PRINCE'S TOUR.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17119, 14 April 1921, Page 10

PRINCE'S TOUR.

VALUABLE COLLECTION nc PRESENTS. (from orn own cokrestondknt.) LONDON. March 3. Even the Princo of Wales must In proud to own the beautiful and costlj presents which seem to have boot showered upon him during his triumphal tour of the Dominions. Indeed, they recall the journeys of monarch* of old, but. probably they are moro eminently tokens of personal nifoction than the trophies bestowed upon any other royal pilgrim. The Pnnce has seen fit to give the British public an opportunity of seeing what he ha* brought from tho countries ovorwus, and hiis placed tho whole collection under the control of tho Imperial Institute for the time being. Huvinc greatly at heart the interests of tno Jtoy Scouts, ho is permitting, tho proceeds of the exhibition to go to that Association. Tho collection is housed in n well* ■ lighted gallery of the Institute at South Kensington. There ure over 500 separate articles, but the gaLcry, about !&oft in length and 40ft in width, pro- ;; rides plenty of room for a most effective display. Immediately on entering one is struck with a line model ot H.M.S. Renown, and on the wall on the right is a huge map of the world, on which tho tour ia traced out by means of coloured, ribbons. Presents from tho tropics, are the first to bo seen—from Hawaii, West Indies, and Samoa. On both sides, tho walls aro hung with Samoan mats, and Fiji provides a model of a native canoe, kava _ bowls, and other handsome native trophies, besides tho numerous loyal addresses. The display of New Zealand presents takes up the next considerable section of the gallery 1 The Dominion flag hangs down from the rafters, and two groat palms stand below it. Prominent w the cabinet constructed of 21 kindi of New Zealand woods, tho present from the Parliament and people of tlio Dominion. This has a glass enso practically to itself. On ono side of it is tho case containing tho casket of rimu m the form of a book from tho borough of Hokitika, tho spado of cold and greenstone from Masterton, the tiki from West Harbour, and several other H; smaller presents. On the other ado u the case containing a collection; or I greenstone gifts, including the writing j tray in the form of a Maori wbaro from the Otago schools; tho ash-tray of greenstone from the. Maoris of *-T« Waipounamu,'.' and tho .casket of . j totara surmounted by a kiwi, ateo fronv the Maoiis. Auckland's hanuaoroo gift, a casket of beaten silver with Maori designs in copper, stands in a ease' of its own. ' After looking at tho numberless ulnminated addresses, seemingly from every town and township of th<» Dominion, ono is attracted by tho dispjay on the two walls. On ono side is tho painting of the Huka Falls surrounded by illuminated addresses and article* of Maori carving, and photographs of New Zealand scenery. Wu tho opposite wall the central iigure is tho gut of the Maoris of Botorua—tho address which begins "Yo who lie in tho dark Chamber of Death come forth and ; hearken." The handsome carved-fraino ' and tho unique phraseolojgy of tho address is greatly attracting tho attention of visitors. On ono side of-it ia ■} the simple address from the Tuhotirangi and Ngati Tawharetoa tribes, and on tho other tho illuminated address with sketches of. Lake Kanien and Milford Sound set in a frame or Matai—tho gift of the lioroflfgh of Greymouth and the Covlnty of Grey. Then near at hand is the unique address set out on leather, tho gift of the Otago and Southland Red Cross Society. Finally, there is tho case con- j taining the Maori cloaks and mats, and the mcfes of greenstone from the chieftains of Rotorun. These are mereiy- a few of the New Zealand gifts, which certainly make a most striking display - among all the collection. Many beautiful offonngs, however, '- j were received in Australia, of special interest being the casket of inlaid woods , J of tho Commonwealth containing tho inallot with which tho Royal visitor laid the first stone of tho Capitol, Canberra. One casket is strikingly beautiful. It is made of Queensland bUckbenn with the crest, nml motto of tho Prince of Wales in tr o |d on tho lid, . and on the inside tho arm* of Queensland. It contains yellow-green, yellow, d.<rk blue, and pale blue sapphires, op«t matrix and Lhtck and pink opals, red garnet, white and blue topnjs, chry«> prase, amethyst, Oriental olivine, hluo beryl, aquamarine, hynemths, OrientU emeralds, gieen and red jn.«pcr, ngnte, and ribbon stone—all Quicn.land gems, beautifully cut and polished.