A ROYAL WELCOME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19774, 23 February 1927, Page 9

A ROYAL WELCOME

FOR DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOYALTY In cold, cheerless weather, the Duke and Dnchess of York yesterday forenoon were Introduced to the Dominion. H.M.S. Benown arrived at Auckland on schedule, and despite the unpleasant conditions the streets of the Queen City were thronged with dense masses of people, who accorded Their Highnesses a wonderful welcome. The Duke and Duchess could not be other than impressed by the warmth and sincerity of the loyal demonstrations which greeted them at every turn.

WET AND WINTRY A CHEERLESS MORNING. RAIN MAES CEREMONY. , (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. Despite a certain unwonted dourness in the mood of the weather this niurning, the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York in Auckland was an event which will live long in the memories of the many t ho asanas of people privileged to witness it. The dawn broke dull and lowering, but between 7 and 8 o ’clock it seemed as if the weather would clear up for good, the sun coming through in fitful gleams. Before nine, however, rain squalls were frequent, some particularly heavy ones making those responsible for the arrangements rather fearful as to how things would pan out. However, though some further showers fell, none interfered with the actual movements connected with the ceremonial functions, which all passed off practically without a hitch. By the afternoon, when the Royal party was taken for la motor drive to view the scenic beauties in and around the city, the sun had taken command and the weather was pleasantly fine. Even the tearful mood of the skies, however, did not daunt the public, who flocked to every coign of vantage to view the arrival of H.M.S. Renown in the harbour, and thronged Queen Street and the adjoining streets from which the procession could be witnessed, while on the harbour a llarge number of yachts and other pleasure craft gave the great grey battle-cruiser a typical welcome. The ships in the harbour put out their best bunting, while largo buildings sported decorations in addition to I the general scheme of coloured festoons, land illuminated “welcome” banners and garlanded poles gave the length of Queen Street from the wharf to the Town Hall a thoroughly festive appearance. At eight o’clock a breeze came from the north-west, find the sun, striving I to break out <q£ the clouds, cast a sil--1 ver path along the waters, on which ■ hundreds of flitterinig craft were preti tily outlined. To the south heavy clouds were massed, black and ominous, and the pleasant hills and noted landmarks of the city were to be seen but dimly through the haze. Auckland was not in a smiling mood. Over at i Devonport, the warships of the New Zealand station, newly painted an] flagged from stem to stern and from deck to truck, showed brightly in their silver grey against the gloomy background. The towering mass of the Renown was well in sight from the harbour entrance, despite the poor visibility, and the great warship came smartly through Bangitoto Channel, leaving the hun- : dreds of small craft that had met her , well out in the long wake behind her. At half-past eight she came out of the I channel, a noble sight in her long sweep of silver grey, with the Royal Standard flying from her main, the White Ensign from her fore, and the Union Jack at. her stem. Her First View of Auckland. At this stage a dainty blue-cl figure emerged from a door on the starboard side on the deck, just at the head of the quarter deck companion ladder. It was the Duchess of York, and she was followed by the Duke, clad in a naval uniform. As she came to the rail, she smiled and waved greetings to the cheering Aucklanders, who I raced alongside in the faster launches ' that had managed to keep pace with the warship, while the Duke frequently ■ raised his hand to salute. At this stage there was a torrent of rain. It swept the decks of the Renown and drove the Duke and Duchess to seek cover, while the bluejackets drawn up on the fo’c’s’le head broke and ran for shelter. As the ship drew up to her anchorage and lay with her engines stilled, the fleet of launches left astern came racing up in their hundreds, making a wonderful picture as they spread out fan wise and sped into the short oncoming seas, dashing spray in high showers from their bows. The rain increased in volume, and when the anchors of the Renown went down, the rattle of the cable was almost drowned by the squalls, and the shores of the harbour and the city itself were blotted from view. This was at 8.55, but five minutes later the squall had passed over and Auckland was making an effort to smile a welcome, faint shafts of sunshine filtering through the clouds and making play on the Renown and the mosquito craft. The Duke and Dnchess were again on deck acknowledging the greetings of the thousands on the water, and launch owners adopted all kinds of ruses to get close up, running right up to the gangway. The Renown verv quickly put patrol launches over the : side, however, and the inquisitive craft ' were forced to keep a respectful dis- j

