DUKE AND DUCHESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19768, 16 February 1927, Page 7

DUKE AND DUCHESS

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND GREAT HARBOUR DISPLAY SAFEGUARDS ON THE BAILWAYS t Special to “ Chronicle. ** ] AUCKLAND, Feb. 15. It is expected that H.M.S. Renown, with the Duke and Duchess of York on , board, will enter Auckland Harbour at I half past eight on Tuesday morning i next. « • In spite of the early hour, yachting people are making arrangements to give the Royal guests just such another aquatic welcome as that with which the Prince of Wales was so pleased when he came in the same gigantic battleship. With yachts on one side and launches on the other, the big ship should make a fine sight, and from the strangers 7 point of view nothing could be prettier than the fluttering sails and darting motor launches should be if the weather is at all true to February’s reputation. After coming to anchorage in the stream, the Renown will be boarded at 9.15 a-m. by His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson), and ten minutes Ibter the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, and other Ministers of tho Crown will go aboard and be presented. Their Highnesses will land at 10 o’clock. Train Arrangements. Some of tho busiest men in the Dominion during the last week or two have been the railway men who have been arranging the Royal tour as far as transport by train is concerned. A complete system of signalling between the pilot train and the “Royal” has been provided for and similar arrangements have been made for communicating with the Royal Special. That is to say, if anything goes wrong ahead, those in charge of the Royal train are immediately notified. Not the slightest risk of any mishap will be taken in connection with the Royal train, and this entails two others. That is to say, three trains are to be used. First there is what is termed the “pilot” train, which travels a quarter of an hour ahead of tho Royal train, after which comes what is termed the “Royal Special.” This train travels a quarter of an hour behind the Boyal train. Every Care Taken. The Duke and Duchess leave Auckland at 9.30 aan. on Saturday February 26 and every mile of track between here and Rotorua will be patrolled by gangers and platelayers a little while before the train passes over it. Every bridge, railway crossing and culvert will have to be specially examined by experts and each of the structures and railway crossings will be guarded. The same precautions will bo taken with every railway yard and station, whether in ordinary times or not there is an official on duty. The heads of the various departments of the railways will travel on the pilot train, whilst it is understood that Mr Jones, chairman of the Railways Board, will travel with their Highnesses. Those on the Royal Special will be the rank and file of the New Zealand Police Force, numbering about 90 strong. • A NAVAL WELCOME FOB ROYAL TOURISTS' RETURN BRITISH AND FRENCH FLEETS LONDON, February 14. It is understood that if the present plans mature, the Duke and Duchess of York’s home-coming will be most memorable. Not since the early days of tho Entente Cordiale has a representative fleet of French warships visited Britain, but negotiations are now going on for France’s best squadron to cruise i at the chief ports about June. A happy suggestion is now being considered to have a huge assemblage of French and British warships at Portsmouth on June 27 to give a majestic welcome to the Renown.