YOUTHS’ GREETING

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1935, Page 4

YOUTHS’ GREETING

CHILDREN AT PARK GATHERING OF OVER 800 RAIN AFFECTS NUMBERS 560 ON SPECIAL TRAINS

The visit of the Duke was keenly anticipated for weeks by school children throughout Taranaki. With that knowledge in view full preparations had been made for a parade of 1600 children from the schools of North and Central Taranaki. The heavy downpour of rain early yesterday morning resulted, however, ip the parade not reaching the proportions originally arranged for. Nevertheless there can be no doubt that the visit of Prince Henry will remain long in the memory of the children who saw him. The marshalling and control of the 80!) children inspected by the Duke was unmarred by any break in the smooth running of the organisation. Many conflicting reports were current early in the morning without any authoritative foundation. First it was' rumoured that there would be no parade and then that the gathering would take place in Devon Street. Consequently the attendance at the Technical school buildings, the rallying point, was meagre to begin with. When the weather remained fine, however, there was a large muster of pupils from all town, schools and it was a very orderly procession that marched to the park under the guidance of Mr. O. Johnson, teachers and committeemen.

The support given the special trains from Waitara and Central Taranaki was not as great as was anticipated,_ the heavy rains overnight and the possibilities of a wet day causing many people to cancel the trip. Provision was made for the carriage of 1000 children and parents but only something more than half that number made the journey to New Plymouth. The first party of visitors arrived on the special train from Stratford shortly after 8 o’clock. Consisting of 19 carriage? capable of carrying 600 or 700 passengers the train had 185 adults and 249 child* ren aboard. The second train brought 130 parents and children from Waitara and intermediate stations. Provision had been made for 300 passengers.

EFFICIENT MARSHALLING. There was a complete lack of confusion after the arrival of the trains. Acting under instructions, the children remained in the carriages and under the supervision of Messrs. W, Wagstaff, G. H. Pope and assistants they were efficiently marshalled into fours and marched to their positions at Pukekura Park. The organisation was perfect and. within a few minutes of the arrival of the trains the platform was cleared. The children were drawn up in orderly lines across the sportsground in front of the stand and there was tremendous excitement when the Duke descended and walked through the lines. Such closeness to the - King’s third son was, .they considered, worth jail the tiresome train journeys and long periods of standing. required. When the ’moment for which all had waited so long was past and the Duke had departed for Brooklands, the . dispersal of the 800 children was as orderly as the concentration had been. Separate schools broke off. at the park gates and all were clear in a very few minutes. The depot at the, Technical school buildings, controlled by Mrs. H. W. Insull, was a clearing house where parent? collected their children and, the Duke’s visit over, many of the visiting parties left to spend the rest of the day at Kawaroa Park or Moturoa. The lest children department had very little to do Only one child was reported missing and even while investigations were in progress the child was found. First aid attention was needed for three children, all boys, who were temporarily overcome by the heat but all revived rapidly. The whole parade was extremely satisfactory after the disappointing nature of the early morning weather. The children from outside New Plymouth and the Scouts and Cubs were provided with tickets entitling them to refreshments at restaurants in the town

THROUGH DESPITE SLIP TRAIN KEEPS SCHEDULE. WELCOMES IN THE RAIN. The journey of the Royal train from National Park to Waiongona was completed exactly to schedule, the latter sta - tion being reached at 8.45 a.m. It was a notable performance reflecting credit on Mr. H. H. Sterling, chairman of the. Railways Board, and the train and maintenance staffs. Heavy rain throughout the night had; caused the railway authorities some anxiety lest it should be impossible to getthe train through. Slips occurred during; the night between the Whangamomona station and tunnel, some of the ballasting being washed away, but gangs set to work immediately with the result tliat the line was cleared in time for the passage of the Royal train. The wholelength of line was closely patrolled to ensure safety end, though it had to slow down twice, the train got through to Tangarakau without stopping and. took m water. At Waiongona the only witnesses of the train’s arrival appeared to be the occupants of two motor-cars on the road, but earlier in the morning, when passing through Stratford, the Duke was welcomed separately by two enthusi* astic early risers. The first was a working man who, crouched beneath a hedge sheltering from the heavy rain, waved his hat as the train went by.