DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19455, 20 December 1934, Page 10

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

FIRST MAORI WELCOME.

STOP BY THE WAYSIDE. HAKA DELIGHTS DUKE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WAIROA, Thursday. Rotorua has been superseded by the Isolated native settlement of Mahata in according the Duke of Gloucester the first Maori welcome to New Zealand. ' The Duke stopped by the wayside to receive the greetings and salutations of a group of children and adults, who performed the first haka ■he had se,en in the Dominion. It was an unrehearsed incident and not part of the official programme. The Duke was delighted with the display, and before leaving-wished the children a merry Christmas. “ The same to you, Your Highness," responded 40 juvenile voices, which then burst into enthusiastic cheers.

Welcome to Wairoa. Scheduled to reach Wairoa at 12.25 the Royal procession entered the rehabilitated town to the minute, and the Duke was given a rousing reception at the racecourse, where he inspected the assembled school groups and a parade of ex-servicemen.

The trip from Napier was without incident as far as the Royal fleet of cars was concerned. At regular intervals settlers' and children, waving flags, were passed. At the approach to a bridge at Kauwaka two returned soldiers'made an arch of Union Jacks. Effective Decorations. Wairoa’s decorations were effective, taking the form in the main street of filigree arches. ■ • Responding to the addresses of welcome His Royal Highness said the King would be glad to hear that Wairoa had been completely restored.