PRINCE HENRY AT WAIROA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 5

PRINCE HENRY AT WAIROA

It was the first occasion on which Wairoa was privileged to receive a membor of the Royal Family, and though the Duke of Gloucester broke his northward journey for only half an hour to receive the salutations of the Wairoa people, His Royal Highness could not fail to be impressed with the d'eep sense of loyalty to the Throne and love and affection for the King and Queen and their descendants which was made manifest at the formal reception in the Square.

PERFECT WEATHER, Perfect weather favored the Royal visit, and though the Duko on his journey north was delayed briefly at Mohaka to enable him to receive the' homage of the native and European community and children, the Royal party reached Wairoa not long after the schedoled time of arrival. As the long procession of cars swept round the beautiful riverside drive word was passed on to the town of its approach, and the appearance of the leading cars a l * the outskirts of the borough was heralded by a spontaneous burst of cheering. The procession wound its way through the town, gay with bunting and greenery, to the Square, and’after the ceremony there the Duke rejoined his car, and the procession, following a prearranged route, departed for Morere, where

a halt was made for luncheon and to / enable the Duke to rest after the arduous journey. A large and orderly crowd drawn from all ranks of the community assembled in the town Igng before the arrival of the Royal visitor, and the assemblage included a .strong representation ,of the native race. It is characteristic of tho Maori that he

should go to great lengths to do honor to a distinguished visitor, and' in the visit of the Duke of Gloucester the Wairoa Maori community displayed the deepest interest, and offered to His Royal Highness an impressive tribute ,of respect. Time did not permit, however, of many loyal manifestations on the part of the native community, and the Wairoa demonstration of necessity fell short of the ■weicomo 'which is to be given to the Duke at Rotorua, and in which members of the Ngatikahungunu tribe will take part. n VEBY COMPLETE ARRANGEMENTS. In, preparation' for the visit, tho Borough Council had made very complete arrangements, and' for the formal reception a dais was erected in front of the council chambers, this structure being artistically decorated. Space was reserved in the Square for aged people and for ex-servicemen, who paraded in their medals and ribbons and formed a strong bodyguard, in the charge of Major J. 0. Scott and’ Lieut. E. Tapper, jun. Under Lieut. Vera Bainbridgo, the Girl Guides and Brownies paraded at full •• strength. Approximately 1000 children from eight years of age upwards were drawn up in the Square,* and the remainder of the Square was occupied by the public. , In front of the dais the Harbor Board’s signal flags spelled out the word “Welcome.” The rotunda in the centre of the Square which, though wrecked in the 1931 earthquake, was made presentable for tho occasion, was occupied by the Municipal Band, which rendered a programme of music while the people were awaiting the arrival of the Eoyal party. The heat throughout the morning and early afternoon was terrific, and there was every indication that the maximum temperature would be the highest recorded so far this season, but the' schoolchildren and members of the public who filled the square waited patiently in the blazing sun for tho arrival of the Duke. Even on tho dais under a wide awning the heat was suffocating, and the official party spent a trying time awaiting the commencement of the ceremony. The town presented a gay appearance, many of the residents displaying bunting and dressing their windows, whilst the Royal procession passed under a number of arches on the route through tho * borough. , „ * The Royal party passed Bayview at 9.40 a.nn, Waikari at 10.42 a.m., Kotomaori at 10.08 a.m., and Ohinepaku, five miles out, at 12.20 p.m., well up to time.

LOYAL ADDRESS PRESENTED. On entering the borough the Dulco amH-his party traversed Paul street arid'Marine parade eastwards, and as the Duke's car pulled up at the main entrance to Coronation Square, His Eoyal Highness was met by the Mayor of the borough, Mr. H. L. Harker, and the town clerk, Mr. 11. H. O’Loughlcn, and was escorted to the dais. His Boyal Highness wore a. lounge suit, and carried* *a soft hat as ho acknowledged the plaudits of the crowd. The informality of his attire put the members of the welcoming party at their ease, and they appreciated the opportunity to dispense with the morning coats and top hats of formal occasions. Tho first six bars of the National Anthem were played by the Municipal Band as the Duke took his seat on the dais, and the Mayor then presented to the visitor a beautifully executed loyal address of welcome, tho work of

District’s First Royal Visitor MANIFESTATIONS OF LOYALTY Characteristic Native Welcome HUGE ASSEMBLY IN THE SQUARE (Herald Special reporter.) WAIROA, this day. fAmidst scenes of the utmost enthusiasm, His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester entered Wairoa early this afternoon en route from Napier to Gisborne. The whole district, it seemed, had turned out to do homage to the Duke, and a tumultuous welcome was offered to him as the Royal car entered the precincts of the town, its progress to Coronation Square being marked by renewed outbursts of cheering from the many vantage points along the route which had been occupied long before the time set down for the arrival of the Duke and his distinguished entourage.

