FORMER ROYAL VISIT

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 11 (Supplement)

FORMER ROYAL VISIT

JUDGE’S IMPRESSIONS

(By RE.C.) Sixty-five years ago last April the first member of the Royal Family to visit New Zealand, the late Duke of Edinburgh, landed at Wellington. The following details of his visit are from a letter written by the late Judge Alex J. Johnston, for many years a notable figure on the Supreme Court Bench. Judge Johnston’s letter was written to his sister, the wife of Archdeacon Brown, Tauranga, aunt of Mr. E. Maxwell, Rahotu, who was one of the “children” referred to by the Judge and who has a clear recollection of the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh at Wellington. The letter was dated Wellington, April 21, 1869, and gave the following particulars:—

"It was not till Sunday the 11th precisely at noon that the Galatea anchored opposite to our windows on a thick hazy day. The Duke, visited first by the Governor’s A.D.C., Captain Pitt, sent word he would not land even privately until Monday, as he wished to finish his English letters to -go by the Alhambra next day. The Governor went aboard in the afternoon and found him in a very amiable mood. Everything was arranged for his State landing at half past 11 on Monday the 12th. “On that day the wharf up to the 2nd cross was lined with volunteers and cadets, and just opposite the landing place a large body of Maoris were squatted. The various public bodies Masonic masons, Oddfellows etc., were mustered along the streets in order of procession, the carriages drawn up opposite the front of the wharf—the Reception Committee at the same place, and stands for ladies at the spot where the address was to be read by the Superintendent. These were the writer’s mother, Minna, Euphemia (the Judge’s sister) and her children. Just as the Prince left the Galatea in his boat—the Governor accompanied by three Ministers, myself (in wig, gown and knee breeches) and the Superintendent walked up the wharf to the top of the indicated landing steps. (Fletcher (the Judge’s son) and Howard Stafford in tartan followed us).' The weather was pretty fair at this time and the scene was exciting; and as the Royal Standard floating at the stem of the Duke’s boat was discernible behind the further tee the Maoris began to get very excited, ■and as the boathook seized the steps, the “haere mai” was very picturesque. As the Duke touched the steps, three British cheers were given by the volunteers. At th® top of the steps six or seven of us were in a semi-circle. The Duke bows to all. The Governor presents his Ministers, myself and the Superintendent by name and office, while the volunteers salute and the artillery on the reclaimed land fire their salvo. The little procession, accompanied by the two equerries, the Hon. Elliot Yorke and Mr. Haigh, with Mr. Chevalier, artist, attached, proceeds to the shore end of the wharf, close by the ladies and Reception Committee. “Dr. Featherston (the Superintendent) stops and turns towards the Prince, round whom we cluster, and reads the address from the inhabitants of the Province (the address was written by me and was elegantly illuminated). Featherston reads the address and the Duke (who by the way was dressed in plain morning dress, and fascinated everyone at first sight by his sweet smile and beautiful eyes) read from a very clearly written paper his prepared answer, rather tremulously and as if he did not like the job. An address from the Maoris was also presented, to which an answer was pronounced, and then after sufficient cheering, the Duke took his seat in the Governor’s open carriage along with the Governor, the Commodore and Yorke; the Governor’s A.D.C.’s, Captain Pitt and Smith made one on each side. The next carriage contained the Ministers—the next was mine. I had Crawford with me in uniform as Sheriff and took Mr. Haigh (the Prince’s equerry, and Mr. Chevalier (the Swiss artist who is attached to the Duke) in my carriage. Fletcher in tartan was on the box. The procession went round by the Bank of New Zealand and all along Lambton Quay to Government House, where 1500 children sang the National Anthem—then returned to a field in the neighbourhood and had ginger beer and buns.

“An hour’s respite and the levee took place, the Duke in full uniform there and wearing the ribbon and star of the Garter. Those who, like myself, had the entree were presented to the Duke in Stafford’s room and we went with him into the House of Representatives, where my Court chair furbished tip and with my Royal Arms over it under a canopy played the part of Throne. Minna, Grannie and Euphemia were in the gallery and saw the Prince well and near, while he received the inhabitants of the Province—a large proportion of whom passed through the room as if the acme of etiquette was that they should entirely ignore the presence, of the Prince, or at least should not dare to look at him.

“Shortly after the levee, the Prince, in wideawake and shooting jacket, was riding up the Karori Road to Makara. At half past seven sharp he came into the drawing room at Government House and I found my allotted place was exactly opposite to him—the table not being very broad. Frequently during the commencement of dinner our eyes met, and certainly there is something extremely touching in the expression of his eyes. Shortly after an animated conversation with the Governor we got into talk across the table, our first subject being Professor Brassen who taught me French as well as the Royal Family and who is a great favourite of theirs; then Deeside and the Queen; old women whom he had visited during his last stay at home, became the subjects of talk, and. some capital anecdotes he told very well. In fact I was quite surprised to find in so young a man so great ease of conversation in general society. There were only eight visitors besides the suite at dinner. The Commodore told us he had never seen the Prince so perfectly at his ease among strangers. We sat at table till 10 and then I drove home with Euphemia and her children and Fletcher, who had already been out an hour seeing fireworks and iUuminations.

“Next morning, after many delays, a Maori War Dance was got up at the Thomdon Barracks, and the Prince, on his way to the Hutt and Ludlam’s and Lowry Bay, drove up the Barrack paddock (now Fitzherbert Terrace) four-in-hand in a style that proved him to be a masterly imd fearless “whip.” The weather turned out so bad that the Royal Party could get little notion of the scenery, and they returned home thoroughly soaked. “Wednesday was the day of the Ball, much of the bother of which fell to my share. But on the whole it was an unquestionable success. I won’t attempt particulars, but send you an Independent account of it, which of course is to be taken with much allowance. At the

supper Minna was near him. I was vicepresident. “On Friday the Duke gave lunch to a number of the principal Maoris aboa*£ the Galatea (by. the way there were 33 Maori men and women at the Ball—well dressed and well behaved); and although the admission of the public to the ship was postponed, Euphemia with her children had on the invitation of the driplain got on board, and saw a good , deal of the Prince then. About' 1000 persons went later in the day; In the afternoon HJldi. showed himself at a nopular picnic on the way to Crawford’s Peninsula (now the suburb of Miramar), where he despatched a wild boar or pig to give him an appetite for dinner. “I had the honour of sitting on his right at dinner, and he was very pleasant, though scarcely so much so as the first night. After dinner he went on board in a tremendous shower, and -the Governor got on board on. Saturday morning by eight, and off they went for Queen Charlotte Sounds and Nelson. On the whole I believe that notwithstanding the weather he really enjoyed his visit. We expect the Duke back for a couple of days in the end of the month.”

The letter closes with paragraphs showing how concerned Judge Johnston felt in regard to the position with the Maoris. Dr. Featherston wished the Duke 'to visit the disturbed area, but the judge war. very doubtful of the wisdom of this course and ultimately the idee wa« abandoned.