AN INFORMAL DAY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 9

AN INFORMAL DAY

THE DUKE’S CHRISTMAS

PICNIC IN THE COUNTRY

AN ENJOYABLE SWIM

(Per Tress Association.)

AUCKLAND, last nigh*

Christman Day was spout largely in the open by tho Duke of Gloucester. In the morning he attended’ Divine service in company with Their Excellencies at the Cathedral Church of Hr. Mary’s, where Lord Blcdisloe read t ho lessons successively—as he expressed it, “The prophecy and the fulfilment.” The sermon was preached by the Primate of New Zealand, Archbishop Averill, who noted that exactly 120 years ago that day 'Samuel Marsden had preached the first sermon ia Now Zealand from the text, “Behold 1 bring you good tidings of great joy.” According to the archbishop, the Christmas message constituted the only real and permanent solution to world problems; it provided a method of unity, peace arid concord in a distracted world.

“Tho various parts of the Empire,” he said, “are welded by an intangible bond, not of legal enactments, but of the stronger and more inspiring strands of love, sympathy and goodwill, which are associated with the person of our beloved His Majesty.” The congregation united in singing the National Anthem at the end of the service.

Holy Communion was celebrated by His Royal Highness, Their Excellencies, General Howard Vysc, Captain Captain Curtis, and Lieut. Elworthy.

DUKE MIXES FREELY,

Accompanied by members of their suite and Their Excellencies, the Duke of Gloucester, ((riving his own ear, the party motored to PI lift on the west coast. 30 miles from Auckland, arid spent the remainder of the day in the surf and at a party in the countryside.

Although the destination of tho Royal party had been kept n secret, thehe were about 200 bathers in the water at the West Const when the Visitors arrived.

Picnic lunch was partaken under flowering poliutaknwas and, shortly afterwards, the Duke, who/ undressed in an exposed bathing shelter, was in the water.

His Royal Highness mixed freely with the bathers, most of whom wore obviously surprised at liis presence. He entered delightedly into the carnival atmosphere whieh rapidly developed, and remained in the water for an hour. Although a surf Was running, it was not particularly good. His Highness is quickly bct’ominj' an Kd'ript in the use of the Stiff’’’board 1 and he laughed and joked as he rode the Piha combers.

It was noticed hv onlookers that throughout his bathing expendition the Duke was most natural in manner, and in particularly good form. The. fact that he was treated by the other bathers without noticeable ceremony enhanced the informality of the occasion.

TEA IN THE BUSH

After a swim, picnic tea was had by the wayside in bush surroundings which evoked the admiration of His Royal Highness. Die Duke expressed hi in-self as delighted with what appealed to him as some of New Zealand’s most beautiful scenery. During the stop for tea, the melodious notes of the tui were heard by His RoVal'Highness. On the homeward jnui'riev the Duke was again at the wheel of his eat. Hi the evening, lie attended ti private dinner party hi Government 'Htakri. 1 Advice has"been received that the DtiiiO Of Gloucester's Christmas air mail, dispatched from Brisbane, reached CroydOn on Christmas Eve. It ivas delivered to Their Majesties at Sandringham yesterday. Sitting up until 3 a.m. to-dnv, the Duke of Gloucester heard patches of his Royal father’s Empire broadcast speech from Sandringham. The reception was obtained on an elaborate receiving set at Government House. It was on the whole poor, but IDs Royal Highness was able to hear some sentences quite distinctly.

DAY AT THE RACES.

The Duke of Gloucester attended tho opening of the summer races of the Auckland Club. Weather conditions for the event were ideal and there was a record att(}ndnnce. On the arrival of the Rayol party at the racecourse, there was much e.liqering and hand-clapping. The Duke .wore a hard hat arid double breasted grey lounge'suit. The Duke had luncheon in the President's room and from the stewards’ stand' saw Gold Trail win the Auckland ’Cup ih 1 dashing style. Through his own long-range field glasses, 1 he watched every move in the race. A large ehnvd' assembled round the birdcage to witness the presentation ol the cup by Hi’s Royal Highness tri the owner, Mr. D. M. ’Douglas. The Duke chatted with Mr. Douglas arid aYso with 'the trriiner, J. W. Caineron, arid' the' rider, Voitrc, who were presented to him. The Dukc followed from the roof of the stand the special stccplechhsc included in the programme f.rir his Osit. The Duke left the course after the running of this race, a large crowd clapping as ho drove up the straight and down past the hill. .