THE PRINCE'S VISIT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 144, 13 March 1920, Page 8

THE PRINCE'S VISIT

ARRANGING PRELIMINARIES

CONFERENCE OF AUTHORITIES

Brief though the . stay of His Royal Highness tho Prince of AValps is to be in Wellington there is a great deal to arrango in connection with the visit apart from tho mere drafting of a programme of events. The latter task Is no easy one either, as there are so many offers from local bodies and societies who wish to do the Prince honouiy but such have to be ruthlessly set aside in favour of more important fmictions. For example, tho' Prince himself has said that 110 must meet tho returned Boldiera and children wherever he goes, and in order to meet as many of tho returned soldiers as possible, ho must visit the military hospitals. Then there are the Governor-General's ball, the citizens' ball; and the civic reception, which practically absorb tho available tim&.

Thero is much work to bo done.in connection with the approaching visit, and t<) get, the preliminaries in some sort'of order a conference was held in the Mayor's Room yesterday morning. The Acting-Mayor (Mr. George Frost) presided, and there were present: The City Engineer,(Mr. W. 11. Morton), tho Town Clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer), Mr. Belt (secretary of tho Education Department), Superintendent Norwood, and Inspector Broberg, of tho Police, and Lieut-Colond J. L. Sleeman, C.8.E., of the General Staff, and Mr. James Hislop (Secretary for Internal Affairs), who represented his Minister and the Government. Mr'. Hislop was ablo to supply further detailed information that meant some slight divergencies from the programme already announced, but these will not.be made public until another meeting of' wider scope is liqUl next week. At that meet'•JiVg. the .programme,, .which will .still have to receive .the approval of the Prince's advisers, will be submitted, and sub-committees will bo set up to undertake work of a clearly defined nature. It -will bo necessary to set up a, Citizens' Ball Committee, a Decorations Committee, an H.M.S. Renown Committee (for the entertainment of tho officers and men of that warship), a Children's Committee. and Returned Soldiers' Parade .Committee.

■ When questioned yesterday as to the Reception Committee, the Town Cleric .(Mr. J.' I?. Palmer) said it, practically consisted of the Barbour Board and the Finance Committee o£ the City Council. As there has* been no public meeting called to appoint such a committee, some citizens ore beginning to wonder if tlio whole of- tho business iV to lie left in the hands of this self-appointed body, but Mr. Palmer intimated that others would be called in to help.

Address of, Welcome Drafted. The address of welcome from the city (to be presented at the civic welcome in the Town Hall) has already been drafted. It is to be in album form, bound in morocco leather lined with silk, anil the illumination, which is to be as characteristic'of Wellington as possible, is to be executed by Mr. T'. I'. Pleasants. decorativo work will include exampleirof the flpra of the district, and appropriately placed -will be little miniature water-colours of Wellington scenes.

The Sydney Civic Address. The following is tho text of-the civic address to be presented to His .Royal Highness- at Sydney:— Wo, the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and citizens of the city of Sydney, loyal and dutiful subjects of His Most Gracious Majesty King Georgo V, desire to eiteud to your Royal Highness ■ our most cordial and affectionate welcome. Your visit to Sydney, ' the premier city of Australia, is one which we have looked forward to with feeling? of great pleasure, and tho gracious act of our Sovereign, who permitted and sanctioned your visit, is one which his subjects hero will every gratefully remember. We humbly pray that Divine Providence may be pleased tn safeguard and protect your Royal. Highness in your journeying) to tho various parts-■ of His Majesty's dominions that you are visiting, and that they may continue to prosper under the. l beneficent sway of our beloved Sovereign.

Australians-on H.M.S, Renown. In yesterday's cablegrams it was mentioned that, among, the midshipmen on H.M.S. Renown who. had contracted influenza were several- Australians. The names of the officers are: Midshipmen E. C. Wacketl. A. Cairns, H. 3. Barling, J Abbott, D.J. Wines, J. A. V. Nisbot, \V H Hands, S. T. E. B. Hunt, G. G. Carter, H. E. Corse. These lads were all trained at .Tervia Bay.

NEW ZEALAND ITINERARY The following'is the railway timetable for the "royal special," which will convey the Prince of Wales on his tour of the North Island. (The table is based on jtfiie assumption that H.M.S. Eenown is leaving England a week later than was originally intended.) :— Tuesday) April 27.—Auckland, depart 10 a.m.; Hamilton, arrive 12.20 p.m., depart 1.20 p.m.; Eotorua, arrive, 4.25 p.m. Wednesday, April 28.—At Eotorua. Thursday, April 29.—Eotorua depart 3 p.m.; To Kuiti, arrive 7.25 p.m., depart 7.40 p.m.; Taumarunui, arrive 9.15 p.m., depart 9.30 p.m.; Ohakune, arrive 11.35 p.m., depart 11.50 p.m. Friday, April 30.-New Plymouth rrrive 8.55 a.m., depart 11.80 a.m.; Stratford, arrive 12.38 p.m., depart 12.53 p.m.; Hawera, arrive 1.25 p.m., depart 1.50 p.m.; Patea, arrive 2.28 p.m., depart 2.38 p.m.; Wanganui, arrive 1.15 p.m. Saturday, May I.—Wanganui, depart 9 n.m. (if weather fine, by motor from Wanganui to Marton); Marton, arrive 10.20 a.m., depart 10.45 a.m.; Feilding, arrive 11.22 a.m., depart 11.10 a.m.; Napier, arrive 1 p.m. ■ _ '

Sunday, May 2.—At Napier. Monday, May 3—Napier, depart. 9 a.m.; Hastings, arrive 9.23 a.m., depart 9.53 a.m.; Waipukurau, arrive 10.50 a.m., depart 11 a.m.; Dannevirko, arrive 1210 p.m., depart 12.40 p.m.; Woodville, arrive 1.8 p.m., depart 1.23 p.m.; Palmerston North arrive 2.10 p.m., depnrt 4 p.m.; Otaki, arrive 5.10 p.m.. depart 5.20 p.m.; Wellington, arrive 6.50 p.m. Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May s.—At; Wellington.

' Thursday, May G.—Wellington, depart !) a.m.: Carterton, arrivn 11.30 a.m., depart 11.35 a.m.; Mastertoa, arrive 11.50 a.m., depart 12.50 p.m.; Featherston, arrive 1.25 p.m., depart 1.35 p.m.

In regard to the South Island itinerary, Ffia't part of it published *o far relates only to the tour from Christchurch southward. The Marlborougli-Nolson-West Coast-Otirn-Arthur's Pass itinerary will be published later. The itinerary for the tour south of Christchurch is as follows:—

Monday. May 17.—Cliristclmrch, depart 0.30 a.m.; Ashburton, arrive 10.55 a.m., depart 11.25 a.m.; Tininru, arrive 12.35 p.m., depart 1.5 p.m.; Oamaru, arrive 2.25 p.m., depart 2.55 p.m.; Dunedin, arrive 15.53 p.m. Tuesday, May 18.—At Dunedin.

Wednesday, May 19.—At Dunedin. Thursday, May 20.—Dunedin, depart It a.m.; Milton, arrive 9.58 a.m., denurt 10.13 a.m.; Balclutha, arrive 10.45 a.m., depart 11 a.m.; Gpre, arrive 12.23 p.m., depart 12.43 pcm.j Invereargill, arrive 2 p.in.

Friday, May 21.—Invercargill, depart 9.30 a.m.; Lyttelton, arrive 8.45 p.m.

PRINCE AND STAFF INOCULATED

London, March 11 The Prince of Wales and the whole of his staff are being inoculated against influenza.—Aus.-N.S. Cable Assn.