Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 14th, 1920. WORTH WHILE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1920, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, MAY 14th, 1920. WORTH WHILE.

It would not bo difficult to anticipate the answer of the people of Westland to the query if it were put to them, “ Was it worth while?” to become interesteq in the Royal visit which closed in such happy circumstances yesterday. The reply would lie a ringing affirmative. The concourse which assembled yesterday was greater far than the multitude gathered together tlie night before. The curiosity of the many had worn off. They had seen and were already hell captives under the winning way of the Prince of Wales. The new comers were favourably impressed in advance by the excellent reports which had gone abroad. Tlie people bad taken the Prince to their hearts and made him “our Prince,” So it was, when be appeared yesterday, the enthusiasm was more pronounced and hearty than ever. The royal progress of the Prince and Party through the living avenue of children extending from Keller’s Hofei to the Government building was a scene ever to ibe remembered. In the crush the adults forgot it was Children’s Day and encroached all too liberally on bh t > area intended for the rising generation. This was, of course, to ho ascribed to the exuberance of the excitement of the seniors, but it was rather a pity the children were blocked from massing m front of the future King of Great Britain, and prevented from rendering the patriotic songs they had prepared. This was perhaps the one untoward event in tlie whole proceedings, and it was a pity the arrangements in this respect so miscarried, primarily through the short-siglitness of the older folk, who in their excitement, forgot that it was Children’s Day. The popularity of the Prince no doubt upsets tbe best laid plans very often, and probably the Hokitika incident was not singular in the course of events during the Royal Tour. Tlie miscarriage of the arrangements in this respect iboars out the feeling expressed at the outset, that the people as a whole were captured by the charm of the Royal visitor. Yes, the whole celebration to mark the great event in .our history was quite worth while. will have been made, and opinions moulded which will have a marked effect on the .community. At every (bum there was fho wholehearted expression of loyalty, and in attachment to the Throne, whence the Empire is ruled there can be no two opinions as tlie ..great volume of opinion in Westland. The district, however, but emphasised its former records and lived up to the traditions of tlie past. Never before had it so notable an occasion to display its inward feelings of sentiment and y(feetion to the Royal Household. The visit to Hokitika was a pleasure and delight al round, lor it is pleasing to know that prominent members of the party expressed their very great satisfaction at tbe pronounced heartiness of the reception and entertainment here. One of distinguished pressmen with the party likewise conveyed to a representative of this paper his own impressions of !he occasion, which were of a most complimentary character. Yes, Westland’s interest in the Royal Visit was csrtninIv worth while. <