DUKE ‘CHUMMED UP’

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1934, Page 9

DUKE ‘CHUMMED UP’

INCIDENT IN THE SURF HOT DAYS ON EAST COAST GISBORNE TO WAIROA • DRIVE OVER MOUNTAINS By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, Dec. 21. Quite unaware of the identity of the Duke of Gloucester, a young bather at Wainui beach last night “chummed up” with His Royal Highness in the water and animatedly discussed aspects of surf bathing. Catching the spirit of the moment, the Duke exchanged views and passed on ' hints on handling a board which the youngster sought. The subsequent revelation that it was the. Duke he had been talking to did not abash the lad, who hurried to the water’s edge and carried the Duke’s surf board to the bathing shed, and with the utmost sangfroid wished the Royal visitor “all the best” during the tour. The Duke of Gloucester departed from Gisborne for Opotiki at 10 a.m. to-day. He received a rousing farewell from the / crowds which since the early morning had filled the hotel street. The weather was again intensely hot and members of the party are making the trip to Opotiki in slacks and sports eoats. In his journey from Poverty Bay to the Bay of Plenty the Duke is seeing superb mountain-scenery. He is due at Opotiki at 1.25 p.m., Whakatane 4.5 p.m. and Rotorua 6.30 p.m. Following the Maori reception at Rotorua on Saturday, the Duke will return to the Grand Hotel and proceed to 1 the civic reception, and thence to the modOl Maori village. The afternoon will be free. On Sunday after attending Divine service the Duke will lunch at the Wairakei Hotel and will visit Geyser Valley and the Kerapiti blowhole. From 4 p.m. onwards he will fish in the Waikato River. WELCOME AT OPOTIKI MOUNTAIN SCENERY ENJOYED. FAST JOURNEY BY MOTOR.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Opotiki, Dec. 21. Spanning the East Coast neck of the

North Island and passing through mountain scenery unrivalled in beauty with open tunnels of revitalising tree growth, the Duke of Gloucester reached Opotiki at 1.45 p.rru after a fast journey of nearly 100 miles from Gisborne. Replying to a magnificent welcome at which the entire district was apparently in attendance, the Duke said he had greatly enjoyed his journey through the Wonderful mountain scenery from Poverty Bay to the Bay of Plenty.