PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 May 1920, Page 3

PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

GOVERNMENT LUNCHEON. THE PRINCE’S REPLY:. t f ACPTUAI.IAN Jt N.Z. CARI.E ASSOCIATION! I 3! WELLINGTON, May G. ~ To-day the Government gave a- Inn _■ I clteon hero in the Prince of Wales’ , i honour. Replying to the toast of !.is .' health, the Prince 'expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic welcome ac- . corded him everywhere he had been so far. He made humorous reference to tho railway strike troubles. He said lie was delighted to be able *o carry out the North Island programme without serious curtailment. .He had long looked forward to visit New Zealand, but never in any flight of imagination had lie expected the warmth of the reception accorded 05pakehn, and Maori alike. He was amazed,to see the progress made by a country in the brief space of time since it was first settled. AVhat struck him most, however was the splendid spirit of the people, proved first in the Maori wars, and then a generation later in South Africa, and finally the greatest test of all was 'n his own time and he was glad now to be able, to pay a personal visit to' a land whence so many brave men went to uphold the Empire’s name. The Prince tributed the work of women during the war and offered condolence to all people who mourned v.h? loss of dear ones through the war. He was.jgrea.tly struck by the systematic way New Zealand trained its children to become good citizens of the Empire. Tlie late war had resulted in hard times for many people. Yet, le said oven more difficult times were with us now. A new epoch hi the history of the world had arrived. Tile responsibilities of the British Empire were greater than ever ■ before. British people, however lie believed, were recovering from war effects liioec quickly than other nations. He de-j dared British peoples enjoyed a 1110.1- I sure of well being still denied to the I majority of tho other peoples of E<>- , .rope. Hie said unrest prevailed in pome 'extent in British countries. This would be overcome. It would lie overcome if they showed the steadiness and fairness which marked their conduct in tho war. The v must remcm her the eyes of the world were m tihfem. They must isettlje their disputes with commonsenso and fairness to all. They must not let tlie.ir local controversies effect common devotion to British justice, freedom and unity of the great Empire which their hands had made.

The Prince’s speech occupied a. ter of an hour. He was frequently interrupted by applause and cheers.

NOTES. BY THE WAY. A TATTERED REMNANT. At Palmerston North the Prince had a splendid reception, and tho stands and decorations put up in a day did credit to this growing" and progressive place, which one day will he quite a city. Here a very interesting episode occurred. In the midst of a little knot of people on the platform near the Royal car, the Prince was seen bending over the fettered remnant of a couple of flags that, an o(d isdt was presenting to him. The lady was Mrs J. H. Hankins (nee Balrymple), and the flags were the remnants of the regimental colours of the Third Foot Guards, now faded and decayed, yet still showing the stains of the blood of Lieutenant.

Lome Campbell, who was killed while hoisting them on Ponipey’s Filial-. Tlie Colours came into, the possession of General DalVyinple, Mrs Ilankiii’s great granduncle," and they wore brought to New Zealand in 1863' by her father, tlie late. Mr S. AAV Dalvymple. They pow pass to tlie Prince of AVales as Colonel-in-Chipf of (lut Welsh Guards.

A RACING MOTOR CAR. The Royal train had to be reshuffled , at Palmerston North, each carriage having to bq shifted till the Royal car was at the end of the train. As the train steamed opt of Palmerston North a yellow-painted motor-car, beliagged and carrying a large family, was seen careering along the main road keeping level with the train, now getting ahead of it, and anon being delayed at a crossing. By the time the train had entered the Manawatu Gorge, the car was still racing level with the Prince, and the women and children in it wore waving their flags cheerily. Everyone ! who knew' the road thought that till: would he the last that would be seen of. the yellow car, but no sooner laid the train emerge] from the first tunnel thajn the car was seen still racing along level with the train, its flags still fluttering in the breeze. Round beqd ,-if'ier bend on this difficult and somewhat dangerous road, the car swept. Everyone on the train, not the least interested being the Prince, was now watching the splefidid perfovniapcu of the driver, and the enthusiasm uf tho party on board bis car, The train pulled up lor a few minutes at AVuodvillc, and the car was waiting at the station. Then the Prince did one of those delightful things that he never fails to do if opportunity offers, and which is winning him hosts of friends all along bis line of route. He got down from tlie Royal train and scrambled tlirpugh’ a hole in tlm fence to examine the car. The Prince shook hands with tlie driver and congratulated him on hjs marvellous driving, after which he shook hands with each one in the car. I forbear to mention tho driver’s name, lest lie should be hailed before the Court, though there is li idle doubt that after Ills experience he would willing pay any penalty that the Court has power to impose.

