WELL DONE, HOKITIKA

Hokitika Guardian, 13 May 1920, Page 3

WELL DONE, HOKITIKA

A SYDNEY CABLE OF CONGRATU LATION.

Shortly after 1 p.m. to-day, Mr D. j. Evans received the'following cable, message from .Mr M. Pollock, a wellknown pioneer resident of Hokitika a few years ago: “Well done, Hokitika,’ 1

It may be assumed that the special correspondent of the Sydney “ Sun ” who was accompanying the Royal Party, had sent a glowing account of the reception accorded to His Royal Highness Hie Prince of Wales by the people of Hokitika and West la pd last night. A further telegram received from Miss-Mary Stuart Sedclop of Wellington said ■ “■Well, done, Westland.” Officials with the Royal Party freely expressed the opinion that the whole turn out at Hokitika far exceeded expectations, in fact led the Dominion in point of the marked excellence of the whole scheme of reception, and the heartiness with which it was carried out.

YESTERDAY’S HAPPENINGS. Ihe following press message was sent out last night by the Press Association agent with tiic Royal Party;—

The* reputation given the West Coast for wetness cannot be subscribed |*o by those included in the ltovai Party' now visiting this djstrict; Wonderfully fine weather prevailed again to-day,* ;qid the trip from Reefton fo Westport and back to Ijiapgahqa Jupctiqji by mpfpt and thepce to Hgkitikq. by train was thg' pleasantest perhaps of the tour, the day’s tally, 180 miles and the motor portion was something - to be remembered, His Royal Higness set out' from Roefton at 9.30 in the morning, the “sun hardly strong enough .to dissipate mists which lay over the upland fits and the wreathed peaks of the neighbourong ranges, while the slight coating of rime lent a sharp twang to the “ air”, tliat caused the blood i,o pulse ' morb freely and made life' worth living. By'‘flip time the Inangah’lui bay' pass'd rifl'd flic ipwpr ‘ Buffer' (Jflrgp.. entered,' the sun had' gained the ascendancy and in' some enclosed parts was almtist as hot as a summer noonday. ’J’hose whpse firsf visit it- wag to the faipous Gorge werg properly enthusiastic at each tufp ag itunfolded gome geenp of rugged graqdeur ip thg toworflig forest clad blnff or sharp escarpment, wflh the road winding around its face, clinging close and threatening every moment to come to an abrupt end with a sheer drop into thp river tumbling along far below, Again there came into view long reaches of deep water bordered by -wonderful greens and browns of trees overspreading small flats or rising precipitately from the river’s edge. The awesome sweep round Hawke’s Crag was safely negotiated and the beautiful Fern Arch was adnijrcr], 1 while t]io great yellow gash jn fhe face of'the hill marked the sit-o of the recent slip, which spoiled one of the best known spots on the road. On the outward trip a cinema picture was taken of fhe fleet PT Il >otP, r cars filing’ past Ferp Arc]i. Westport Wits reached ay midday, and the townspeople gave flip Prince a cordial welcome, the streets being decorsflsd and q gepepaj holiday atmosphere lyipg over thp. coal port. After half an hour’s stay, a start was made op the return journey to luapgidiua Junction, j His Royal Highness taking the wheel and driving thp car all f.he way through ! the Gorge in good style, his time being equid to anything done on life run.

Dame rumour had it that the Prince would be asked by tho local road controlling authority to explain why lio was driving without a license, but it is understood tlrii report is quite without foundation, It may be, mentioned that Ilis Royal Highness holds a license to drive jn Great Britain, apd' iio fluid)!, in thp circumstances, this was thought to be good enough for the fnangahua Gou»ty.

On arrival at Impigahua, fhe pip ty foupd luncheon awaiting fheni ift t’hri train, and cnrtriiidy did justice to if. Passing Reefton. en route to Greymouth and Hokitika, the Prince held a brief reception of school children who made a pretty picture outside tho station, and sang patriotic songs with great fervour. Something of a novelty was introduced by tho address to the Prince being read by a little girl, Ivy Kearns. The journey by train dowm the valley to Gieymouth, past fhg fiawnijljs ?nfl gold workings, mosfly gaunt skeletons, lemiiiiscent of the rush days when the disr trict was in the hey-day of prosperity, was hardly interesting, and no one was sorry when, these ghosts of past acth ity were swallowed up in the darkness which.fell before the sea coast was reached-

RETURN TO REEFTON. REEFTON, May 12. Iteefon was eh fete to-day for tho

- Prince’s visit. His Royal Highness - motored to Inangnhua Junction, and • then took the train to Reefton, arriving at 4 o’clock. School children, numbering about 1000, assembled at the railway station, and presented an address, and a gold nugget. The Princo addressed them shortly, and congratulated the teachers of the country schools who had brought the children long distances. He also Con- : versed with Mr Gordon, a Crimean war veteran, and Mr Raithby, a Maori war veteran. He was heartily cheered by the children and a large assemblage. Something-of a novelty was introduced ,the address to the Prince being read by a little girl, Miss ivy Kearns, j Tho Prince left by. train at 4.10 p.m. ' for Hokitika, getting a rousing send-off. A holiday was observed throughout tho district. There was a very large assemblage of Greymouth people at the' railway station last evening before 6 o’clock, when the Royal train was due to pass through ou its journey from Reefton to Hokitika. Preceded by the pilot train, the Royal train arrived at a couple of minutes to six, and when the Prince of, ' Wales made his appearance as the train ; 1 passed through the station, there was a great outburst of cheering from the assembled crowd. The run to Hokitika occupied just about an hour,

VISIT TO GREYMOUTH. GREYMOUTH, May 13. The weather is gloriously fine ; o'r the visit of thp Prince. The town is thronged with visitors. The route to Vicr toria Park was.tastefully decorated with splendid arches by the ' local bodies. An avenue of ferns and palms was erected near the Park. Over. 3000 school children were present, and a. big muster of returned soldiers -and veterans of other wars. The Prince presented medals to soldiers and planted a memorial oak. TJie .proceedings were marked with enthusiasm. The Prince afterwards left for Christchurch.