PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1920, Page 1

PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

Auckland’s Wclctmc. i'AISTIIAIJAN &• N.Z. 0.'i11.1-' ASSOCIATION’) AUCKLAND, April 24. Tlio morning broke dull with the sun appearing fitfully through the low lying cloud bank, which partially obscured the headlands eastward of the city. As the hours passed the sun gained the ascendancy though not fully dissipating the clouds, and the scene on the harbour was animated. The water was dotted with yachts and motor boats, forming two lines out past North Head, round which, at 10 o’clock, the Renown came slowly feeling her wav into the harbour. She proceeded to the anchorage where the medical examination was quickly got through, and the vessel was berthed just before noon. Every vantage point on the rising grounds round about the harbour was occupied by thousands of people who were able therefrom to obtain a-line view of the whole scene. The foreshore and streets abutting thereon, also .held their full quotas of sightseers.

As soon ns the Governor called on the Prince, the Prime -Minister and .Cabinet colleagues paid their respects also, and the Prince then landed and drove to Government House, where he received an address from Government, at the hands of the Premier.

lieturning to the wharf gates, the Prince was officially welcomed by the Chairman of the Harbour Board. He then proceeded to the Town Hall and received an address, from the Mayor and Council on behalf of the citizens. The streets were gaily decorated, and crowded with thousands of cheering people, and bands playing patriotic airs, the whole making up the most brilliant scene ever witnessed in Auckland.

When the ship rounded .North Head on entering the harbour, the forts fired a Royal salute and the yachts also saluted the warships as she passed through their lines. The grim warlike appearance of the .huge battle cruiser were softened down by her holiday coat of light grey, but a reminder of the fact that the ship some times may have sterner business in hand, was lent the scene hv the appearance of an aeroplane circling overhead.

A STIRRING SPECTACLE. AUCKLAND, April 25. The Renown arrived in lj.no weather, Crowds went to the waterfront early, and to elevated parts of the city and suburbs, some to view, the panorama of the harbour as the Renown steamed in, and others to watch the procession as it wound its way from the wharf to the Town Hall. It was indeed a wonderful picture that unfolded itself to the observer who made an ascent to any point overlooking the. waters of the Waitemata. A great fleet ol yachts and motor craft, like a flock of giant sea birds floated on the harbour’s bosom, and slowly made choir way down to the North Head, where they formed into two lines, making a lane through which the warship came slowly in to make the berth prepared lor her at the Queen’s wharf. ft was barely 1(1 o’clock (sooner than many people deemed it possible) when the Renown came into view down the .harbour, and as she rounded North Head, tlio guns at the forts boomed out their noisy welcome. Big ships, he their purpose war or peace, are no novelty to Aucklanders, but the picture made by the long grey hull of the Renown, with her towering superstructure and .stern looking long guns, peering <OUt from turrets, was one that will not easily fade from the memory of the beholders. As she came slowly in, nearer and nearer to the city, the waiting multitude’s loud hurrahs of welcome rose spontaneously. At last the ship wais manoeuvred alongside and made fast without incident, the harbour’s officials having' everything in complete readiness They were not hampered by crowds, as the wharf was kept clear of all hut those who had official business there. GOVERNOR-LEXER A L All RIVES.

The Governor-General then arrived, and proceeded aboard, being received by Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey, on the quarter-deck, where the ship’s gitKrd of honour was stationed. His Excellency was escorted to the Prince and formally introduced. Then the Prime Minister, and the Hons. Sir A' illiam Eraser, J. G. Coates and C. V. Parr were presented. Alter the Cabinet Ministers came -Major-General Sir Edward. Chaytor, Major-General G. S. Ricluirdson, Colonels J. L. Sleemnn and H. R. Potter. These formalities over His Royal Highness came ashore to proeoed to the Government House, whither to the Governor-General had

