PRINCE OF WALES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 177, 22 April 1920, Page 5

PRINCE OF WALES

» , WELCOME CEREMONIES AT SUVA DEMONSTRATION OP LOYALTY AND AFFECTION (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (Rec. April 21, 10.50 p.m.) Suva, April 21. The Prince of Wales entertained tlio Governor and leading residents at dinner on the Reno.vn. Afterwards the Prince went out in a picket boat with a party in search of sport. Equipped with liandnets, they got among a small school of poisonous sea-snakes. The Prince shot one from the ship's gangway. A brilliant light was lowered above the water, causing a shoal of fish-snakes to assemble. 'Hie Prince landed ten. To-day tho weather was very l'.ov Tho Prince received an enthusiastic welcome. Suva afforded extraordinary scenes of colour and dress when tlio Princo was welcomed by tho Governor, Sir Cecil Rodwell. The principal officials were presented by Captain Joske, the Governor's secretary. The presentations included: Mr. A. Iv. Young, K.C., Acting-Chief Justice; Mr. H. M. Scott, K.C.; the Mayor; and Mr. T. E.. Fell, Colonial Secretary. Tho Prince inspveted the Guard of Honour of full-blooded Fijians and half-castes, who made a fine show. Ho also shook hands with eighty returned white -veterans, some of whom were from Fiji, while others were still wearing Australian uniforms. He inspected the stalwart Labour battalions of full-blooded Fijians who served at Havre, Marseilles, and other regions in iFrance : ami also in Italy, and possessed an excellent record. Among the Fijian officials presented were Roko Tui Tailevu, and Roko Tui Cakaudrove, members of the Legislative Council. Replying to the. municipal address, tho Prince said: "I met many of your people -serving with Australian corps, the. New Zealand Division, the King's Rifio Corps, and the Fijian Labour Corps. I am particularly pleased to We seen so many returned sailors and soldiers. No part of Empire contributed more largely in proportion to its strength, both in men and money, than Fiji." He said that the King .retained tho happiest memories of his vis : t to Lcvuka nearly forty years ago. Tho crowds in Suva included solemn, saturnine Indians, gaily-bcdeckcd laughing Fijians, their huge frizzy heards ornamented with paper flowers and their skins shining with coconut oil. _ Tho note of the demonstration was distinctly, of n, military character. Tho returned soldiers gave expression of their appreciation of the Princo by wildly cheering his evory appearance. The procedure at the Town Hall was an expression of loyalty, sincere and fervent, but loynlty in best clothes of rather a formal cut. The next item on _ the- programme was tho Prinze's visit to tho Soldiers' Association. This was loyalty in working -uniform, spontaneous. . exuberant and unrestrained. Tho Princo spoke a few entirely unpremeditated words, thanking tho soldiers for their welcome, and expressing pleasure at seeing so many "Diggers" among tho assemblage. He hoped to see a grear. many moro in New Zealand ar.d Australia. Captain Ellis, president of the association, replied in a similar informal strain of genuine appreciation. Driving to Government House tho Princo was the central figure of a remarkable scene in which different racial elements co-operated in a demonstration of loyalty and affection expressed by tho children. Standing on the steps of Government House, looking out on a scene of gorgeous tropical beauty, the Princo inspected military corps from tho various schools, including Europeans, Fijians, and Indians, also bodies of school children of all colours gathered under the flag. Tho scene was bounded by the lino of foam showing tho breakers on tlio reef that forms Suva harbour, and. by tho mountains enclosing the harbour. On ,the right immense lawns, clothed with, vivid tropic verdure, sloped down to the shoro of tin Pacific. Gorcrnment House being well elevated, it made an ideal scene for a spectacle After tho Prince had inspected tho military detachmcmts, a Fijian youth stepped forward and spoke a welcoming loyal address in his own language, and was followed by a Hindu, uttering similar sentiments of loyalty in Findustani. Then came a young British boy, born in Fiji, _ named Lyndon Osborne, wearing a military uniform. Saluting briskly, ho recited a short poem expressing tho joy of the native born in seeing tho Prince arrive from tho country of their boors and dreams. For weeks past the Fijiaus had been busj' preparing ceremonial wardrobes for the festivities in honour of tho Prince, and the results were apparent today in staggering magnificence. Many hundreds of brawny natives who, having reluctantly abandoned tlio warrior*9 profession, returned for ono day to their war-paint with happy glee. Tho principal garment was a long kilt composed of innumerable strips of bark, stained with vivid greens, purples, blues and yellows. This, with pearl-shell neck ornaments, faccs liberally plastered with ochre, hair dyed a, light brown with lime, worn much fuzzed, produced striking rainbow effects. Tho leading performers wore in addition huge bundles of white bark streamers over tho hips, giving a crinoline effect. Tho Princo, accompanied by the Governor of Fiji, Lady Rodwell, Admiral Halsey and his staff, occupied seats in the pavilion, facing a large enclosure at Nawsva. The proceedings opened with a solemn presentation of an enormous kava, root, to the- accompaniment of a, whimsical dance aud invocations. The kava drink was prepared on tho spot and presented with elaborate ritual ceremonies to the Princo in a coconut cup by a gigantic rainbow-hued warrior in a crinoline, advancing between triplo lines of seated performers. The Princo drank tlio kava and threw tho cup away, according to the prescribed custom, whereupon ft concerted chorus of approval rose in the air. The Governor and members of the staff drank kava in similar fashion. The ceremony of presentation of tho first fruits followed, including tho gift of a large heap of whales' teeth, which are very -all-able, representing practically tho gold reserve of the country. Hundreds of native mats were also piled before the I'rince as offerings.

