PRINCE OF WALES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 204, 24 May 1920, Page 5

PRINCE OF WALES

FAREWELL MESSAGES

"BON VOYAGE" AND "KIA ORA"

"A STAY THAT WAS ALL TOO

BRIEF"

; . The Eight, Hon, W. F; Massay (Prime Minister) has sent Dhe following reply to the farewell message of the Prince of Wales:—

"On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, I desire to express our loyal and heartfelt appreciation of the farewoll message received from Your Royal Highness on the eve of your departure from New Zealand. "The-woi!comes 'in all parts of tihe Dominion extended to Your Royal Highness sinco your arrival have come straight from the hearts of. tho people. The citieena of New Zealand, both pakeha and Maori, Efhare with you the regret that your stay in this country has been too short to enable you to seo rilany places where your welcome would have bifen as i warm as in those which you have been able, to visit. Your notice of tho fact tlhat New Zealand is a land of equal opportunity for ail, and an example that a British race may undertake the colonisation of a country without injustice to its original inhabitants is a tribute to tho pioneer settlers and founders of our Dominion. The: people of New Zealand thoroughly appreciate the message you Ibave sent them, and on their behalf I beg l to assure you that the opinion you have formed from your visit regarding their loyalty to the Crown, the Empire and British ideals is well founded. ....

'Tour message has been' published throughout the Dominion, and I can as-: sure you that it is heartily appreciated by our people and especially by the returned soldiers and the women of New Zealand, and that all those bereaved in .the' Great' War will in' particular treasure •the words of farewell that you liave addressed to them. The Territorials „and Cadets will also gratefully ~ read <• your appreciation of them. . " '

"With Tour Royal Highness the people of New .'Zealand have been impressed by the splendid gatherings of school children who have assembled to pay their respects to you. We are glad to think that in them lies the. continuance of a race which will acfLup.to the highest! traditions of that unrenentantly,' British character to which .you rhave referred. We rejoice to know 'that yQu have, felt so mucfh' at 'home araongist us, and .your assurance that yon are a true New.Zealanderin heart and one of our own kith' and kin ha? strengthened our affection for you. On behalf of the. Dominion I can assure Tour Eoyal Highness that shonM'the occasion arise, there will be the same Tesponse from New Zealand as was iriven in the last five strenuous years. "New Zealand sincerely wishes you bon voyage and a safe;-return to the Homeland, where we -trust you will not fail to convey our assurances of loyalty and devotion to His Majesty the King and his Royal Consort, to both of whom our fearts go out in sincere affection and respect." . TEACHING PROFESSION HONOURED

Following is a copy of a letter received by .the Prime Minister from the private secretary of the Prince of Wales:—

"Sir,—The Prince of Wales has read with great interest the renort which has reached him in reply to Ms Tequest for Information regarding the arrangements made to convey and care for the school children >at all points where they have been gathered to see .him. • His Royal Highness has been deeply impressed throughout,by the excellence of the provision made for the comfort, of the. children; and would like to congratulate all responsible for the very complicated work of organisation" wjiich must have been necessary to ensure saich remarkable success. Would you kindly convey his great appreciation to the Secretary of Education, the General. Manager of Railways, and the Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs?

"His Royal Highness would also lite to^ Day a tribute to tho schoolmasters and Mistresses whom ho lias met throughout the Dominion. The obedience, tho wellbeiupr, cheerfulness, nnd good manners shown by nil the. gatherings of children, Ereat and 6mall, havo- impressed him Tory much, and ho has taken the greatest .interest and pleasure in their beautiful displays of .movement and drill. He realises that all this indicates a great deal of hard work , and careful teaching on .tho part of those . responsible for t 2; that the denortment of the children and the displays Riven by them speak volumes for the excellent of their training. Will jou kindly convey lna congratulations to all schoolMasters and mistresses throughout the 'Dominion, and also his best Irishes for their sficess and happiness in the mo?t

important and responsible -work on which they are ensued ?-I am. your obedient lervant.

"(Sgd.) E. W. M. GRIGG, .Lt.-Col., Y Secretary to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales."

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS AND THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

fj? n J' I ®.^ e P ai '' ur o of H.M.S. Eenown Trom Lyttleton on Saturday morning, tho Uovernor-General dispatched tho following message to His Royal Highness the rnnce of Wales:—

I join with my Government and the people of this Dominion in expressing to Your Royal Highness our fervent nope that your tour so auspiciously commenced in theso southern 6eas may vl ® m P' re still closer together, and at tho same timo prove a source of knowledge and pleasure to yourself. New Zealand parte with Your ■Koyal Highness and those who sail with y ?i U i l l " le regret after, an all-too-short visU amongst us, < Kia Ora. LIVERPOOL, Governor-General." His Excellency received on Saturday evening the following reply from His Iwyal Highness:— "I am greatly touched by 'your' Excellency's message of 'farewell on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand. Please convey to all my warmest thanks. I can never say how much I enjoyed my first visit.to New Zealand, nor shall l ever forget the loyalty and affection with which I was .welcomed everywhere. New Zealand will never be far from my thoughts and I hope to pay the Dominion another visit at some future time. Tho sooner the opportunity comes the happier I shall be. Kia Ora "EDWARD P."

GREAT PREPARATIONS IN SYDNEY (Rec. May 23, 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, May 23. Emulating New Zealand, (he city' is making great preparations to entertain the Prince of Wales. It is estimated that the street decorations will cost <£60,000, of which the Government's share (mostly _on public buildings) is expected to 'bo .£15,000. Ths balance will mostly be supplied by business houses. The long route of the procession is being lined with tall Venetian masts, between which will be strung greenery, bunting, and designs in coloured lamps. Buildings are alive with workmen erecting electric 1 fittings. The Government is making preparations on an - elaborate scale at the landing piaco at Farm Cove, also in Macquarie Street, where the main colour scheme is blue and white, the Prince's colours. Tlia_ street is divided into sections Tepreienting Britain and the various Dominions. Business people have charge of tho remainder of the route through tho city, which is divided into blocks, and various enthusiastic block committees are vioing with each other to produce the best possible effect with a view to a harmonious wholo. Ono grandstand at the top of Macquarie/Street will bo provided for veterans and incapacitated soldiers only. ' ■

There is some uneasiness regarding the railway men, who are demanding the reinstatement of a numbor of men who were dismissed during the 1917 strike and double pay during the Prince's visit. Officials of the men's union indicate the possibility of trouble unless the demands ftre conceded. Meetings will bo held next ,\reok to consider the position. ■, iMbouine pTepftratlona ora ia e, for-