THE ROYAL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 200, 19 May 1920, Page 6

THE ROYAL TOUR

4 PRINCE IN DBNEDIN HUGE CROWDS AT OFFICIAL ' WELCOME VISIT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL By Telecrapli—Presß Association/ Dunedin, May IS. Glorious weather to-dav rendered the Priijcp of Wales's visit io Dunedin most pleasurable to the Royal party, and to thousands of people who in the"afternoon turned out to see His Royal Highness as he passed along the. streets. Tho morning was spent quietly, being, what is scheduled on. the official programme as "free." He was motored out to tho Otagn Golf Club's links at Balmacewan, and played a round. Though the visit was unheralded in any way, news of it spread 011 swift wings, and soon quite a thousand people gathered to see tho scion of the lioyal, bouse enjoying himself like any ordinary British citizen freo from the restraints of formality. Tho afternoon saw tho Prince in harness again, so to speak.

At 2 o'clock tho official welcome to the Sty was extended to him at a special dais erected in the Octagon in front of the Anglican Cathedral, on the steps of which several hundred college girls were massed, and sang "God Bless the Prince of Wales." Huge crowds occupied tho open space 111 the Octagon and streets converging thereon, the wliolo sceno beitv„' one of life and colour and remarkable warm-hearted enthusiasm. The Mnvor (3lr. Begg) read the address of welcome, and the Prince, in reply, Ml>res?ed his appreciation of the splendid recentlon accorded liira. He also referred to the great part the people of Dun-' edm had taken In promoting educational progress, the part they thus played being worthy of the noble traditions which the

pioneers brought with them from tho schools and colleges of the Old Country. Their devotion to British ideals had been sternlv tested in the past five years, and their response had been splendid. Tho Prince 'then received various addresses from church and other bodies in the province. ~ ■

A visit to the Medical School and.Soldiers' Ward of the hospital followed. Crowds cheered the Prince along tho route, and. «t the hospital. gates three hundred medical students, armed with leg and arm bones, and other grisly reminders of their chosen profession, gave His Roval Highness a typical students' welcome, to tho huge delight of tho spectators, especially the übiquitous juvenile element. In the main hall of

tho hospital the Prince was received by Surgeon-General M'Gavin and Colqnel Falconer, officcr in charge of the. institution,- ■ Here as many of the staff as could be spared from duty were grouped anl, inspected, also several tiny patients who, in 6pite of their helpless condition, eat up in cots with expressions of keen delight 011 their f.ices as the Prince bent over each in turn and spoko a few. kindly words which bo knows so well how to choose for every occasion. Four of.these tots,, whose

ages range from five to eight years, addressed a letter to tho Mayor pleading that the Prince should visit them, and ia the largeness of his heart His R6yal Highness saw to it that they wero not overlooked.

The soldier patients' ward was next visited the Prince spending some' time among the cots. It was Dathetic in some cases to see how those'faces of men suffering terrible war injuries lighted/ up as the' well-known figure appioached and a pleasant sympathetio voice fell on their ears. ?'lt was to ea.li a minute to be treasured p.mong the cherished memories of life. The Prinin also inspected the gallery, in which ah: displayed casts showing the wonderful results attained in the treatment ana remedy of terrible facial injuries suffered by men in the war. This and a similar hospital at Sidcup, England, arc the only ones in the world specialising in this work, and Lieut.Colonel Pickerill, who has charge here, Is to be congratulated on the remarkable success that has attended his work. The Prince was specially commendatory in his remarks on, what he saw. The "walking" cases in the hospital were inspected by the Prince in: one of the exercise corridors, each mail getting a handshake 1 and a few cheery words of greeting. Altogether ' the hnlf-lumr spent within the hospital precincts was crowded with niucli of interest and instruction in the great practical work being done for the amelioration of sufferi'.ig arising out of both peace and war conditions. ,

Later the. Prince visited Port Chalmers, which was gaily decorated,' nnd received an address of welcome jn the presence of a large number of townspeople. The outward run was made vii Ncrth-East .Valley, and as the party topped the hills dividing the Valley from .tho harbour and the latter burst suddenly into view exclamations <f surprised delight w*re general. Returning to tho city by way of the Lower Port Road, tin Prince was stopped at Ravcnslwuriiu and accorded a hearty impromptu , welcome.

! Tlie official citizens' reception took ' place in the evening at the Drill Sail, ; and'.lain on the Prince was guest at a ' ball giver. by : the Otago Women's Club : in the Art Gallery. Both were bril- « liant affairs attended by a very largo number, of people. ; The visiting pressmen with the Royal ; party were the guests of the local journalist' at a dinner in the Commercial Travellers' Club this evening. Sir ; 'George I'enwick presided, and tendered a heart? welcome to the visitors. Messrs. ' Cotes, Sandes and Murdoch responded in ' felicitous terms,: expressing deep appreciation of the wonderful hospitality accorded them throughout the New Zealand tour. ! PARTY FROM RENOWN VISITS TIMARU By Telegraph—Press Ansociation. Timaru, May 18. 1 A large party of men from the Renown and the band visited Timaru to- ' day by special train. After lunchson, the majority of the men accepted an invitation to a motor trip in the country anil' a profession of about fifty ca's had a good ran. A holiday was 1 ouserved in the town, and a large crowd welcomed the visitors and listened to the band. MR. BASSETS MESSAGE TO WAITAKI . SCHOOL The Prime Minister sent tho following message, the Rector having asked liim for a message for the event, to the Waifaki High School on the occasion' •of the visit to the school of His Koyal llurltness the Prince of Wales:— ' • "I am delighted to learn fhat His Ttoval Highness the Prince of Wales is to-aav visiting the Waitaki High School, and I heartily congratulate all the members of the'staff and the boys of tho school pn this important event. His Royal Highness will meet at the school many splendid specimens of young Britons born and brought up under the Southern Cross, while they will have the honour of meeting in the Prince, of Wales a kindred spirit not many years away front' rhe great educational institutions of England, with their grand old traditions fresh in his mind. Waitaki will knoir how to welcome tht* eldest son of tho Hcval House of Britain, and the boy« | of 'to-day will in tho years to come apI precfate the honour'which has been conferred upon them by the visit of their future King to tho school where they are being taught to develop those qualities, and that scrupulous rcgard i for loyalty nnd honourable conduct which are characteristic of the best type of "British citizenship. Though I regret 1 cannot be at Waitaki to-day, I join heartily with all concerned in saying, 'Long live the King and God 'bless the Prince of Wales.

PREPARATIONS IN AUSTRALIA (Ike. May 18, 7.25 p.m.) Sydney, May 18. Preparations in Melbourne and- Sydney for tho Prince's visit are steadily proEri'ssing nan nssumlnsr shape, nnd proraise to be worthy of tho ocoasion.-Prcss <\ssn.