Big guns show off staunch ties

It's a boy thing. When Prime Minister John Key called on his Australian counterpart in Canberra yesterday, Kevin Rudd was effusive about his "good friend" from across the Ditch.

This was a state visit, with all the trimmings: cavalcades, guards of honour, and booming artillery.

Too bad for the Army.

It had been forced to cancel its annual beating the retreat ceremony at nearby Duntroon Royal Military College, and its also-annual booming rendition of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

With a massive razor swinging through its budget, the Army couldn't afford the cost of ceremonially banging away with its artillery.

But Mr Key was given a 19-gun salute, their roar and smoke drifting over the lawns of Parliament House.

And the two Prime Ministers have bet against each other for Saturday's Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney where, Mr Rudd said, the pair would be sitting beside each other with "gritted teeth".

They exchanged official All Black and Wallaby ties. The losing leader will have to wear the winning team's tie all day on Monday.