NORTH ISLAND TOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 7

NORTH ISLAND TOUR

COMPLETION BY PRINCEWAIBAHAPA ENTHUSIASM INTEREST IN . CHILDREN MASTERTON’S RECEPTION

? 1 By Telegraph—Press Association. ’ Wellington, Last Night. Marking the completion of his North Island tour, the Duke of Gloucester’s visit to the Wairarapa was eminently successful. Woddville lost itself in enthusiasm and its juvenile population will never forget the moment When the Duke, smiling as he always does in the presence of youngsters, walked the station platform so that several hundred boys and girls drawn from Woodville and surrounding districts should have their greatest wish gratified—a good view of the Prince. It is typical of the interest that the Dyke of Gloucester takes in children that on every available opportunity he goes out of his way to ensure that the rising generation of the Dominion sees th® man' who subscribed himself as “its affectionate friend." Woodville’s welcome received unsolicited aid from a band of Bible class students, who from the carriage roofs of the Wellington express sang and led. some cheering. ' As has been the case previously, th® countryside followed the passage of the Royal train with intense interest, and at every place where the rail paralleled the road enthusiastic groups waved greetings. From his uncurtained window in the observation car at the end of: the train the Duke returned th® saliitation. . The reception at Masterton was tumultuous and evidently impressed His Highness, who voiced the hope that Royal visits would bring home to all New Zealanders the personal feelings of kinship and affection with which they were regarded by members of his family and th* people of Britain.

DUKE PLANTS OAK TREE. Before leaving the public park the Duke planted an oak tree. In the same plot a similar ceremony was performed by the Prince of Wales and the Duke of l York. ■-, • • As the Duke was returning to the dajs after planting the oak tree he was met by two Maori women one of whom, Princess Arapera Hawea, Gladstone, presented him with a handsome taiaha. The tajaha was an heirloom of the Ngati Kahungunu tribe and was used in the Maori wajs. It had been handed down I from generation to generation and had never left the family. The presentation was made on behalf of the sub-tribe Ngaituhu. The name of; the taiaha is Makukea, which was the name of the great-grandmother of the princess who made the presentation. Near at. hand was a little girl in an invalid bed, and spectators were moved deeply when His Highness stopped to have a few cheerful words with her. At hifl own instigation the Duke paid a surprise visit to the public hospital and spent 15 minutes talking to patients. In the maternity ward, he saw .three babies and. spoke to their mothers. Great crowds swarmed at the station to cheer the train on the final lap of its journey. The Duke reached Lambton at 7.15 p.m. and sails aboard H.M.A.S. Australia at 4 a.m. to start his southern toyr. From Picton His Highness motors at 10.15 a.m. bn Saturday to Blenheim, en route to Havelock and Nelson. He will spend the week-end at Nelson.

• 1000 MILES IN ROYAL TRAIN. SCHEDULE STRICTLY KEPT. \ With the arrival of the Royal train rat Lsmbton station at 7.15 to-night a total rail mileage of 946 miles has been covered since the start of the tour. This is an average of 45 miles a day since December. The two AB engines which were attached to the train were taken off at Cross Creek on the journey from the Wairarapa and replaced by five Fell engines tor the three-mile climb up the 1 in 14 grade on the centre rail to the summit. The train was taken to Wellington from the summit by a single WW locomotive. Great interest in the operation of the eerjtre rail-gripping Fell engines was displayed by His Highness, who at Cross Creek watched the hitching up process while Mr. H. H, Sterling explained the details. Throughout the trip the train has run strictly to schedule, and with the exception of th® Rimutaka incline only two locomotives have been required. Several thousand people lined the lipe from Lambton station to the Pipitea wharf, where the train drew up alongside H.M.A.S. Australia.