PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 123, 18 February 1920, Page 8

PRINCE OF WALES'S VISIT

THE COMPLETE PROGRAMME DUE WELLINGTON APRIL 26 Tho following statement in reference to the visit of the l'rince of Wales was is6ued yesterday by Sir Francis liell The programme of the visit of 11.R.11. the Prince of Wales to Now Zealand lias verv recently been definitely settled. It was found necessary to postpone the announcement of the dates of His Royal Highness's arrival at and departure from the nlnces where lie will stay until provisional arrangements could be made for the hotel accommodation necessary for the l'rinco and his suite. A 9 His Jtoyal Hiehmss will only be twenty-seven days in the Dominion, there has been considerable difficulty in arranging his course of travel, and it must be clearly understood that no proposals for variation of the programme can now bo entertained. It is honed that the public generally throughout New Zealand will join in the desire of the Government that H.R.H. should bo treated in all respects as the guest of the Dominion, and that no undue calls should be made upon him to Dcrform official functions. H.R.11, has himself expressed a desire to see the oooplo rather than the sights, and tho Government will endeavour to meet his wishes. Bequests have already been received from all parts of New Zealand that the Prince should lay foundation stones or unveil memorials. It will be impossible in the limited period of tho visit to find time for ceremonies of that nature, even, during the three or four davs of stay at the principal centres. In accordance with H.R.II.'s express reel uest arrangements will be made for returned soldiers to assemble at the oriTicinal places of stay, and also at places where it is reasonably possible for the Roval train to stop for from a quarter to half an hour. Similar arrangements will b? made, for assemblages of school children. It must, however, be noted that returned soldiers or children will onlv bo conveyed" by special trains from distances sufficiently limited to enable a return special train to reconvcy them to their homes on the same day. At Rotorun. the Maoris will assemble in large numbers, the Government undertaking tho arrangements necessary to ensure a fitting Native reception to the Prince. It is desired that arrangements for local reception and entertainment at each place of tho visit should bo proposed by tho local authorities and residents, though such arrangements must necessarily bo submitted to and have the approval of tho Government before being finally decided upon. The Government will propose to Parliament provision for subsidy of £ for £ upon approved expenditure incurred by local authorities for tho purpose. A fulL programme of the details of tho several public entertainments _ and functions proposed will bo published later, but m the meantime it should be known that H.R.H. will bo the guest of tho Governor-General at the Government House during the stay at Auckland, at tho Government House during the'stay at Wellington, and at "Elmwood" during the stay at Christchurch, and at all other places, including Rotorua, H.R.H. will,bo the guest of the Government.

Details of tho tour are:— April 17: Arrivo Auckland. Depart Auckland April 20 for Rotorua. April 21: Maori reception, etc., Rotorua. April 22: Depart Rotorua. Arrivo New Plymouth April 23, 9 a.m., depart April 23, 11.30 a.m. Arrive Wanganui 4.30 p.m. April 24: Depart Wnnganui 9 a.m. Arrivo Nnpior 3or i p.m. Depart Napier April 3G, 9.30 a.m. Arrive Palmerston North, stop one hour. Arrive Wellington 7.30 p.m. At- Wellington April 27, April 28; to Wairarapa April 29. Stop ono* hour at Mostcrton. April 30 nnu May 1: In Wairarapa deer shooting. May 2- Wellington. Leavo for Picton. Mav 3: Depart Picton 8.15 a.m. Arrive Blenheim 9 a.m. Depart Blenheim 10 a.m. Arrivo Nelson 3 p.m. May 4: Dcpart Nelson 9 a.m. Arrivo Westport 3.30 p.m. Depart Westport 4.30 p.m. Arrivo lteefton G. 30 p.m.; stay overnight. Mav 5: Depart Reefton 9.15 a.m. Arrive Greymouth 10.30 a.m. Depart Greymouth 12 noon. Arrive Otira 2 p.m. Depart Otira 2.10 n.m., Arthur's Pass 4 p.m. Arrivo Chrisfchurch 7.30 p.m. At Chnstcluireh May IS. 7, 8, 9. Leave Christchurch May 10. Arrive Dunedin May 11. Depart Dunedin May 13. Arrivo Invercargill, say 1 p.m., stay night. May 14: To Lyttelto'n, and sail for Milford Sound and Australia.