GREAT DEMONSTRATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18586, 21 December 1934, Page 8

GREAT DEMONSTRATION

Prince Henry’s Acknowledgement

RECOVERY FROM EARTHQUAKE

Interest in Name of “Poverty” Bay

DELIGHTED WITH RECEPTION

A spontaneous demonstration of loyalty at the official welcome to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, on I ho Childers road reserve yesterday afternoon impressed the Royal visitor.

lie saw so many people lining the streets on his arrival in Gisborne that he hardly.expected many at the official reception, yet. he found thousands there also.

In his reply to the official' address of welcome, His Royal Highness referred to the recovery from the earthquake, the fruitfulness of the district and the inapt

naming of it by its discoverer

Reading his address in a clear voice, His Jtoyal Highness said: — •'HIS WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF GISBORNE. “Mr. Mayor, “l acknowledge with gratitude the assurances of loyalty and ol devotioiii lo the King, my father, which you give oh behalf of the people of Gisborne and Poverty Bay, so inaptly named, as you say, by its lirst discoverer. “I am glad to have the opportunity of travelling through this fruitful district and of congratulating you oa the speedy recovery whicn your town has made from the effects of the earthquakes of two and three years ago. “I am grateful for the warmwelcome and good wishes with which you have greeted me, and 1 know that I shall retain most pleasant memories of my visit to this delightful and important part of the Dominion. ’’ AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Tho Prince arrived three minutes before schedule. He was not expected on the Childers road reserve until 4.20 p.m., but his car pulled up before the dais as 4.17 p.m. The Duke wore a grey lounge suit and brown felt hat, and had a carnation in his buttonhole. He alighted from his car tall / and well built, with the alert eye of a soldier. He stood bareheaded as the W.E.C.M.R. Band played the National Anthem, and then went on to inspect the guard of honor, comprising volunteer.units. The crowd burst jnto cheering as the Royal'car drove up to its stopping place, and when the Duke alighted three cheers were given, in his honor, tho Duke suitably acknowledging with a wave of his hat.

He was met when he alighted by the Mayor, Mr. John Jackson, and tho town clerk, Mr. W. M. Jenkins, and after the inspection of the guard of honor he went immediately to the dais, where the official welcome was conducted. This was followed by the presentation of those prominent residents and their wives who were present on the dais.

SEARCH FOR MAORI VETERAN An inspection of tho South African veterans, returned soldiers, school children, Girl Guidos, Boy Scouts and members of the nursing division who wore on pnrado was made immediately afterwards. At first His Royal Highness stood a few moments while a search was made for a Queen's medal winner dating buck from the Maori War. He was a Maori named Hoani to Rua Huihui, and on hearing of his presence the Duke was anxious to meet tho man. When the Maori veteran could not be found, Prince Henry went on to inspect the South African veterans, and found that the Maori War vetoran had paraded further along the line. He stopped, and chatted a moment with him.

As he passed along the line of veterans and other ex-service men, the Duke halted now and again to question someone about his decorations, and where they were won, showing a great interest in the men before him. RETURN TO HOTEL

Every now and again bursts of cheering came from the crowd. The enthusiasm was unbounded when the Duke of Gloucester walked among the children. Cheering burst from them spontaneously. At the end of a line someone called “Three cheers for the Duke,” and the crowd responded immediately. At the close of the inspection, Mr. J. E. Shiinmin, headmaster of the Gisborne Central School, stood on the press table and called, “Children, three cheers for the Prince.” The children needed no second bidding, and when Mr. Shimmin called for another they gave that with no less vim.

His Royal Highness then crossed the enclosure to inspect the Girl Guides and the Scouts, and during his inspections the Mayor introduced the Prince to people of note en route. About 20 minutes after his arrival on the ground, Prince Henry returned to his car, and drove with the Mayor back to the Masonic Hotel. His departure was the signal for a further demonstration in tho form of cheering, and tho crowd gradually dispersed.

THE' PRINCE’S IMPRESSIONS Some of the Prince’s impressions of his visit to Gisborne were given to the crowd which attended the riverside function in the evening. The Mayor said that following the official reception the Duke went for a drive to Wainui Beach. Ho stated that, lie thoroughly enjoyed his visit, and would like to spend the week-end here. He was very delighted with the reception. He saw so many people lining the streets to meet him that he begun to wonder whether there would be any at the grounds; yet there were thousands there.

The crowd on the riverbank greeted tliis announcement with cheers. EVERYTHING AS PLANNED

everything went off as planned, and arrangements made for the occasion could have worked no more smoothly. It was not until nearly 4 o’clock that the crowd entered the Childers road reserve in any great numbers, most people apparently being content to wait in Gladstone road until His Royal Highness passed through into town.