PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1920, Page 1

PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

(l’ei* Press Association.) THE JOURNEY OVERLAND. CHRISTCHURCH, May 13. * The Royal Party’s journey across tlie Southern Alps, by way of Arthur’s Pass from Greymouth and Westland , into | Canterbury was mado to-day in ideal I weather, though a brisk easterly breeze j and snow on the topmost heights made : the ail* keen and bracing. j At the various small settlements I along the line, the people though few ! in numbers, were very enthusiastic, and j at Otira and Arthur’s Pass, the two; railheads between which coaches car-! ried tho visitors over the top of the] Pass, the school, children made quite j brave little shows. j The Prince was driven over the Gorge j by a veteran, Mr A. Hall, one of tho proprietors of tlie coach line. Mr Hall, 1 in 1869 drove the Duke of Edinburgh ' frpin Melbourne to Bendigo. To-day he, used a whip given him by tho Duko on j that occasion. ’ . I Everyone walked three miles of the ; steepest part of the range. The rugged mountain scenery, with its ever recurring gullies, and its cascades falling down steep cliffs, and little mountain tarns coming occasionally into view, was greatly admired. At Arthur’s Pass, tho Royal train . was waiting. After the Prince : had j walked to the' end of.''the tunnel, lie en- i terod and examined it. Then after a . start was made on the run down to Christchurch, which was reached a little j after 7 o’clock. j

A great display. i CHRISTCHURCH, May 13. j Hats oft to Christchurch for its welcome .to tlie Prince, of Wales to-night must bo the verdict of anyone who lias j seen the,Royal visit celebrations in the! New Zealand centres touched at up to the present. The night was fine, j though clouds threatened to release j pent-up moisture at any moment. This j was surprising to the travellers, who j had enjoyed such glorious weather all j the time since they landed in the South i Island at Pictoii on Monday morning. To-day had been perhaps the best" of all. ' •' Bonfires, at hamlets and homesteads all along the line 'lit up the .scene momentarily after darkness l’eli, and at . Rolleston, -14'miles.away, lights on the j Port Hills beside Christchurch began to j appear. By the time the city station 1 was reached, it seemed as if flames from ■ a vast area of bush on lire were ascend- I ing skywards. The railway station was j tastefully decorated where the Prince. stepped on to the platform. The May-! or, Dr 11. T. J. Thacker, was presented, .also members of the City Corporation and Territorial guard of honour was inspected, and then tiie Royal Party eii- j tiered a long line of motor cars and ho-' gan to drve to the Christchurch Club, J where the Prince resides during liis I stay. Passing through the gates in the J barricade fronting the station, the eye ! encountered a seemingly endless throng i of people in Moorhouse Avenue aim Manchester Street, which was spanned at short intervals by strings of coloured electric lights, giving tlie appearance or' a long tunnel, with a fancifully illumin- j ated roof.' The procession made its way slowly through cheering crowds, the , Prince constantly acknowledging acclamations, and frequently standing up in j his car to let tlie people see him better, j When a turn (vas made into High | Street, past the Clock Tower, in a glory of bright lights a gorgeous sight burst, upon the view. The castellated archwavs in imitation while marble beautifully lighted up by electric bulbs of solt hues spanned tlie pathway of the Prince through Cathedral Square. The Bank of New Zealand, Post Office, Government Buildings, and newspaper and other buildings surrounding or near the Square were all decked with flags and j lighted with various patriotic designs. Tlie crowd grew thicker as the Square was approached, till finally the Royal tsar was upheld, nad people surged around it in a riotously enthusiastic mass After making a partial circuit of the Square as quickly as the dense body of people would permit the' Prince’s car turned into Worcester Street, and at last reached the entrance to the Christchurch Club. Here patriotic enthusiasm of the‘crowds reached the pinnacle of its fervour. Even when- His

Royal Highness had entered the Club, people remained in front cheering and waving flags until the Prince came to the upstairs window and Office more acknowledged the plaudits of the crowd. During the whole progress from the statioiuthc Cathedral hells chimed out a welcome, which added to the glad huzzas of the multitude in t)re streets below, and made the prince’s coming to the’ capital of Canterbury a veritable triumph. Christchurch lias accorded the future King a fitting welcome and at the same time done herself a great credit.