AFFECTION FOR PRINCE

Taranaki Daily News, 28 December 1934, Page 7

AFFECTION FOR PRINCE

DUKE AND THE CHILDREN MEMORABLE DAY AT AUCKLAND. WHOLE PROVINCE REPRESENTED. FOOT STILL CAUSING TROUBLE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Dec. 27. Drawn from all over the Auckland province, several thousand children assembled in the Domain to-day and extended a Royal welcome to the Duke of Gloucester. Although the ceremony was impressive, it lacked the inspiration of the memorable Wellington juvenile demonstration, mainly because of the impression that the youngsters were kept under too rigid control by the authorities and had been warned against breaking their ranks. Nevertheless the domain reverberated with the thunder of the cheering called for by the marshal at the termination of the demonstration. _ . _ Wide public interest was manifested in the event, there being fully 10,000 adults in attendance. The lawns of the Domain were a colourful human mantle from the folds of which tiny Union Jacks waved and fluttered, gloves and sticks twisted and turned, and hands rose high, all in acclamation, and to express again Auckland’s affection for the King’s third son.

A picturesque touch was added by the gaily uniformed members of the Auckland Girts’ Athletic Association, who in a series of perfectly timed movementsgave an outstanding exhibition of physical exercises.

With his foot encased in a large slipper and limping noticeably, the Duke of Gloucester slowly ascended the steps to the dais and there, with his injured foot resting on a raised cushion, watched, with smiling interest the flag-waving of the'tiny tots and acknowledged the greetings of Auckland’s citizens of to-mor-row. DRIVE AMONG CHILDREN. In his open car and travelling at a snail's pace he passed through the ranks, much to the delight of the children, who clearly at a word of command would have broken their ranks on the return journey, when their enthusiasm had reached the limit of control. In view of his foot injury the Duke did not address the children. Although to-day there was a slight improvement in the state of the Duke’s injured foot, His Highness, taking no risks, gave it a maximum of rest in compliance with medical advice to rest his foot as much as possible. The Duke reluctantly cancelled his visit to the meeting of the Auckland Trotting Club at Epsom this afternoon. After attending the children’s rally he returned to Goyermnent House, having no other engagements to ftdfil until the garden, party late in the afternoon. His Highness remained seated on a chair on the lawn where the guests were presented to him. To-night he attended a private dinner at the Northern Club. A special New Year’s message to the children, to be published in the news■papers on Monday, will be signed by the .Duke and duplicated .copies of the document, as autographed, will be available for presentation to schools. This souvenir remembrance to the children of the Dominion is typical of the Duke of Gloucester’s unfeigned interest, in the juvenile population.