OUR ROYAL VISITOR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 18 March 1927, Page 8

OUR ROYAL VISITOR.

THE DUKE IN DUNEDIN. W ARM RECEPTION IN THE SOUTHERN CITY. By Telegraph—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 17. Last evening thousands of people stood lor. hours in a cold wind waiting tor a passing glimpse of the Duke, and to-day' thousands more have greeted him under more cheering circumstances. A new element came into yesterday s welcome. At one stage the ltcjal carnage Avas pelted Avitii ttreameis, throAvn bv girls and men ironi both sties of the street. The Duke and his equerry, entering into the spuit oi the tiling, caught the streamers and held them till they broke. Tor seme distance along the line oi route the Duke’s car seemed as if it wore enmeshed .lu a. gigantic rainbow- Anted spider's webb. ' . • This morning the Dunedin tvind Avas “shell,” and at intervals showers came from passing clouds, but in the alteinoon the sun again shone buginlA. The Duke, unheeding the weather, drove in ait open car from 1 enih.iU Cub to Logan Park, where the hist of the day’s lunctions was held, thousands in the grandstand cheered nun. Having reached the dais, the Miooi (Mr H. L. Tap ley), who had with him his daughtei'-in-kiAV, read an address ot welcome in .a stentorian voice, which scarcely needed Die amplifier Avhich avus in use for the occasion. The Duke, speaking distinctly and with greater fluency than usual, read his reply, expressing regret that, the Duchess amis not by Ins side, aid giving her message saying how much she herself regretted this. Her thoughts Avers Avitli them to-day. “Like flic land front which so many of your citizens are sprung,” continued the Duke, “Dunedin has always taken the lead in education, and I congratulate you on the possession oi the famous Otago University. Education and industry should go hand in hand, and I have learned with interest of the number of A’ariety of the commercial activities of the city and district.” l'he Scottish Wociet.es also presented ini address of Avelcoine, Avitli special reverence to the Duchess, as a descendant of one of the noblest ancl oldest Scottish families. The Duke revicAved the Scouts and Girl Guides, the Cub scouts giving a haka and the Cubs their “grand howL ► A feature of the Duke’s programme this morning Avas the cheery and enthusiastic welcome ho received from a thousand Varsity college students—men and Avomcu, including domestic science girls under their lady head, Professor Strong. When lie came out on the steps above the quad, the students sang their noble Varsity anthem ivith splendid effect and afterwards performed a hakaAvhich for vigour and volume of sound would not liave disgraced the TuAvharetoa Tri'be. . The Duke made a tour of the University seeing as much as possible in Ihe tune at liis disposal. There ivas the usual ragging, which the bright spirits among tiie undergraduates usually indulge in; and His "Worship the Mayor, Avhom English visitors said bore a strong resemblance to Lord Birkenhead, urns at one stage received with a barrage of sinful acorns, wliJch he smilingly ignored.

SOME ILLUSIONS. Most interesting amis a tour through the physical ‘Tab’’ where in his scarlet robe, Professor thick, who speaks English with a strong accent, acquired north of the Tweed, turned himself for the time being into a modern magician. The Duke and members of his staff took a. keen interest in a number of physical illusions and experiments. A ciog chain, which avus shot from a quickly revolving wheel, ran along tne floor like a- iioop. Colour blind spectacles mystified all who looked through them at tinted skeins of silk, and a cube dianving led to great diversity of opinion as to lioav many cubes Avere actually on the paper. The Professor said he siuv six; the Duke said : “1 see seven.” Fortunately no one saAv eight, but the Duke, in high good humour, apparently suav greater possibilities in the illusion and laughingly told the Professor that it amis a good thing lie Avas not -shoAving strange illusions after dinner! The Duke walked through the ranks of the domestic science girls and avus introduced to the lady head, Professor Strong. The students gave him a great sendoff, ivith hearty cheers for himsoll, and the Duchess, and Uirce more for their little daughter. Altogether it was a very happy and friendly meeting and farewell, and lie became a member of Die southernmost Students’ Association in the Avorld, the badge of Avhich he Avas given. The Dunedin war memorial is a very beautiful marble column standing in the midst of English trees in Queen's Gardens, Avliere is a statue o‘ the D ike’s grandmother, Queen Victoria, the foundation stoneof ivhich AA'as laid by our present King, 2(i years ago. The unveiling of ih<s monument iy Ihe Duke this afternoon was appropriately a very solemn ceremony. The Duke, immediately afte.- his arrival, proceeded to * nsp :et Die assemblage of Returned Soldiers and war veterans, after which members of the Memorial Executive were i reseutal to His Royal Highness. After a prayer and a scripture rending Die Dunodiu Pipe Rand Du'cav the stocks and ribbons of iheir pipes ever Dieir shoulders, and lioi-.'cs tlir'llod to the long drawn Availing notes of “The Flowers of the Forest,” that Highland lament the origin of which is lost in the mists of antiquity. At intervals in the wailing nine came the solemn beat of ’the drum, like the sloav distant firing of a Royal salute. Among the old Scottish men and women present aaTio had lost brave Eons at the Avar there were feAv if any dry eyes as the thrilling tune died aAvay and the R igle Band of the Second Cadet Battalion of the Otago Regiment sounded "he sad notes of the Last Post and Dien blew the reveille.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY. TRIBUTE FROM IRISHMEN. By Telegr»->h—Press Association. DUNEDIN, March 17. The Duke of York to-day received an address from Dunedin citizens of Irish birth, Avhich stated that the day on which Dunedin Avas honoured by the presence of His Royal Highness happened to be St. Patrick’s Day. " The circumstance prompted them to offer, on behalf of their felloiv citizens of Irish birth and descent, a special expression of the Avc’come that all citizens of Dunedin were proud and happy to offer./ Men and AVonien of Irish birth and descent Avere deeply sensible of the freedom and happiness they enjoy as subjects of His Majesty, and assured His Royal Highness of their earnest attachment to the institutions under Avhicli they had the privilege to live, and of their confident hope that the visit of His Royal Highnesses ivould preserve and strengthen those ties that blind together the widely-scattered commonwealth of nations of which ills Majesty is head. As a memento of the St. Patrick’s Day spent amongst them; they offered a harp of Erin, a very artistic bit of decorative carved furniture in miniatura.