13
OUTSIDE THE CITY HALL.
CROWD AND ROYAL GUARD.
(2)
Expectant Crowds.
In perfect unanimity, the blue- jackets and soldiers were called to attention.
Then the crowd swayed expectant- ly as the noise of an approaching motor-cycle was heard. The arrival of a Chinese detective with a Euro- Long before the anticipated time of the arrival of His Royal High-ed warning commands to be given. pean colleague in the sidecar caus- ness at the City Hall, little knots of spectators began to gather. At 10.15, a detachment of bluejackets arrived, led by a tall bearded Com- mander. The fickle sunshine glint- ed upon their polished bayonets and the brass fittings of their ac- coutrement. They lined the ap- proaches to the City Hall and the crowd watched their with intent interest.
movements
A bevy of ladies took up a posi- tion of vantage on seats to the front of the parade ground op- posite the City Hall, and employees of the various banking institutions in the vicinity forsook their desks and ledgers to watch the proceed- ings from verandahs. The rhythmic beat of drums, the skirl of pipes, and the measured tread of march- ing feet announced the arrival of the Royal guard provided by the K.O.S.B.
com-
The swing of red kilts caught the eye as the detachment swung into the square formed by the blue- jackets, and the click of heels, slap of hands on rifle butts, and the crash of arms upon the ground fol- lowed
the hoarsely-shouted mands as the guard came to atten- tion at the halt, turned right and formed two-deep, ordered arms and stood easy.
A brief respite, and then came a slight shuffling in the centre of the lines as the guard were called to attention and
dressed by the right.'
Salutes Exchanged.
Present Ar-r-r-ms!" "Swish! Click! Slap!"
As one man, the guard became galvanised into action, sloped arms, and stood steady, awaiting the next command.
Four Big Cars.
Almost silently, it seemed, four big cars swung into the square. Guards were called to attention as a tall, blue-sashed figure clad in white uniform, bedecked | medals, stepped out of the leading with car, accompanied by llis Excellency the Governor, their Aides-de-Camp, and Chiefs of Staffs.
clashed
Came another command, rifles as the Guard presented Royal salute, and then the band arms, the colours were lowered in
crashed forth the strains of the National Anthem.
The Duke had arrived. Followed
an inspection of the Guard, and then the party entered the City Hall for the presentations of addresses of welcome.
The electric candelabra caused the gold braid of the naval and military officers on the platform to glitter and added brilliance to the scene. Obviously pleased with his reception, His Royal Highness took his seat after the band of the Punjabis had played the National Anthem. Came a brief hush as His Excellency the Governor, Sir Cecil Clementi, rose and bowed
the Duke, The Governor then briefly introduced His Royal Highness and called upon Sir Henry Pollock to present the address of welcome from the British community.
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AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
GIFTS FROM CHINESE AND JAPANESE COMMUNITIES.
On arrival at Government House Prince Henry inspected detach- ments representing the St. John Ambulance Brigade under com- mand of Mr. E. Ralphs, the Girl Guides under Commissioner Mrs. W. T. Southorn, and of Boy Scouts under Commissioner the Rev. T. G. Waldegrave, who were drawn up on the lawn. The Prince stopped and spoke to Mr. Ralphs and en- quired the strength of the Brigade and what work they were doing, and also addressed a few words to Mrs. Southorn and the Rev. T. G. Waldegrave.
The Royal Visitor was then enter- tained to tiffin at Government sentations were House, following which two pre- behalf of the Chinese and Japanese made to him on communities. Sir Shou Son Chow on behalf of his compatriots pre- sented a Chinese porcelain dinner service with a blackwood tray inlaid with silver and suitably inscribed. The Consul-General for Japan, Mr. Y. Murakami, presented, on behalf of the Japanese community, two albums of photographs of beauty spots of his country which the Prince will visit during his stay.
POLO AT CAUSEWAY BAY.
Thursday afternoon's polo games at Causeway Bay attracted a con- siderable number of residents to the scene. Of ten chukkas, His Royal Highness played in four. Rain threatened at intervals but did not fall in real earnest until the end of the ninth chukka. The ground made going hard for the ponies but,
nevertheless, there were exchanged
The commanders of the naval and military detachments salutes and then both parties stood quietly at ease, awaiting the arrival of His Royal Highness.
As the moments passed, the crowd around the City Hall increased and the fortunate ones who possessed tickets of admission into the Theatre began to arrive in little groups, the brilliant dresses of the ladies setting off the trim morning coats, silk hats, and striped trou- sers of their consorts to the best ad-
vantage.
sun
Low-lying clouds swirled around the top of the Peak and many an- xious glances were directed sky- ward. But rain held off and, oc- casionally, the rays of the penetrated the grey panoply over- head. The crash of guns broke the expectant stillness and reverberat- ed among the hills, and the distant strains of the National Anthem, followed by echoed cheers, indicat- ed to the crowd that His Royal Highness had landed at Statue Pier.
At similar functions at Home, one could exchange good-humoured badinage with the proverbial Lon- don Bobby," but, on this occa- sion, we who waited had to be con- tent, for obvious reasons, to admire the pipe-clayed topees of the blue- jackets and the burnished instru- ments of the band.
skilful piece of illuminated work The address was an exceedingly colours on parchment.
The casket containing it was of contained in a silver and blackwood casket made by Messrs. Lock Hing from a design by Lieut. Col. L. G. Bird, D.S.O., O.B.E. The casket hore on its lid the Arms of the Colony, in silver, whilst the front tion of a Chinese junk in full sail, was embellished with a representa-
also in silver.
many
thrills for the onlookers and riders.
The first chukka in which H.R.H. appeared resulted in a win for his side. Comyn took a shot passed to him by H.R.H. and scored neatly scored the first goal in the next for the Reds. The Duke's side
chukka but the Whites speedily toward the end of the chukka. The equalised and scored a second time
peared to find it difficult to get Duke rode a stocky grey and ap- fully away at times. He made some fine shots on occasion.
His mount for the next chukka was a speedier animal and enabled H.R.H. to give રી fine display of his riding powers. On one oc- The address from
casion, he took the ball and rode Community was mounted on a mas-
the Chinese down the field with it at a fast sive blackwood
pace and almost scored for the scregn of four panels, standing some six feet in
Reds. Despite the strenuous efforts height.
of the Earl of Airlie-a splendid This screen, which specially made in
was back, by the way--the chukka ended C'anton, was beautifully carved and on the op- by two goals. Reds failed to score. in a victory for the Whites who won posite side of the panels bearing the Chinese text of the address there were typical embroidered silk designs representing birds, animals and rural scenes.
Accompanying the Chinese ver- sion of the address was an English translation, enclosed in wood case inlaid with silver.
a black- address was read by the Hon. Sir The
Shou-son Chow,
elapsed between this chukka and During the brief interval which the next, H.R.H. chatted for a few momebts with the umpire, Mr. W. D. Fiddes Wilson.
In the seventh and last chukka in which II.R.II. played, the Reds won by two goals to nil. The first goal was scored by Thomas, the Duke sending the ball between the posts for the second goal.
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