1 ready gono. As the Prime stopped ashore guns ired the Royal Salute. His Highness inspected the guard of honour, which ivas furnished by returned soldiers, and then was introduced j,o the Chairman of the Harbour Hoard (JHrU. 1). Heather). Proceeding afoot, to the gates marking the, boundary between the Harbour Hoard and the City Corporation territory, the party came for the first time near enough to permit the people to get a clear view of j the face that every eye desired to see, and as the Mayor in his official robes, was introduced, the enthusiasm of the crowds was let fully loose. Cheer followed cheer, and like the circling waves from the, disturbance on tin; still water’s surface the. sound of cheering undulated joyously along the radiating streets, as the people picked ii]) the sound that indicated that something was in progress and paused it on. It. mattered not for the moment that they could not see what caused the outburst. They were out to cheer and give a glad welcome to their future King, and they meant to do it. Having now been formally admit let to the city’s territory, His Royal Highness followed his father’s footsteps tc the CJovernment House. Ho wae mot

oral there to receive an official welcome from tho Government on behalf of Parliament and the people of New Zealand. This was a strictly lormaj function, only tho Ministers with Sir Josoph Ward and the Hon. W. D. S. McDonald, Leader of the Opposition, and official visitors oeiiig present.

ADDRESS TO PRINCE. The Premier presented to the Prince an address as foliowis:—

“His Majesty’s Ministers, on behalf ol the Parliament and people of New Zealand desire to oiler to your Royal Highness a sincere and cordial welcome. Yf o assure your Royal Highness that all of us recognise that the visit of the heir to the throne of the great Empire of which we are partisans is an event of real public importance ami a, testimony of the interest with which His Majesty regards his most distant possession. Within a few miles of the building where this address is presented, tho first emigrants from the Mother Country, under an ordered system of Government and control, landed only eighty years ago.. Throughout the years since that foundation, the people of New Zealand have continued loyal subjects of the Crown ; but never in our brief history has personal regard for the Sovereign and the Royal Family been greater amongst us than to-day. Never has there been a stronger sense of the value of the King to his Empire. You yourself, Sir,' have borne your full share of the ! dangers and sorrows of the recent j years, and our soldiers who know of I your service, have claimed everywhere : to he among the first to welcome you. Wo are confident that your visit will he of advantage to this Dominion. We hope that in the years to come your Royal Highness will have none but pleasant memories of your stay and travel amongst its people. | Signed on behalf of His Majesty's; Ministers, for ' the Dominion of New j Zealand, this 24th day of April, 1920.” j W. F. MASSEY, | Prime Minister. i

THE TRINCE’S REPLY. The Prince replied: Prime Minjstei and gentlemen This is a very great occasion for me, when you, as representing the Parliament and people ol New Zealand, bid me welcome to your splendid Dominion, the Britain <d tire Southern Seas. I have looked Toward to this visit for a long time past, and will never forget the day on which .1. first set foot upon Net' Zealand soil. It was a great disappointment to me that an unforeu.nuo epidemic in the splendid ship "'hub brought me out. His M'a-jeslv’s ship, •‘Renown’ delayed my start i'lom England by a week, and 1 hope that you were not put to-great inconvenience in re-adjusting your arrangements For my visit, to which I auc ' you have given much thought and cult. Now that I am here at Inst, 1 feel myself no -stranger in a strange land, bn. one of yourselves, amongst my own I kith and kin. How con id I, 1,1 this great British Dominion, feel anybut at home. - 1 have server* with 0 my New -Zealand brother officers and men in the Great War, \\ Invb made all nations of the British Empire doub-ly--and trebly kin. I hive seen the ■Ministers of New Zetland taking their 'place as representatives oi n nation in the framing, in flie signing ol peace. [ have shared to the foil your pride in that achievement, the sign that iffis young nation has nobly won its spurs, and 1 have felt as dceoly as you with those brave men'and women who sacrificed their life their health, or their happiness !or the victory oi oui cause. You "ill unde.siaml, tliciefore, gentlemen, that my thanks fm your most cordial welcome are no mere form. 1 am deeply touched by your expression of devotion to my father, the King, and 'ey vc.ir reference to the place widen Hi.s Majesty lilts in the life of the T npirs to-day. I am also more than grateful f>.r the much too .generous things "Inch ,'ou have said about myself. I know that my time amongst you wi! In' iIOT ciiily a keen pie mure but a great experience. I am looking forward to meeting old friends -‘net miking m"' ones, throughout the Donmimn, am) though 1 cannot go everywhere in a month, 1 hope I shall see something ol all partis of the country and of .ill sections of its people, ueiove I leave. There will be much to tell you of uy experiences later in nn tour. hi the meantime, Mr Massey, 1 deg you to thank all Now Zealand, on my behalf for the warm and generous welcome which every jiart of the country has prepared.” Various local bodies later presented addresses, to which the Prince replied, and then proceeded through tlie streets by motor. .