WELCOMED TO BELFAST

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1932, Page 11

WELCOMED TO BELFAST

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

CEREMONY OF OPENING

SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM

(British Official 'Wireless.) (Received 17th November, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 16th November. Immense crowds had assembled at Belfast to-day from all parts of Ulster to greet the Prince of Wales, who received a tumultuous welcome when he landed on the quayside from the motor ship, Ulster Queen. The Prince had left London by special train last night, and had embarked at Liverpool. Aircraft from the Ulster Squadron of the Air Force escorted his ship from the entrance to the River Lagan to the quay, where the Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, and Lord Craigavon, the Premier, boarded the vessel to greet him. As the Prince landed, his standard was broken out on the quay, and the cruisers Dorsetshire and Exeter fired a Royal salute. s .

The procession then formed and left for the new Parliament build-, ings. This is an extremely handsome edifice based on granite from the Irish mountains and panelled inside with marble and furnished in Australian walnut It looks out toward the Castlereagh Hills with the city of Belfast lying in the valley between. A knighthood has been conferred by the King on the architect, Mr. Arnold Thornley. Along the four-mile ronte through Belfast from the quayside to Stormont great crowds lined the streets, and gave a widely enthusiastic greeting to the Prince of Wales as he drove to perform the opening ceremony of the new Parliament Buildings. Although he had requested that econo\ my be practised by the civil authorities on street decorations, private citizens had decked their houses with flags and streamers all over the city. Rain fell heavily during the procession, but the Prince insisted-on driving in the open car. Awaiting the- Prince in the great hall at Stormont were the Northern Ireland Cabinet and a number of distinguished Irishmen. ' r

The opening ceremony was performed by the Prince on behalf of the King from' whom he delivered a message of greeting. The Prince said it was his father's earnest prayer that they should meet the difficulties confronting the whole world as well as their own special problems with the courage, tenacity, loyalty, and devotion, which had made Northern Irishmen famous in the annals of the Empire. . • The Prince afterwards proceeded through cheering crowds to the City Hall where an address of welcome was delivered.

His visit to Ulster will extend over three days, and wiil include a tour of representative industries.