THE ROYAL VISITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume 117, Issue 19474, 14 January 1935, Page 8

THE ROYAL VISITOR.

SOUTHLAND VISIT. LOYAL DEMONSTRATION. RECEPTION IN INVERCARGILL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, Sunday. There was an impressive element in the quality of the receptions accorded to the Duke of Gloucester in Southland. From this southernmost part of the Empire he received full-throated welcomes and gestures of loyalty and affection. ■ • ■ • ■ Incidentally, the Invercargill people, about 20,000-of whom participated in the city street and park demonstration, had an exceptional opportunity of seeing His Royal Highness at close range, as his walk to the dais in the gardens, where the main function was held, was along a pathway fully a quarter of a mile in length. A full pipers’ hand escorted him to the civic stand. . The setting was both colourful -and picturesque, with brilliant sunshine orightening the scene. The Prince acknowledged the.- -salutations while three aeroplanes, flying in formation, circled overhead.

Wreath Deposited. On his way to the gardens the Duke had deposited a wreath at the base of the war memorial. He paused at the lower step to write and sign a short inscription on the accompanying card. The impressiveness of the brief ceremony was accentuated when the Duke, as he walked slowly back to his waiting car, turned and paused for a moment’s contemplation of the memorial statue. “ My brothers have made me familiar with the beauties and fertility of Southland,” he said, when replying to the welcome. “ I am glad to have this opportunity o'! admiring them myself and meeting the Southland people.” Through more lanes of cheering adults and children His Royal Highness motored in an -open car to Kew, where he laid the foundation-stone of the new hospital, which, according to a statement made by the Minister of Health, the Hon. J. A. Young, is estimated to cost £II,OOO. Peals from the Presbyterian Church bells marked the Duke’s return to the station, where he rejoined the Royal train. The journey to Lumsden was cancelled and the train remained overnight at Waikiwi. Before dining on the train the Prince took his dogs for a brisk walk. In the evening he motored to town and spent an informal quarter of an hour with members -of the Invercargill Returned Soldiers’ Association. An appropriate prelude to Invercargill’s outstanding welcome was the splendid demonstration at Gore earlier in the afternoon.

ARRIVAL AT QUEENSTOWN. TRIP ON LAKE WAKATIPU. IMPRESSED WITH SCENERY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) QUEENSTOWN, Monday. The Royal train completed its' Anal journey for the Duke of Gloucester’s tour, with its arrival at Kingston this morning from Invercargill. ' Throughout the trip the train’s passage had been cheered at each station passed, there being an especially large gathering of young and old at Lumsden, where a stop was made for water. His Royal Highness left the carriage to give his dogs, Digger and Sally, a brief walk and remained at the door of the compartment when the train moved off, to acknowledge the salutations and say good-night to the people on the station.

In dull, although not unpleasant weather the steamer Lake Wakatipu made the trip to Queenstown. The water was rather choppy but the passage was excellent. His Royal Highness, who yesterday saw a portion of the lake from the air, found much to interest him this morning in the rugged beauty of the mountain arms of the lake as well as the expanse of deep blue water itself. He spent some time at the boat rails photographing the surroundings. Queenstown’s welcome was in harmony with the other receptions the Duke has been accorded in New Zealand, an interesting feature being the escorts provided by large launch parties from the wharf. Replying to the welcome His Royal Highness said he was delighted to visit the far-famed beauties of Lake Wakatipu, as well as to meet the people of the district.-

In the forenoon he left by car for Pembroke en route to Mount Cook Hermitage, 'where he is due at seven to-night.

RIDE ON JIGGER. DUKE’S STRENUOUS EXERCISE. DIVERSION FOR STAFF. INVERCARGILL, Sunday. A merry romp with a railway jigger this evening provided Prince Henry and members of his staff with much entertainment and demanded- from them a great -deal of exertion. It occurred at the Waikhvi railway siding, on the outskirts of Invercargill. When His Royal Highness returned from the beach to the Royal train, which was pulled up at the siding, he lingered in the open air with his dogs. A railway jigger came along, and he stopped it. Then, with all the joy of a hoy on holiday, he said he would like to try it. lie inlisted Major-General Howard Vyse and Captain Kerr as his crew, and the three set off up the line, unaware that by chance they were following a pilot jigger that carried a red flag at tiie prow. Never before has a New Zealand railway jigger been propelled 'by such a crew. They laughed and shouted and, not having quite the hang of the synchronising system of pulling, got very red in Ihe face as they sped up the line. Apart from a few people on the roadside near by, the only audience was the people of the Royal train and ils crew.

DUKE’S AIR MAIL. AUCKLAND TO INVERCARGILL. 'PROMPTNESS OF DELIVERY. INVERCARGILL, Sunday. Landed in Auckland yesterday morning, English air mail for the Duke of

Gloucester was opened and read by His Royal Highness in Invercargill at 7.45 o’clock last evening. The mail, which contained letters and several packages, left London on December 22, and was delivered at Auckland by the Mariposa at 6.35 yesterday morning. It was picked up at 9.40 by Flight-Lieutenant Wallingford, after having been taken to the Mangere aerodrome by motor-oar, and flown post-haste to Invercargill. The trip was uneventful and occupied eight and a-half hours of actual flying time. Refuelling stops were made at Palmerston North and the Wigram aerodrome, ■ Christchurch. Slight head winds were encountered most of thexway.

The aeroplane arrived at Invercargill at 7.30 and the mail was taken by the Royal train at Waikiwi, being delivered to His Royal Highness within a few minutes of its arrival. •

PRINCE’S FLIGHT. I TWO HOURS IN AIR. SOUTHLAND SCENIC BEAUTY. (By Telegraph.—Press association.) INVERCARGILL, Sunday. Making his first aeroplane flight in New Zealand, the Duke of Gloucester, in a.Puss Moth service machine piloted by Flight-Lieutenant 'M. W. Buckley, flew for two hours this morning over the lakes and mountains of Southland. The weather was almost ideal for flying and held so until the return journey, when a strong westerly headwind was encountered. f The Duke, who, like the pilot, did not wear a parachute, was delighted with the flight, particularly as it afforded him an opportunity to oblain a bird’s eye view of some of the places which lay in a portion of the country concealed from his Southland route. The flying route followed by His Royal Highness took a rectangular course from the Southland Aero Club’s aerodrome, across the mountain tops towards Lake Manapouri, thence 'to Lake Te Anaif. and over Ihe beautiful Eglington Valley to Lake Wakatipu. Most 'of Ihe mountain peaks were visible and the Prince, who took his camera with him, had an unrivalled view of tlie snow peaks of Mount Aspiring, 9600 ft. high.