ROYAL TOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 March 1927, Page 11

ROYAL TOUR.

PEMBROKE TO QUEENSTOWN. DUKE GOES FISHING. By Telegraph—l'ress Association. QUEENSTOWN, March 21. At a very early hour to-day. the Duke of York .went fashing, but ihero was a cold wind and an overcast sky. It was a day on which not even the most enterprising of hungry trout could be expected to rise to the most tempting Jly, yet one fash, a little more venturesome and unguarded than his fellows, did succumb to ibe u;Hes of an angler and was duly landed. The Duke, whose keenness and persistency in the geutlo art certainly deserved a bet for reward, has been singularly unlucky in the conditions prevailing. During the night there was heavy rain at Rembroke, and more snow on (lie heights, so that the great mountains beyond tho lakes were seen to best advantage in their winter garb. Owing to the snowfall having made the Crown Range road difficult, the route to Queenstown had to be diverted to the low level road down the valley of Iho Clutha almost to Cromwell, and thence via the bare wails of the Kawarua Gorge, in which the convoy halted to enable the Duke to have lunch. The visitors were interested m the old gold workings of tho famous river, along the banks of which now there is little life.

Good time was made to Queenstown, which was reached just before four o’clock. The reception was held in the Park, winch, with its tall trees framing glimpses of the surrounding snoweiad mountains, was as beautiful a setting as could well bo imagined. There .was a cold wind from tho whitened tfanks of the long Ben Lomond ridge, and most people were ovcr-coated. The Duke drove off toi his hotel to the accompaniment of cheering. This evening there js a social gathering of residents, and to-morrow at 8 a.in. tho Duke will leave by steamer lor Kingston, where ho wiSf rejoin the Royal train at 9.45 a.in. ’There will be brief half'* and ceremonies at Lumsden, Gore, .Invercargill, find BIMf. At the latter Mr and Airs Coates will bid good-bye to Hit; Royal Highness who will then embark on H.AI.S. Diomede to rejoin the Renown, wh’l.-li will be anchored off Paterson Inlet, Stewart Island.

DUCHESS LEAVES “WELLINGTON. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 21. Although no notice was given of the hour of the Duchess’s departure, a surprisingly large crowd found its way to the waterfront. Her Highness embarked at 9.45 p.ra. and was greeted with much cheering. The Mayor and Mayoress, on behalf of the City, formally ianweeded her on board the Renown, and presented a basket of flowers. Expressing her thanks, the Duchess said she feJt well and would be quite able to carry out the . Australian part of the tour. She had been deeply touched by the concern the people had displayed, and was exceedingly disappointed that she bad been unable to visit the South Island. The Renown moved away at 10 o’clock, just as heavy rain came on. There was further cheering and spot fights from the cruiser tapped out farewell messages to the waving of handkerchiefs. Final'y the shin gathered way, and disappeared to the accompaniment of thunder aud lightning, but still small kuotbs of people had hung on to see the very last of her.

SECRETARY’S BAG STOLEN. By T«lecrsph—Press Association, DUNEDIN, March 21. According to the “Star's ' reporter with the Royal train, a bag containing a number of valuable papers, belonging to one of His Royal Highness’s private secretaries, disappeared at Dunedin, this being the first occasion throughout the tour that anything has been missed. Several detectives spent a busy time attempting to trace the property, but it is understood the quest was in vain. At first it was surmised that the bag had gone astray or had been forwarded by mistake to Rembroke, but it is now believed it was stolen shortly after the Royal train arrived. The individual responsible was certainlv da'ing, ms all luggage had been carefully guarded by a small army of detectives, policeman aud railway officials.