Gisborne-Wellington (6 -16 January 1954)

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Route of Royal Visit, lower North Island

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Wednesday, January 6

A.M.� By car �Moose Lodge� to Rotorua and plane to Gisborne � civic reception.

P.M.� By air to Napier � civic reception.� H.R.H. to Hawke�s Bay Ex-naval Officers.

Thursday, January 7

A.M.� By car Napier to Hastings � public welcome, and J. Wattie Canneries Ltd.

Sir James Wattie explains the production line at his canneries in Hastings
(click on image for more detail)

[ film clip of arrival in Waipawa (2.8mb) - lower quality version (995kb) - About this film]

P.M.� By train to Waipawa � public welcome, Waipukurau � public welcome, Dannevirke � public welcome, Woodville � public welcome, and Palmerston North � civic reception and civic dinner.

'Thousands of people from all over Central Hawke's Bay were gathered at the Railway Station in Waipukurau on 7 January 1954. A ripple of excitement sweeping through the crowd heralded the arrival of the Royal Train with crimson carriages and a gleaming white roof. When the Queen and Duke stepped from the train they were met by my Uncle Jack McCarthy, Mayor of Waipukurau, and Aunty Tess, and then they all walked along a pathway between ropes of beautiful flowers to a dais. Uncle Jack proudly welcomed Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to his town.'
Moira Draper

Friday, January 8

[ Film clips of the Queen, 8 January 1954:

at Marton (2.98mb ) - lower quality version (810k).
at Wanganui (2.08mb) - lower quality version (735k)
at Patea (2.19) - lower quality version (810k) - About these filmclips ]

The Queen in Marton

(Click on image for more detail)

[ film clip of visit to Palmerston North and Feilding (2.34mb) - lower quality version (838kb). About this film ]

A.M.-P.M.� By train to Palmerston North to Feilding � public welcome, Marton Junction � public welcome, Wanganui � civic reception, Patea � public welcome, Hawera � ceremonial drive, Stratford - public welcome, and New Plymouth.

'I was a young school teacher and a cub leader in Hawera... the streets chosen [for the visit] had some very unsightly buildings and the powers that be who arrange these things decided something had to be done to cover these sights from royal eyes. Every school child set about making paper flowers in red, white and blue crepe paper. These were gathered and hung on these "eye sores". The gasometer was covered in a replica of the mountain. '
Judith Foy

Saturday, January 9

A.M.� By car to Bell Block Dairy Factory.� New Plymouth � civic reception, Pukekura Park.

P.M.� By plane to Paraparaumu airport, and by car to Wellington � brief civic welcome.

WELLINGTON

Sunday, January 10

A.M.� Divine Service, Cathedral Church of St. Paul.

Monday, January 11

A.M.� Wellington civic reception, Town Hall.� Lay wreath, Wellington War Memorial.

P.M.� State luncheon, Parliament House.� By car via Petone assembly factory, Ford Motor Company, Lower Hutt � inspection St. James�s Church.� Reception of heads of diplomatic missions, Government House.

Tuesday, January 12

[ film clip of children's gathering at Athletic Park (2.74mb) - lower quality version (953kb). About this film]

A.M.� Children�s gathering, Athletic Park.

The Queen, wearing her coronation robes, enters Parliament Buildings
(click on image for more detail)

P.M.� Opening of Special Session of Parliament.� Reception for Members of Parliament and wives, Parliament House.� Investiture, Wellington Town Hall.

[ Hear an account of Queen's opening of Parliament (158k)] [ transcript ]*

[ film clip of Royal couple entering Parliament (2.98mb) - lower quality version (1mb). About this film ]

[ film clip of Queen's speech (2.3mb) - lower quality version (805kb). About this film ]

Wednesday, January 13

A.M.� Laying foundation stone of Anglican Cathedral.� Meeting of Privy Council and Executive Council.

P.M.� H.R.H. address and luncheon with scientific organisations.� Presentation of address in reply.� Garden party.

Thursday, January 14

A.M.-P.M.� Wellington Racing club, Trentham.

Friday, January 15

A.M.� By train Wellington to Masterton.

[ film clip of arrival in Masterton (3.09mb) - lower quality version (1.05mb). About this film]

'I remember when the Queen and Duke visited Masterton on January 15th, 1954, and drove through the grounds of Wairarapa College. I was a pupil at Wairarapa College at the time, and although it was the school holidays and summer, we were asked to don our winter uniforms, which were obviously considered tidier than our summer uniforms...'
Helen Turner

P.M.� Masterton � civic reception.� By car to Wellington via Carterton, Greytown, Featherston and Upper Hutt.

The Royals are welcomed in Upper Hutt

(click on image for more detail)

Saturday, January 16

A.M.� By car to Wellington to Paraparaumu airport.� By plane R.N.Z.A.F. Station, Woodbourne and car to Blenheim � public welcome.

[ see film clips of:

Queen at Paraparaumu (1.09mb) - lower quality version (389k)
Leaving Paraparaumu by plane (1.45mb) - lower quality version (549k) - About these filmclips ]

P.M.� By car to Woodbourne and plane to Nelson � civic reception.

* Sound recordings from a radio documentary made a year after the Queen's arrival in New Zealand, 'Royal Visit Highlights 1953-54', ref D 548/3-5.
Provided by Sound Archives/Nga Taonga Korero,
Copyright © Radio New Zealand

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