NORTHERN VISIT

Southland Times, Issue 22490, 26 January 1935, Page 6

NORTHERN VISIT

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER ORIGINAL PROGRAMME ARRANGED KAURIS INSPECTED (Per United Press Association.) Opononi, January 25. Variety and originality were the keynote of the programme arranged by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and Mr D. Ardell, of the Internal Affairs Department, for the Duke of Gloucester’s inland visit to the far north. The trip completed the 100-mile span from the east to the west coast and proved full of interest to his Royal Highness, who incidentally, remained at the wheel of his'car throughout the journey. The people in the far north who had not been provided for in the Duke’s official itinerary of New Zealand saw much more of the Prince than any other community in New Zealand. The places at which he stopped to-day were attended by a large force of settlers from all parts of the Hobson country and the informality of the occasion enabled all to obtain a view of his Royal Highness at close range. Moreover, the wayside salutations were again numerous and with his usual thoughtfulness his Royal Highness slowed down the car to acknowledge them. There was a large gathering at Tronson Park through which the Duke walked. He admired the density of the growth and some of the mighty kauri specimens. He had lunch with a party of 30 at Nelson’s Bush, where another large assemblage watched his every movement. For the benefit of the Duke a 1000-year-old kauri, 20 feet in girth and containing 7000 feet of millable timber, was felled. A six foot scarf and a substantial base saw cut having been made in advance, with a mighty roar the tree toppled into a gully below while the Duke recorded the incident with his cinematograph. He shook hands with the cross-cutters and chatted over the details of the operation. Old and New. His Royal Highness next watched a comparison between the old and new methods of handling four ton logs from the forest. A team of 18 bullocks was used for the first exhibition and wire ropes and a winch hauler for the second. The Duke’s camera was continuously in action during these operations. The trip through the Waipona State forest brought the prince to a scene of a monkey-like treeclimbing display, in which the Maori experts with spiked boots and axes in their hands scaled a 100 ft kauri to collect for the Duke gum and kauri apples. An exhibition was given also, of the old method of rope climbing, his Royal Highness finding both displays suitable for photographic records. Spectators were still present in large numbers and as at the other stopping places, they lustily cheered the Royal visitor’s arrival and departure. A visit was subsequently paid to a Mamouth Tane Mahutu, which is reported to be 1200 years old and to contain 72,000 feet of timber. ■ His Royal Highness arrived at Opononi early in the evening and had the entire township out to meet him. Quietly changing into a bathing suit, he spent an hour in the water before dinner, being the last of the party to leave the beach. APPEARANCE AT DANCE CHATS WITH EX-SOLDIERS. (Per United Press Association.) Opononi, January 25. The harmony and informality of the day’s programme was continued when the Duke of Gloucester unexpectedly made an appearance at a dance at Opononi to-night. Learning that the gathering was arranged by the Hokianga returned soldiers, his Royal Highness expressed a desire to meet them. Shortly after 10 o’clock, accompanied by the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates and his equerries, the Duke walked nonchalantly into the hall, where he was acclaimed. He exchanged handshakes and chatted with the ex-Diggers. In a short speech the president, Mr Harding Leaf, explained that Hokianga connoted “I shall return,” and expressed the hope that Prince Henry, who is the first member of the Royal Family to visit the district, would come back, adding, “Maybe on your honeymoon.” His Royal Highness did not make his visit perfunctory; he mixed among the dancers, and had several dances with local partners before returning to his hotel. DELIVERY OF MAIL SEAPLANE TRIP. (Per United Press Association.) Opanani, January 25. Carrying three bags of oversea mail from the Monterey for members of the Royal party and the personnel of the cruiser Australia, a seaplane left Hobsonville at 10 a.m. to-day and arrived at Russell an hour later. The sea was calm and an excellent landing was made near the wharf. Mails for H.M.A.S. Australia were delivered to the cruiser by launch, and correspondence addressed to the Duke of Gloucester and other members of the Royal party was taken charge of by Mr J. G. Young, postal liason officer, who brought it by car to Opononi.

On his arrival from the Waipoui State Forest, Prince Henry found his mail in his suite at the hotel, ready for perusal.