HISTORIC BANQUET.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 282, 7 December 1901, Page 2

HISTORIC BANQUET.

PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES ENTERTAINED. | 1 THE VISIT TO THE COLONIES, j By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright j i London Dec. C. j ! The Prince and Princess of Wales were J entertained by the City of London Cor- j poration to-day. in recognition of the success of their colonial tour. They received a great ovation as they drove through Piccadilly and Holborn. The city was gaily decorated, the flag of the Australian Commonwealth being extensively displayed. The Agems-General oi the various colonies were amongst the guests invited to attend the luncheon at Guildhall to meet their Royal Highnesses. The hall’presented a splendid spectacle. The Prince of Wales, replying to the toast I of his health, said he saw in Australia the 1 consummation o£ tho great mission which was the immediate object of the Royal I journey. His hearers could imagine his j feelings of pride presiding at the inauguration of the first representative assembly of the Commonwealth. During his stay of many weeks in the different States he was able to get an insight into the working of the Commonwealth social and other interests, and into something of the great progress made and the great capabilities ot the Commonwealth ; also to gain the acquaintance of many to whose credit the progress of the country lies. He found New , Zealand in the full enjoyment of free, l nberal institutions. Many interesting social experiments had been put to the ; test. He had the satisfaction of meeting ; a large gathering of Maoris, a once brave and resolute foe, but now peaceful and contented. Tasmania was visited on the homeward journey. He added that tho * Old Country must wake up if they ius tended to maintain the old position of ' pre-eminence in colonial trade against

foreigners. Lord Rosebery, proposing the toast of the Colonies, expressed the hope that one result of tho journey would be to systematise and to make more businesslike the bond uniting the Empire. Mr Chamberlain, in responding, said ho rejoiced that their Highnesses, representing the Imperial idea, wero welcomed bysubjects living in five continents, yet constituting one people.

Lord Salisbury, proposing tho Lord Mayor and corporation, commenting on tho colonies’ rally to the Motherland, said : “ Our distant kinsmen’s support constitutes approval and sanction, which to us is worth infinitely more than all the contempt and all tho censure we may receive from other nations.”