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Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1920, Page 2

[t will be very disappointing to tlio people. of Westland il they are not to be afforded a glimpse of His Royal 'Highness the Prince of Wales. Apparently the itinerary has been fixed from Nelson to- Christchurch taking in the Buller and Otira Gorges, but omitting the more gorgeous scenery of Westland —though of course the Otira belongs to Westland. r lhe Mayor and County Chairman have appealed to M r Massey, whose hands are very full already with more immediate concerns, and there are not much grounds for being hopeful about the’ result. The Prince’s visit is so fleeting that it might be opportune to suggest Ifis Highness travel by aeroplane. By that means much more territory could be covered in the time. In any ease he might be given the chance of being one of the pioneers to fly the Southern Alps. If of course, the mountain will not come to Mahomet, no doubt Mahomet will■ design to go to the mountain! laterally, a s the Prince will be passing through a top corner of \\ oslland when approaching Otira, the next best tiling will be for the people to go on exodus to Otira and greet This Highness. No doulit as soon as the tour is fixed definitely, and we fear that is done already practically to the exclusion of this rpiarter of Westland, the local bodies will require to meet, and get busy to see where they can intercept His, Highness and on behalf of the people arrange to nay that homage to our future King, the people would wish to do.

Tun Hokitika School Committee did not display their usual forothough for the children when deciding on Monday night to drop the school excursion for the year. It appears to be somewhat exceptional that an important ccntic like Hokitika, should omit the annual

excursion, more especially as the townspeople have profitted from other excursions here during the season. It appears rather niggardly to drop the excursion with that fact in mind. But if the Prince of Wales tour is not going to include a visit to Hokitika, wliat about arranging a school excursion to Otira, so that the children may see their future King within their own territory? To put the present tour to its fullest value it is advisable that as many of the rising generation as pos. sible should be brought into the closest touch with their future King. Probably when most of those in authority to-day have passed away, the Prince will be the reigning Sovereign, and the children of to-day will be the men and women responsible for the destinies of the country. It were well, then that the young folk should have a personal impression of their future King. The average adult who has seen reigning Sovereigns rather takes pride ; in the fact, and so it would lie with the young folk—they would look back to the time when they hailed then King a Prince in their own land. The idea is pregnant with importance to the future of the country, and should be ■ given effect to if it is* found Prince Edward may not come to Hokitika.