"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HIGHNESS : , . “We, the people of Wairoa, both town and district, desire to express to you our unswerving loyalty to the Throne and the Empire, and our deep appreciation of the honor you have conferred on us in making! the first Royal visit to this part of the Dominion, one of the earliest settled areas in New Zealand. "Our children particularly thank you for your visit, and will long remember the privilege that has been accorded them. The natives of our district join with their pakeha brethren an this welcome to you, and in these expressions of goodwill “We will never forget the kindness and sympathy of His _ Most Gracious Majesty the King in the disastrous earthquakes of 1931 and 1932, the outward signs of which you will notice have at last been removed, a new town having arisen, the residents of which look forward to happier times. "Your visit will undoubtedly strengthen the bonds of affection which 50 strongly knit the Dominions of the Motherland. "We ask yon to convey to His Most Gracious .Majesty the King, your father, the heartfelt wish of liis subjects that he may long be spared to rule over his Empire. "May your stay iu our country be a pleasant one, so that you may always look back witli happy memories to your sojourn amongst us. “May God bless you and all the Royal Family, and may peace, happiness, and prosperity for ever reign throughout the Empire. "Dated at Wairoa this 20th day of December, 1934, H. L. HARKER, Mayor. H. H. O’LOUGHLEN, Town Clerk.

A. G. NOLAN, County Chairman. B. G. SIGNALL, County Clerk.”

Major J. 0. Scott. The address was fashioned in the form of a four-leaved album, bound in brown suede and bearing the following inscription in gold:— To HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, K.G., P.C., K.T., G.C.V.O. From WAIROA, HAWKE’S BAY, NEW ZEALAND. The insides of the covers were adorned with suitable views of the town and oi the beauty spots of the country, and the address formed & very neat tribute from the local authorities on behalf of the people, while the address itself was simple in its wording, and most artistically engraved. The address was a§ follows :

After His Boyal Highness had read his adress in reply, the Mayoress, Mrs. Harker, and the members of the official party were presented. Descending from the dais, His Boyal Highness then inspected the guard of honor and spoke a few words to the returned soldiers and the children of the town and country districts. . , , , ~ Tho local official party included Mr. and Mrs. Harker, Mr. and Mrs O’Loughlen, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlain, Mr. and Mrs. Cemmell, Mr. and Mrs. Scott, Mr. and Mrs. Galbraith, Mr. and Mrs. Brady, Mr. "and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Brewster, Mr. and Mrs. Nolan, Mr. and Mrs. Signall, Mr. and Mrs. Flint, Mr. and Mrs, Christensen, Mr. and Mrs. Dickie, Mr. and Mrs. Carroll, Mr. and Miss Hill, Mr. W. J Clark, and Mr. J. Corkill. DEPARTURE FOR GISBORNE Led by the Municipal Band, the gathering sang a full verse of the National Anthem before the Royal visitor and his party rejoined their cars amidst renewed cheering by the assemblage, a pretty gesture being the simultaneous waving by the children of 700 or 800 flags provided for them by the courtesy of the Mayor. The departing cavalcade traversed Marine parade westwards, the Wairoa traffic bridge, River parade, Carroll street, and Mahia avenue en route to Morere and Gisborne. In tho afternoon the country children ! were the guests of the local authorities at a free lunch provided at the District I High School, and the teaching staffs, assisted by other helpers, did everything in their power to make the event a memorable one in the lives of tho children. The shops and offices of the town were closed during the Duke’s visit, but were reopened in tho afternoon, and those in town for the ceremony either visited the matinee performances at the theatres, or did their shopping. And so closed a memorable day in the history of Wairoa.

BRONZED AND SMILING NAPIER LEFT BEHIND EARLY MORNING SWIM (Per Press Association.; NAPIER, this day. After a thoroughly enjoyable stay in Napier the Duke of Gloucester left at 9.30 o’clock this morning for Wairoa, en route to Gisborne The weather is still fine, and the Prince opened Ins programme to-day with an informal bathe in the sea off Marine Parade foreshore. Large crowds assembled outside the hotel and united in an enthusiastic demonstration as the Royal procession led off on its long road trip. It was a bronzed and smiling son of the King who waved good-bye to the new Napier,