PRINCE OF WALES'S DEPARTURE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 149, 19 March 1920, Page 7

PRINCE OF WALES'S DEPARTURE

GREAT OUTBURST OF PUBLIC ENTHUSIASM

NAVAL DEMONSTRATION AT

PORTSMOUTH

By TeleeraDb—Vmbb Asßoclation-Ooovrlim (Rec. March 18, 10,40 p.m.) London, March IG. The Prince of Wales has sailed for New Zealand. There was n tremendous outburst of enthusiasm on his departure. Dense crowds lined the sheets and cheered the Royal party. The crush at Victoria Station was so great that the police were overwhelmed, and after the Prince had passed the crowd, surged over the broad carriageway and alone;' the platform, and was only checked when 20 yards from the Prince's railway carriage by a body of Australian soldiers joining hands with the police. The Prince watched the scene with amusement and interest, nnd then stepped into the open. This proved the signal for an enormous outburst of cheering, which lasted several minutes, the Prince meanwhile repeatedly saluting. The demonstration was renewed as the train departed. Crowds cheered the train en route to Portsmouth, where the Prince was tendered a civic reception. There was a great naval' demonstration, the Victory and all'the warships in port being gaily dressed. Salutes -were fired and cruisers escorted the Renown out into the Channel— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CHILDREN'S DAY

PARLIAMENTARY GROUNDS SELECTED '. AS SITE The educational authorities and others concerned in the arrangement of "Children's Day" in connection with tho visit of the Prince of Wales have accepted the offer of the Minister of Internal Affairs (the. Hon. Sir Francis Bell) to hold the function in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament. Originally it was proposed that the school children should be assembled in lines in Waterloo Quay, but tho Minister's offer provided a much more convenient and picturesque spot, and after being studied was considered to be pret,ty well ideal, so it was definitely decided to accept the Minister's offer. By. djing so all the school children from distant places may bo conveyed to the'spot b.r. tramcar.'and country school children who aro to participate will only have 200 or/ 300 yards to walk from Lambton statiffli,- and less than half a mile from Thorndon station. Then, at the conclusion of the function, the children will bo marched via Bunny Street to Waterloo Quay, 'and so into tho Harbour Board's big shed, where, after partaking of refreshments, they will be marshallod through H.M.S. Benown as site' lies at the King's Wharf. . The drafts of all addresses to be presented to His Koyal Highness should be forwarded to tho Minister of Internal Affairs beforo Tuesday, March 23. HUTT VALLEY PAGEANT. The committee which has in hand the arrangement of the pageant of the landing of the early settlers with which Hutt Valley residents intend entertain, ing the Prince of Wales during his visit, to Wellington, met at the Council Chambers, Petono, last might. In the absence of the chairman (Mr. J. W. M'Ewnn) Mr. E. P. Bishworth was voted to the chair.

At 0 meeting of the Finanoo Committee held prior to the general meeting it was resolved that letters be written to. the local bodies- inviting contributions tomcet the exiienses incurred. Mr. W. A. Edwnrds (historical secretary, Early. Settlers' ' Association) subniitted a suggestion for a souvenir programme to confjin information regarding events leading up to the landing, a sketch .of the colonist settlement, and possibly photographs taken nboiit the year the actual landing took place. It was decide;! to leave the arrangement of this programme ,in the hands of the Early Settlers' Association, a draft to be submitted to the committee.

Mr. J. E. Jenkinson reported that an officer of the Public' Works ■ Department would visit the Iwach to-day to view the proposed site for the pah. and other erections necessary for the function. Ho also submitted suggestions for attractions for the public after* the Prince had left Petone;