DUCAL TOUR ENDS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 23 March 1927, Page 9

DUCAL TOUR ENDS.

Renown Sails from Bluff. A WET LEAVE-TAKING. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, March 22. The Ducal tour, which went without a hitch from beginning to end, finished in a rainstorm at Bluff. The journey from Queenstown was uneventful. The citizens of Gere and surrounding country turned out in thousands, and gave the Duke a hearty reception, and at Invercargill Die cheery welcome was not damped by the rain that was falling. A kewpie doll and a perambulator wdie presented to the Duke for his little daughter by the boys and girls of Southland. Among those who met the Duke here ■rt'tere the Prime Minister and Mis Coates, Sir Joseph Waul, and the Hon. K. S. Williams and Mrs Williams. The Duke inspected returned soldiers, cadets, and girl guides, and seven thousand children marched past over a inuddy track while rain was falling. The departure from Bluff toolc place in a bitter rainstorm. The Duke shook haiids with the officials, journalists, itnd others who had been engaged on the Royal tour. This lie did under the shelter of the roofed railway platform. He then walked in the ram across the railway line and alolig the wharf to H.M.S. Diomede, on which the Gov-ernor-General was waiting to say fare* well. ' _ . On his reaching the deck of the cruiser, the buncl played the National Anthem, a Royal salute was fired, and the Royal standard hoisted. The Governor-General, and the Prime Minister and Mrs Coates took farewell of the Duke on hoard the Diomede. Then the Royal standard was transferred to the Harbour Board tug, on which the Royal party steamed out to the Renown, which had cccne in from Stewart Island, and appeared like a wraith ship in the murk and mist of the storm which was driving outside the harbour. The tour was at an end. It had been a great success. No untoward incident had occurred, and the weather* didn’t matter.

DUKE’S FAREWELL MESSAGE. THANKS AND APPRECIATION. By Telegraphy-Press Association. ' INVERCARGILL, March 22. Following is the Duke of York s farewell message, handed to Ilis Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) on the cvc of His Royal Highness’s departure from -Bluff: —* Bluff, 22nd March, 192/. My Dear Governor-General — The time has come when, to the very great regret of the Duchess and myself, we must say “Good-bye to New Zealand. Wc have had a wonderful time, and it is difficult toi find words in which adequately to axpress our thanks to all those who have contributed to the comfort and enjoyment of ourselves and staff. To yourself personally, and tci Her Excellency, wc are greatly indebted lor your kindness and hospitality. Our deep gratitudo is also due to tlm Prime Minister and to the Dominion Government for their most gfcncraus hospitality, and for the j-rcat care and consideration with which they planned and arranged the whole of our tour. When all the Government services have done so much for us, it is difficult to single out auy for special mention, but I should like to .place on record my keen appreciation of tho services rendered by the Railway, Post Office, Transport and Police Departments. We are deeply sensible of tho trouble taken, and preparations made by the Mayors and Cither local authorities in connection with our reception at every place where we have stopped. The wonderful enthusiasm and the warm-hearted welcome with which wo have everywhere been greeted by the members of both races, havo greatly moved us. It was made plain.- on every occasion that that enthusiasm sprang from the,spirit of intense loyalty which characterises the people of New Zealand. It was the same spirit which animated those ■men, and women who served in the Great War, so many of whom we have had the good fortune to meet during our tour, , ■ I desire also to take -his opportunity to thank the representatives of the New Zealand Press for tho consideration and courtesy which they displayed at all times. It was ft most bitter disappointment to the Duchess and myself that she was • unablo to accompany me on the South Island tour. I trust that on Some future occasion she may ho able to visit with me those districts which she was unfortunately prevented from ■ visiting this time. So long as we live, we shall always carry with us the happiest memories; of our visit to New Zealand, of the deep-rooted loyalty of its people to King and • Empire; ,of the striking likeness of the country tci Home in its natural characteristics and devotion to the same ideals; of the natural resources of the Dominion, and the • great potentialities of its agricultural and commercial industries, some of which I was srV glad, to visit; of the beauty and variety of its scenery, and the. magnificent opportunities for sport of all kinds; of the interesting Maori' life and customs, and of the harmonious - relations existing between the two taces; and one of the most vivid memories of all—the smiling faces and sturdiness of the children, who everywhere greeted us in their thousands. Once more we thank you all from the bottom of our. hearts, and send New Zealand, its Government, and its people our best wishes for thencontinued welfare and prosperity.— I am, yours very sincerely, Albert.

.To this the Governor-General replied as follows : His Jtcfval Highness the Duke of York, —I have the honour, with my humble duty, to acknowledge and to thank your Royal Highness for your most gracious letter, which wijj go to the hearts of all who road it. No greater pleasure can ho given to the people of New Zealand than the assurance that your Royal Highnesses have enjoyed the tour through tho Dominion, ‘ and have realised tho depth and sincerity of the loyalty of its people, and, I would add, the personal affection which vour Royal Highnesses have inspired. On behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand, I wish your Royal Highnesses all health and success during the remainder of the tour, and all happiness in your return - Homo on its conclusion. ’(Signed) Charles Eergusson, Gov-ernor-General.

PRIME -MINISTER PLEASED. By Telegraph—Press Association. INVERCARGILL, March 22. Interviewed this evening by the Press Association representative, the Prime Minister said: “The visit to the Dominion of their Royal Highnesses the Duke ud

Duchess of York has been a great honour and pleasure to the people of New Zealand. It has been, I know, a tremendous disappointment to those in the South Island that indisposition prevented Her Royal Highness from taking part in the southern portion of the tour, but I fee! sure that we all recognise how impossible this would have been in the circumstances. We are mdst thankful that she has sufficiently recovered to proceed to Australia. We all fully appreciate how exacting the duties of their Royal Highnesses must have been, more particularly on account of the strenuous and continuous travelling that had to be undertaken. The tour, although trying from this point of view, has however, been remarkably successful ih every way. This has been fully shown by the spontaneous enthusiasm with which their Royal Highnesses have everywhere been received throughout the country. The civic and local authorities are deserving of the highest praise for the assistance they gave in receiving and entertaining our Royal guests, whilst tho officials connected with tho arrangtnxeiiis ot in'.: unu are to ire Con alimented upon the efficiency of their worm It remains on. v i<r be said , that the memory of this Royal visit win Ue treasured. Dy all, and more particularly by the rising generation, in whom their Royal Highnesses on all occasions have taken the keenest interest.

MAORI FAREWELL. By Telegraph—Press Association. OPOTIKI, March 22. Tho Hon. Sir Maui Pomare to-day forwarded to the Secretary to His Royal Highness tho Duke of York the following message:— “WjU you kindly convey to their Royal Highnesses the-following message from tho Maori people: ‘Hairae re e, te kotuku rerenga talii mo to kaliurangi karnehameha. Kia ora.’ ” Tho translation is :—“Farewell to you; the snow white crane which flies but once in a lifetime, and tci your priceless garment of heaven. Good lnck.”