’ tJance and clear a passage for the launches which camo and went on official business. The first visit was from Commodore Swabey of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and then came the Governor-General and members of his staff, who were received by the Duke at the gangway before being escorted to the gun deck and presented to the Duchess. j Then followed a smart launch conveying the Prime Minister and members . of his Cabinet to pay their respects to L the Duke and Duchess and give them a } welcome to New Zealand. The Government’s Welcome. , Mr Coates then read the GovernHment’s address of welcome, signed by ' i the members of the Executive Council. I | lt was as follows: i We, his Majesty’s Ministers in this Dominion, offer our respectful congratulations to your Royal Highnesses on the occasion of your first visit to New Zealand. On behalf of the people of this Dominion we desire to assure your Royal Highnesses > of their strong feelings of attachment and devotion to his Gracious Majesty the King and of their unswerving loyalty to the Throne. i The visit of your Royal ’Highnesses to this distant Dominion has aroused the greatest interest and enthusiasm, and we feel sure that as you travel through the country there will be extended to you a welcome as whole-hearted as that which was accorded to their Majesties the King and Queen, and at a later date to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The people of New Zealand, of both races, recognise the great privileges they enjoy as an integral part of the British Empire, and they feel sure that your visit will still help to strengthen the ties which unite them to the Motherland. Although the stay of ycur Royal Highnesses with us will be brief, we hope it will prove enjoyable and instructive, and that you will carry back to the Motherland pleasant memories of the visit. All members of both races unite in wishing your Royal Highnesses long life, health, and happiness, and a safe return to the Homeland. Glad to be Here. The Duke replied to the Government’s address as follows: The Duchess and I sincerely thank you for your address, and I will not fail to convey to his Majesty the King the sentiments of loyalty to the Throne which you have just expressed. The day to which we have long been looking forward has at last arrived, and we shall very soon find ourselves for the first time in our lives on the soil of New Zealand and able to meet your people in their own country. Nothing could give us more pleasure than to make the acquaintance of those of whose hospitality and friendship we have heard so much. For our part we are anxious to learn something of the conditions under which they live, and the problems they have to face, so that if at any time we should be given the opportunity of furthering their interests we snail be found ready and willing to play our part and thus unite still more closely the ties which bind together New Zealand and the Mother Country. We deeply appreciate your welcome and good wishes for the success of our visit to the Dominion, and we feel sure that when we have to leave this beautiful country we shall carry away the happiest memories of our stay among you. The Governor-General and the Ministerial party having departed amid the rattling of arms and the blare of bugles, accompanied by a Royal Salute of 21 guns, the Duke and Duchess stepped out on to the quarter deck. The marines’ guard were inspected and the Royal couple descended to their launch, while the guard presented arms and the band played ‘ * God Save the King, ’ ’ ami the cannon commenced anothet salute of 21 guns. The launches of the ardent Aucklanders became so difficult to manage that they drifted right around the Royal barge, and impeded its progress for several minutes, but this was taken in good part by the Duke and Duchess at least, if it did produce signs of apoplexy on the part of some of the naval officers who witnessed the crowding from the Renown, for they smiled and waved their responses to the close .greetings with the greatest goodwill. Once clear, the Royal barge . made good way to'the landing, follow- > ed by most of the launches. Shortly before 10 o’clock the Prime 1 Minister and Ministers of the Crown returned ashore to await the arrival of the Duke and Duchess, and a few min- , utes later they were followed by the Governor-General. Harbour Board’s Address. The clock at the Ferry Buildings was ’ striking 10 when the guns of the Re- ' nown announced the departure of the ■ Duke and Duchess. Cheer after cheer ■ rent the air as the Royal barge came ' alongside and was made fast. On stepping ashore the Royal party were met by the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. Back in the dis-

tance, the guns at Albert Park came faintly above the cheering, giving a 21 gun salute. The Duke acknowledged the cheering by saluting and the Duchess, who was an obvious favourite with the crowd from the moment she stepped ashore, hugely delighted the gallery on top of the wharf buildings by waving her acknowledgement of their vociferous welcome.

Formal proceedings then commenced. After the Duke had inspected the naval guard of honour, the wives of the members of Cabinet were presented to the Duke and Duchess, the Royal party moved off to a dais erected at the entrance to Queen’s Wharf, where, after the customary formalities, the chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board (Mr H. R. MacKenzie), read an address of welcome. The address concluded:

In welcoming you at the commencement of your tour throughout the Dominion, may we express the hope that you will be favoured with everything that will conduce to your comfort and pleasure, and when the time of your departures comes, we trust that you will take away with you the happiest of recollections of your sojourn in Ao tea-Roa.

