The City of Auckland, New Zealand, 1840-1920Barr, John
History
The City of Auckland, New Zealand, 1840-1920
Barr, John
Auckland (N.Z.) -- History
Sporting events have not found much space in these pages, as it would
have been difficult to know where to draw a line on such a subject.
Such an international event as the Davis Cup Challenge Round, which
commenced on December 30th, 1920, is of such an exceptional nature as
to justify its mention. The choice of New Zealand as the scene of the
final round was in the nature of a compliment to the brilliant New
Zealand exponent of the game, Anthony Wilding, who lost his life in the
Great War. The games were contested on special courts prepared in the
Auckland Domain.
The year 1918 was remarkable for the weather. There were three severe
gales, the first occurring on February 14th, the next on March 18th,
and the last on June 20th. In the latter the wind blew at the rate
of 440 miles in 24 hours; in the two former the velocity reached 520
miles. The temperature during July was extremely low, and in the last
week of the month it dropped to 30 degrees, which was the lowest
temperature recorded for over thirty years. The severe frost which
covered the ground was an unusual sight for Aucklanders. June, 1920,
was another cold month, and on July 1st the thermometer at Albert Park
registered 29 degrees.
[Illustration: Reception of H.R.H. The Prince of Wales at the Town
Hall, April 24th, 1920]
The event which opened this section of Auckland's annals was the visit
of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, who are now the reigning
sovereigns. It is fitting, therefore, to close it with the visit of
their son and heir, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, in 1920. The visit was
the outcome of a promise made by His Majesty the King that the Prince
would visit the Dominions as a token of appreciation of the spirit of
loyalty and unity displayed by the whole Empire during the war.
H.M.S. _Renown_ (26,500 tons) conveyed the Royal visitor on his tour,
and arrived in the Waitemata Harbour on April 24th. The voyage from
North Head was a wonderful water pageant, craft of every sort and
size taking part in it. The Prince first set foot on New Zealand at
Auckland, and was welcomed by the Governor-General (Admiral Lord
Jellicoe), the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, P.C.), the
Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson), and the Chairman of the Harbour Board (Mr.
H. D. Heather). He then paid an official call on the Governor-General,
and later made a triumphal journey along Queen Street to the Town Hall,
where the Mayor and citizens formally welcomed His Royal Highness to
the city and delivered to him a loyal address. In the afternoon a
military review was held in the Domain in the presence of the Prince.
The following day was Anzac Day, and the 1920 commemoration will be
long remembered on account of the Prince joining in the service to
honour the heroes of the Gallipoli expedition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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