ON THE RJMUTAKA INCLINE, Tho Prince was very much interested in the Rinuitaka incline, up which the Royal train, was hauled by threy Fell engines, He stopd out on tbe platform of his car fill he was black with sin'' 1 and smuts from the engines, keenly interested in tlie wild gorge which had a sinister look in the darkness. At the summit the Prince went for. a short walk while tlie engines were being changed, and on his return found the whole population of this elevated little railway settlement, men, women and children, to the number of about thirty, waiting

to see him. They gave him a very hearty welcome, -and he first of all went up to tho drivers and shook them warmly by the hand, thanking them | for taking him safely so far. He said

| lie very much appreciated their services. To this one of the drivers replied, “Titanic you very much, sir. We will remember this ail our lives.” The Prince then shook liands with all the others, and a little tot of a girl threw over him the leaves of chrysanthemums and wild hill flowers that they had gathered and dried that day, saying as she did so, “God bless you, Prince.” It was a strange, yet touching sight, seen in the darkness amid tho wildest scenery on the line. ~ j

THE PRINCE’S LITTLE JOKE. j AVitli all his onerous formal duties, the Prince still preserves tho gladsome heart of a boy. At .Rotorua last week states tho Auckland “.Herald’s” special reporter, he had a littie practical joke entirely on his own. After lie return(ed from a private dance lie astonished a porter by creeping quietly downstairs. Looking around for a minute he found in the office the slate oh which instructions are written as to the time guests are to be called. He wrote for a minute, and then dashed upstairs again. Tlie porter looked at the slate and found an instruction to call Lord Mount batten at 5.30 and Lord Claude Hamilton at 5 o’clock. The porter duly carried out the instructions. Lord Hamilton, it is stated, was inclined to be annoyed when he heard loud knocks-on his door as the town clock was striking five, hut he decided to resume sleep without more ado. At 5.30 Lord Mountbatten received an emphatic call from tlie porter, and the Prince’s cousin was also annoyed. He was more insistent than Lord Hamilton. He wanted to know why he had been called before cock-crow. Tlie porter immediately brought the slate, and to his credit, be it said, he did nob smile. Lord Mountbatten read the instructions and then lie remarked, somewhat crisply, that the porter need not wait. He had recognised the Prince’s handwriting, hut what happened later is not known. It is hinted, however, that; the Prince had his hath at an earlier hour than usual, and that , much splashing was heard from a certain bathroom, from which the Prince and Lord Mountbatten, looking very cold, later issued.

“ SOUP FOR A PRINCE.” An excellent chef had been engaged for the Royal train at a certain stage of the journey, but lie was a very loyal cook, and lie drank the health of the Prince of AVales in such bumpers that before very long lie was ordering delicacies in such quantity and quality that oven Lucullus himself would have been more than pleased. To begin with he ordered 10001 bof rump steak. He had evidently been a student of literature, and evdently must have read Charles Lamb’s immortal essay, for one of his demands was for no fewer than 15 suckling pigs. To this lie added forty gallons of port wine for preserves. Needless to say, lie was soon superseded, a lid it was sntisfactroy to all concerned that, a new chef worthy of the princely occasion was found without delay. To-day this new chef prepared a special soup for the Prince, which probably no other Prince had tasted. It was a soup made from the Toheroa, a mussel product of the North Island. Toheroa is Maori for “Long Tongue,” and it very aptly describes the appearance of the mussel when it is taken from its elongated black shell. It is a delicacy prized hv the Maoris, but only of recent years lms the pakeha recognised its virtues. Properly advertised it would make a name for any first-class restaurant in Lopdop, Paris or even Berlin in its palmy, days. The Prince liked Dm new soup, .for on a menu that he signed for the chef, “Eciwnrcj IQ,” he underlined the. Toheroa soup, and in the margin wrote “very good,” with double exclamation marks. Needless to say, tlie chef was an pleased as the Prince.

BRILLIANT scene in welling- ( to?, ; The Royal train drew in to tlie Thorndon station at 7.30 p.in, and tbe Prince ,upon emerging from the sta- j etion, found an enormous crowd ready to welcome him. The procession of cars moved up Lambton Quay and on through the other streets to Government ° House. The Government end other buildings were brilliantly illuminated, and the -streets thiongel 1 with dense crowds, who wildly cheer- I ed the Prince. It was by far the j most enthusiastic reception lie had received anywhere during his New Zga- : land tour.'’ So dense were thp cro.wds 'that liis car could movp only at a snail’s pace nqd it took him nearly three-quarters of an hour to get to Government House. He -stood up in liis car -tho whole time blowing and smiling and waving his hand to the people < n either side. Hie cars of the Staff, tho officials, and the Press correspondents were mobbed and weighted down with this extra human freight, and it was a wonder there wore no accidents. As many as a dozen extra people were clinging on to one car. i'T shook hands with him three times,” said one stout woman, somewhat scant of breath, who was walking beside the Press car. “How did you manage. that?” was askjed. I just got up on the stop of his pay./ she replied. Tlio; ovcy/uig was fine, and the whole scene, with the- great, crowds, the illuminations, and decorations and

the enthusiasm of the people, was very like a Continental carnival. The searchlights from the Renown and the moonlit clouds added to the brilliance of the scene. The Prince will certainly not soon forget the splendid reception accorded to him in the Capital City of the Dominion.