Accepting the presentation album and illuminated address, the Duke delivered the following reply:— I warmly thank you for your address and expressions of loyalty to his Majesty the King, which I will convey to him without delay. On behalf of the Duchess and myself, j I wiah to say how grateful we are for your good wishes and for the s warm welcome you have extended to us. Referring to the associations of my family with New Zealand, and with Auckland particularly, I wish to say that my father and brother have told me of the generous manner in which they were received and I entertained, and we have long look- ‘ ed forward to the time when we would be able to visit you ourselves. We have often heard of the beauty t of Auckland and its but our expectations have been more than fulfilled. Wo are indeed fortunate to begin our stay in the Dominion amid such entrancing scenery, and when we are met with ! friendship such as you have shown us this morning, we cannot but feel that our visit has begun under the happiest conditions. In conclusion I must once more thank you and wish you all prosperity and happiness.” At the Town Hall. Cheers went up for the Royal guests as the Duke resumed his seat. The ! presentation of Harbour Board members and their wives followed. After a short rest at Government . House, the Royal visitors drove by I way of Anzac Avenue, Customs Street, and Queen Street ko the Town Hall, through cheering crowds, amidst the I waving of banners and streamers from many parts of the province bearing legends conveying the warmest expressions of welcome. Queen Street was lined on either side with masts and poles swathed spirally in bands of orange and green, the centre tramway poles being similarly decorated. Returned soldiers, who paraded in strong force, lined the route of the procession from the wharf to Customs Street. From this point to the Town Hall the line of procession was roped I off, so that the way wag left clear for ; their Highnesses amidst the cheering; throngs, whose welcome certainly lacked nothing in warmth. Naval men formed the guard of honour outside the Town Hall. When the Royal party entered the Town Hall for the civic reception, the vast audience stood while the strains of the National Anthem pealed forth. The Duke and Duchess and suite, ; with Ministers of the Crown and leading officials and citizens, took their places on the stage, and an address of welcome from the City was read. Loyalty and Service. The Duke, in reply, said that the . Duchess and himself were much touched by the wonderful kindness of the . welcome received, and were delighted to have an opportunity of meeting the ( citizens of Auckland. Continuing, the Duke said he would . like on this, his first day in New Zea- j land, to address a few words not only I to the citizens of Auckland but to the - people of the Dominion. The King wished him to assure the people of the proud recollections he and rhe Queen had of their visit 26 years ago. They would never forget those happy days and the loyalty and affectionate welcome accorded them in all parts of New Zealand they visited It was a source of pride, the Duke said, that *he Duchess and himself were following in their footsteps. “The throne,” he said, “is the great bond of union between all parts of the Empire, and I know there are no more loyal people anywhere than those of New Zealand, as so nobly shown by their gallant 1 services and heroic devotion in the ’ war. ffThe Duke added that he and the Duchess specially desired to see as 1 much as possible of the children in 1 the course of their tour. i His remarks several times evoked i warm bursts of applause, especially i < when, early in his speech, he made I reference to the visit of the Prince of < Wales. i 5 The Royal party then motored back < to Government House, the Town Hall function marking the end of public 1 arrangements for the day. EXCITED CROWDS BUSH THE BABBIEBS. MANY MINOB CASUALTIES. i AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. f The breaking of the police cordon round the Town Hall entrance created an unforseen situation at the moment £ Their Royal Highnesses were taking ' < their departure at the close of the civic ( reception. For a few minutes the surg- c ing of 400 or 500 people round the t Royal car took on a serious aspect, numbers of women being crushed in the melee, which the 30 constables present were powerless to prevent. Three women and a child were car- 1 ried off from the stampeding crowd in 1 a fainting condition, and were attended by St. John ambulance officers and 1 nurses who were on duty in the hall. 1 Beyond a few bruises received in the ] crush none were much the worse for j

! I their exciting experience, the most seri- . 1 ous case being that of a woman who received slight abdominal injuries, the ; : result of her umbrella breaking against her body. Good Humoured But Rough. ■ The break through occurred just as Their Royal Highnesses were leaving the Town Hall to enter their car. In spite of their frantic efforts to keep the crowd steady, the police barrier was pressed back along the line of the footpath, and simultaneously the crowd from the opposite side of the street and from Alexandra Street poured over the roadway, pushing aside the sailors who ' tried to stem the crush in what was de- ' scribed by many women as a disgraceiful scene. | People were jostled and children ’ ■ were knocked over as the crowd surged ' I' round the Royal car, and numbers of women had their shoes and stockings cut and soiled by the trampling of heavy feet, and few escaped from the throng without bruises. Royal Smiles. Although the behaviour of the crowd ' was at times far from gentle, its intentions were always of the best, and the i final rush upon the Royal car was mado to the accompaniment of cheers and cheers of welcome. Their Royal Highnesses, who were shown into a closed car, which had been substituted for the open car owing to the downpour of rain, bowed graciously to the people, who pressed upon them, and greeted the applause with smiles. With half a dozen constables riding on the running board the car wedged j its way slowly through the concourse and proceeded to Government House i between dense lines of cheering people. ■ It was some minutes before the Prime Minister and his party could follow.

THE AUSTRALIAN TOUR IN NEW SOUTH WALES. A LABOUR PROTEST. SYDNEY, Feb. 22. Preparations for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York are well forward. They include many elaborate functions mostly confined to the city. There is some discontent owing to the country centres being cut out, but this is unavoidable owing to the shortness of time available. The day of arrival will be proclaimed a public holiday. A discordant note was struck at the conference of trade unions, the militant section carrying a resolution in favour of boycotting the Duke and Duchess of York’s visit, declaring that all the celebrations were anti-working class.

VICTORIA DISSATISFIED COUNTRY CENTRES NOT TO BE VISITED. MELBOURNE, Feb. 22. Much dissatisfaction has been caused in the country centres of Victoria over the arrangements for tho Duke of York’s visit. Of the eight days devoted to Victoria all will be spent in Melbourne and only one country centre, Ballarat, will bo officially visited, Their Highnesses calling there for half an hour en route to Adelaide.