him, the W.EIC.M.R. Band under Captain Wood playing the first six bars of the National Anthem, and the guard presenting arms. The order of'the proceedings thereafter will follow the official programme laid down for the majority of the welcome functions tendered to His Royal Highness in various parts of New Zea-

land. The Duke will take his place on the dais, and will be presented by the Mayor with the loyal address, published in yesterday’s issue of the dierald. His reply to tne address will follow, and immediately thereafter the Duke .will leave the dais again to inspect the exservice men, including South African Veterans, the lioy Scouts and Girl Guides, and the assembled school children, of whom provision has been made for at least 2000 in a specially-enclosed area directly in front of the dais. After completing this inspection, the Duke will return to the dais, and there the Mayor will present the chairman and members of the local bodies, and other leading residents of the district, with their respective wives. He will spend a few minutes in conversation with those presented, and will then leave the dais to the accompaniment of a further Koyal salute. His Royal Highness will then return to his hotel, by way of Childers road. As a preliminary to the function at the reserve, there will bo a parade of Military units, headed by the W.E.C.M.11. Hand and the guard of honor for the Duke, others participating in the parade including the veterans of the Great War, the Legion of Frontiersmen, Scouts and Guides, and other organisations which may wish to take part. The point of assembly for this parade will be at the Derby street intersection with Palmerston road, and the route will be via Derby street, Gladstone road, Carnarvon street, and Childers road. The South African Veterans will muster at the motor camp on the Victoria Domain, and will join the parade at the gates of the reserve, taking a place behind the guard of honor accorded them by right of seniority. Areas have been allocated at the reserve for the various official units, special attention having been given to the accommodation of school children. The latter wjll i>e marched to the reserve in a body, after a preliminary assembly at the Victoria Domain, and officials in charge of the organisation intend to limit as far rs possible the time to be spent by the children in their allotted area at the reserve. Their area, will be railed oil', in order to protect the children from tne press of the crowd, and they will be Tanked by members of the ex-servicemen’s organisations. Ranks will draw up on pegs already placed at intervals of sft. along the front of the school-children’s area, and there should be adequate air space for each child. The guard of honor will take up its position on arrival at the reserve on the left of the avenue by which the Duke will proceed from his car to the dais, the W.E.C.M.R. Baud being posted on the left rear of thp guard, and the Legion of Frontiersmen in the rear of the guard also, with the Scouts and Guides behind them again. The South African and N.Z.E.F. veterans will be posted on the right of the avenue to the dais. It bus been arranged that no motor cars, other than those carrying; the official party, will enter the reserve. The cars of those possessing tickets of admission to the dais and grandstand will be parked in Roebuck road, and ticketholders are advised to make their entrance to the reserve through one of the gates leading from that street. Adequate traffic officers and police will exercise a general supervision of traffic about the reserve as well as on the route of the Duke of Gloucester to and from the assembly point. After the public reception and the departure of the Duke from the reserve, the units on parade will march back to the City Hall for dismissal, the

| same order of march being followed as on the parade to the reserve. | Tiie services of the Salvation Army ! Baud and the Gisborne Military Band will be at the disposal of the municipal officials during the afternoon and evening, and music will help to while away the time spent by the public at the reserve prior to the arrival of His Royal Highness. The W.E.O.M.R. Band will 1 lie under military orders during the j afternoon, and its sole function will be to play the Royal salute on the arrival and departure of the Duke at the reserve.

EVENING FUNCTIONS I°UN ASHORE AND AFLOAT The entertainments provided in connection with to-morrow evening’s assembly of the public in town will he varied and full of interest, it is confidently anticipated, and those responsible for the respective contributions spent to-day finalising their arrangements. The programme will comprise a regatta and carnival, on the Waimata and Turanganui Rivers, with swimming, canoe and boat races, displays of national dancing’ and gymnastics, a concert contributed by the members of the Savage Club, and a dance on the sward of the Read’s quay esplanade. Mr. H. F. Forster has control of the whole of the evening programme, and all inquiries as to details should be referred to him.

Mr. E. Sharpies’ orchestra has undertaken to provide music for the dancing, which will continue as long as public enthusiasm continues. The W.E.C.M.R. Band and the Gisborne Military Band will fqrnish music during the earlier part of the evening in the neighborhood of the Trafalgar Rotunda,

CHILDREN’S FREE TRAIN ACCOMMODATION FOE 350 PROVISION OF MEALS Arrangements have been made by the Railway Department for the carriage of 350 school children between Waikohu railway station and the Stanley road crossing to-morrow. It is expected that all schools along / the line will contribute their quota of scholars, including Makaraka. The train will leave Waikohu at 1.15 p.m., and is scheduled to arrive at the Stanley road crossing at 3.15 pun., from which point the children will he marched to the Childers road reserve. After a meal following the ceremony, the children will return to the- Stanley road crossing, from which the train will leave at 6.30 p.m. on its return journey. The following arrangements have been made for the children:— Assembly arrangements.—On disembarkation at Stanley road, the children should be drawn up in lines ready to march to the domain. Mr A. W. Bird will be the marshal in charge. From the domain all children, including Gisborne schools under local marshals, will march to the reserve, where the Royal reception is to be held. Particular care should be taken that the children do not break their lines, especially at the ceremony. A meal is to bo provided at the Gisborne High School after the ceremony for all country school children requir-

ing it. The free meal is for children only of St. 3 and upwards, in addition to meals for teacers and committeemen accompanying the children in the ratio of one adult to 20 children. Children should stand easy in their lines at the conclusion of the ceremony at the reserve, and await the order to march to 'the High School. Mr A. W. Bird will again be the marshal in charge, and he will also supervise the march from the High School to Stanley road, where the children will embark at approximately 6.30 p.m. Every child should have a hat. This is most important, especially if it is a hot day.