Royal tour 1953-1954.

ROYAL TOUR 1953 to 1954 -

RTA5 - Presented by William Austin -

1) Royal Progress 31/12/1953 (continued) -

- Hall from start of report at the end of the previous tape (TX714). Geographical and historical features of the country through which the Queen is travelling from Hamilton.
- Ian Watkins at Te Kuiti. The crowds.
- Royal procession in view.
- Watkins as the Mayoress presents a bouquet. Describes an album of scenes of the King Country presented to the Queen.
- Trevor Williams reads script on the history and legend of the Waitomo Caves.
- Bob Irvine reports on the royal visit to Aranui Cave. Walk through the bush, steep climb. Queen and Duke escorted by Mr. Sear. Irvine interviews him about the cave.
- Wynford Vaughan-Thomas and actuality in the glow-worm cave, good description.
Duration: 16'29"

2) Queen's Day 1/01/1954 -

Waitomo and Te Awamutu

- Bells
- Lionel Sceats at Waitomo as clock nears midnight on New Year's Eve.
- Crowd at the Waitomo Caves Hotel sing Auld Lang Syne.
- Dick Gutteridge at Te Awamutu. Blue sky, mountains and the temperature.
- Watkins at the end of presentations at Te Awamutu. Three cheers. Queen leaves the dais.
- Gutteridge as royal car drives through the ranks of children in Albert Park.
- Studio script, historical notes about Albert Park during the Māori wars.
- Studio script, the journey from Te Awamutu to Cambridge in the early days. Description of Cambridge.
- Buckingham with preview report of Karapiro. Describes the lake, dam, village and powerhouse.
- Mr. Atkins, station superintendent at Karapiro, comments on the visit. Queen to see regatta, etc.
- Cynthia Dale with a preview of Rotorua. Carnival mood, decorations and a review of the New Year parade of floats from the day before, New Year's Eve.
- Irvine as the cars reach Cambridge.
Duration: 16'48"

3) Royal Progress 1/01/1954 -

Waitomo, Te Awamutu, Cambridge, Karapiro and Rotorua

- Laurenson as the royal procession travels from Rotorua to Moose Lodge (noisy - taken off-air).
- Gutteridge at Te Awamutu. Blue sky, mountains and the temperature.
- Gutteridge as royal car drives through the ranks of children in Albert Park.
- Irvine at Cambridge. Describes decorations in the hall for the luncheon, menu.
- Irvine at Cambridge as a brownie, Judith Ford, presents a bouquet to the Queen.
- Irvine at Cambridge as senior prefects of boy's and girl's high school are presented at the reception.
- Irvine introduces the two prefects, Elaine Welsh and Kent James.
- Irvine as the cars leave Cambridge (not good quality).
- Studio script, Karapiro.
- Buckingham reports on the Karapiro visit.
- Hall reports on visit to Karapiro village.
- Donaldson at Tirau. Decorations on the dais (Noisy - off-air).
- Donaldson at Tirau. Mentions where people have come from to see the Queen at Tirau.
- Laurenson at Rotorua and the crowds.
- Broberg at Ngongotaha.
- Sayers on the decorations in Arawa and Fenton Station (?).
- Broberg as the cars reach Ngongotaha.
Duration: 22'44"