THE ROYAL VISIT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 June 1901, Page 2

THE ROYAL VISIT.

Tiik Royal visitors have now arrived in Wellington and gratified tbo eyes of thousands of New Zealanders by a sight of what Eoyalty is like. It is a good and sound policy on the part of the British Government to encourage these visits, as they tend to draw closer the bonds of brotherly alliance with the Mother Country. The HeirApparent's journey is made under peculiar circumstances, inasmuch as it was the wish of the late Queen Victoria that the young Prince should visit the colony for a specific purpose, and that her death should not interfere with its performance, and this wish was fully endorsed by the King. It is the first time that tho heir to the Throne has visited the Australasian colonies, although both himself and his late brother visited these colonies in 1880, and the King's brother, when Duke of Edinburgh, was in these waters in 18C8. That this visit has been an unparalleled success cannot be gainsaid. The reception of the young Prince and his wife has been of a most enthusiastic character, and the main event in connection therewith is one that cannot be repeated, viz.—the initiation of the Great Commonwealth of Australia and the opening of the First Federal Parliament. To be sure, the reception their Royal Highnesses will meet in Wellington may not be on the same scale of magnificence as that accorded to them in Melbourne and Sydney, but it will be none the less hearty and welcome. The visit will give the Duke an idea far better than any written description of the mighty Empire, over which he may be called upon some day to rule.