Tho Prince held an investiture, presenting decorations to several officers and also native chiefs. R<itu Pope, the white-haired chief, presented a, loyal address in English, whereupon a great war dance, calle|'; meke, was given by about a thousand warriors, who went through oil their fighting attitudes with war elubs. The warriors worked up excitement and threw themselves into tho danco with primitive energy, Tho precision of this dance gave the Prince a vivid glance into tho ancient customs of the Eijinns, now peaceful subjects enjoying tho securitv of British rule. A long lino of white-haired chiefs wore presented to tho Prince, who shook hands and congratulated. them. Among them was a. picturesque old fellow, Benitauoa, who formerly, as a powerful Roko, was introduced to King George in 18S1 when he visited Levuka in the Bacchante. Benitnou afterwards fell on evil days and lost his high position. To-day, by virtuo of his birth, ho returned to bask once more for a brief moment in smiling recognition of British royalty. Tho huge throng of oxcited melted away with hoarse cheers for the departing Prince, who attends n ball to-night at the Grand Pacific Hotel. Tho Mayor of Suva, Mr, 11. N. Scott, K.C., was'the chief organiser of the welcoming ceremonies, which were wonderfully picturesque. Tho Renown will sail at daybreak. SCHOOL HOLMYS FIXED Tn connection with the visit of tho Prince of Wales to Wellington, tho Education Board hns fixed the following school holidays:—Schools north of Eketahuna and Otnki, Monday and Tuesday. May 3 and 4; schools in Wellington and suburbs. Wednesday and Thursday. May 5 and 0; Wairornpa schools south of Eketahuna,, Thursday and Fridnv, May 6 and 7; Marlborough schools, Monday and Tuesday, May 10 and 11. .

Members. of the general committee sot up to entertain tho men of 11.M.5. Re-

Tiown are reminded by advertisement of a meeting to be held in the Town Hall at -i p.m. to-111 oitow. Reports of subcommittees will be presented and all general' arrangements put in train. It was announced by Mr. Moore, missioner, at the Sailors' Friend Society's concert on Tuesday night. tliat during the stay of 11.M.5. Renown there will bs frequent concerts, teas, socials, etc. The institute will bo thrown open for letter-writing at all hours, and on Sunday the church will be used for services. followed by sons services. A large body of police from the South Island and the Wellington provincial district left Wellington for Auckland by the Main Trunk train yesterday, to join the escort for ITis Boyal Highness tlir Prince of Wales.