ROYAL TOUR 1953 - 1954

ROYAL TOUR 1953 to 1954 -

RTA4 - Presented by William Austin -

1) Royal Progress 28/12/1953 (continued)

Whenuapai continued

- Fraser as Queen and Duke to Land Rover. Band plays "E Pari Ra" in the background.
- Air Vice Marshal Carnegie's reply to the Queen's speech.
- Sayers as royal car moves across airfield to royal Dakota.
- Venning in Kensington Park, Whangarei.
- Dempsey as car reaches dais at Kensington Park. Floral walk and plenty of excitement.
- Dempsey describes the Queen's dress and departure from Kensington Park. School children etc.
- Sanft at Waitangi, describes the Bishop's dress as "All People That On Earth" is sung by Māori.
Duration: 8'48"

2) Royal Progress 29/12/1953 -

Return from Northland

- Rowell as vehicular ferry approaches Auckland from Devonport. Nearing berth.
- Lorraine Rishworth outside Whangarei Hotel. Crowds etc. Twenty cars. Queen appears and to car. The Queen's dress. Band plays "Now Is The Hour" as car moves by.
- Donaldson as car passes him leaving Whangarei. Magnificent view of the Queen - "A sunny smile for a sunny day". Duke suntanned.
- Gutteridge opposite the dais at Warkworth. Describes the river, trees, farm houses, bush covered hills.
- Watkins as cars approach Warkworth, across the bridge and to the dais.
- Gutteridge, car at the dais. Queen's dress.
- National Anthem
- Watkins recapping on last night. Many people arrived by boat. Yachtsmen call there for stores during cruises to Kawau and the bays. Many families aboard boats in Warkworth.
- Sceats (studio) recaps on the day's journey. Crowds at the cross roads. Waipu, Warkworth, hilly roads, the beautiful New Zealand country, Puhoi.
- Sceats reports on picnic lunch at Wenderholme, the bush, pohutukawas, yacht for the Duke's use and Duke had a swim.
- Mr. Couldrey (?) the owner of Wenderholme on the Queen's visit.
- Rowell as ferry arrives in Auckland. Cars move down French Street.
- Sayers in Quay Street. Queen's dress. Cars into Britomart Place and Anzac Avenue.
Duration: 17'59"

3) Royal Progress 30/12/1953 -

The Queen Enters Waikato

- Speed as Royal Standard broken over Hamilton Hotel.
- Sayers at Northern Club awaiting the Queen's departure from Government House, Auckland. Three little girls the first on the scene.
- Laureson in Great North Road as cars pass. "Glorious royal week for Auckland". Greetings to Southern centres.
- Watkins at Pukekohe. Crowd at the dais. Floral decorations.
- Gutteridge as Queen receives banquet at Pukekohe from the great-grand daughter of W. F. Massey - Penelope Massey.
- Gutteridge as the royal party is about to leave.
- Sceats reports. Duke driving - speed of the convoy stepped up to 50 mph. Through Tuakau, then to Alton Lodge. Parade of horses.
- Irvine at Huntly. Youthful cheering. Can hardly hear the observer for the cheering.
- Three cheers from Huntly children. Queen to the car as the crowd sings "Now Is The Hour". Car moves off.
- Irvine interviews Mrs. White (aged 78) of Waihi, Mr. McLellan from Glasgow - "Didn't see the Duke" & "I thought she was lovely", Mr. Graham, another Scot, and Mrs. Aulder from Lancashire.
- Alf Sanft reports from Turangawaewae Pā, Ngaruawāhia. Tainui people are poised to welcome royalty. Pā filling up with a big crowd.
- Sanft as the Prime Minister S.G. Holland arrives. Sentinel at the gate giving alert as royalty approaches (haka pōwhiri can be heard in the background throughout). Māori warrior offers the wero or challenge to the Prime Minister.
- Queen steps from the car, description of her dress, walks to the mat in front of Mahingārangi House. King Korokī and his daughter Piki welcome the Queen.
- Sanft as the Queen leaves Turangawaewae. Two canoes in full regalia on the Waikato River row alongside. Car disappears from sight, as the canoe with a crew of 60, races down the river.
- Donaldson as car reaches Hamilton for civic banquet. Description of Queen's dress, tiara, etc. Car moves off down Victoria Street.
- Hall as Queen leaves Hamilton Hotel for banquet. At Cardrona Gardens crowd cheers as Queen moves inside.
Duration: 21'25"

4) Royal Progress 31/12/1953 -

- Irvine as the Queen arrives at Waitomo. (Full coverage of her visit to Waitomo is on ID36286)
- Donaldson as the Queen about to leave Hamilton Hotel for Claudelands.(The Duke of Edinburgh had flown to Wellington to attend the mass funeral for victims of the Tangiwai rail disaster.)
- Hall describes the decorations on the dais at Claudelands.
- Hall, children gathered, car approaching.
- Mayor of Hamilton, address of welcome.
- Queen's reply.
- Gutteridge as the Bowen brothers commence shearing.
- Ivan Bowen comments.
- Gutteridge describes Grand Parade, horses, pony clubs.
- The dogs parade, corgies, labradors, retrievers, collies.
- Hall reports on route from Hamilton the the King Country.
Ends abruptly in mid-sentence.
Duration: 14'40"