PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1920, Page 2

PRINCE OF WALES’ TOUR.

(Per Press Association.)

AT CHRISTCHURCH. CHRISTCHURCH, May 14.' The fine weather that marked the Royal tour since Rotorua was ■ left, broke to-day. The morning was wet and drizzily, but the afternoon saw tile sun making a feeble effort to break into smiles. • -

As the Prince walkeft from the Christchurch Club to Latimer Square where the formal presentation of an address from the citizens was made by the Mayor, many thousands of people were present, and heartily cheered the Prince coming and going. - . A feature of this function was the - presence of members of the Christchurch Cambrian Society, the women being dressed in the quaint Welsh national garb. Mrs Hudson made a presentation. “God Bless the Prince of Wales” was then sung in English and Celtic. His Highness, in acknowledging the address, said he was always glad to meet Welshmen anywhere in the ; Empire. Addresses were also presented from the Lyttelton Harbour Board, the Methodist Church, and the British Israel Association.

At the conclusion of this ceremony the Freedom of the City of Christchurch was conferred upon the Prince by virtue of a document handed him by -.the Mayor, Dr H. T. J. Thacker. This, is the first ease of the freedom of the city being conferred on anyone in . Christ!church, or indeed in New Zealand, and it was decided upon by a meeting of City Councillors while waiting on the railway platform last for the Prince’s

arrival. It is not clear, however, whether the idea can bo given proper effect without special legislation, but that phase ot the matter will be inquired into later. Meantime the idea, which originated with the Citizens’ Association, lias been carried out, and His Royal Highness is enrolled as the first honorary fieeinau of, the City of Christchurch. It is a unique distinction-for both tlie city and the man. , - . A beautiful casket of gold, platinum and silver, to contain the Auckland city - address :to the Prince, was not ‘completed when His Royal Highness was in the north, but it has now reached Christchurch, and has been handed over. '

After the Latimer Square function, the Prince drove to Hagley Park, the route being lined fay thousands, while thousands more stood on all sides of the parade ground in the-Park. An inspection of veterans and Territorials took some time, , and the Prince’s, ’frequent stoppage to speak to men wearing special ribbons or to wounded men earned His Royal Highness frequent cheers and applause. Die troops made a fine display, and a large number of returned soldiers and nurses filed past the Prince. The’drone of an aeroplane overhead added a touch to the scene reminiscent in many ears of dreadful days not long past’when such, sounds meant much to the auditors. The rain kept off but, the grotmd was damp underfoot and a chill southerly wind made things uncomfort-, able. The streets are brightly illuminated again to-night, and packed with sightseers.

REMARKABLE ENTHUSIASM AT ; ) HOKITIKA. A telegraphed 'report appearing in' the Christchurch “Press” says: At Hokitika— so long the home of the man known - in these islands ps a great Imperialist—the .people lived up to tlieir oldtime reputation for loyalty. The whole town and district seemed to have poured its population into the streets of Westland’s capital and more enthusiastic crowds could not be found anywhere. The streets were gaily decorated, a special feature being illuminated arches at intervals along the line of the Royal procession, with many, transparencies showing legends of welcome and benediction on the people’s Prince of to-day and King of to-mor-row. As the procession moved off from the station, coloured lights blazed up the band played and the people cheered, the whole scene being one of remarkable enthusiasm, which was'sustained during the time.the motors made their ' way slowly to Keller’s Hotel, which is tile Prince’s headquarters. His appearance on the balcony, with Air F. E. Y. Soddon ALP:, for Westland, the Mayor,(Mr Perry), and the county chairman (Mr Bruce) was the signal,foe fresh and prolonged cheering. : Addresses of welcome from local bod • ics yere presented, and tiie Prince, in a happily-worded reply, referred to the ivarmth of the receptions accorded him at each place he' had visited on the Coast. He wished the. people a return to and a continuance of, the glorious prosperity the district had known in the years gone'by. , “ ■ ' “ ' Laer in the evening his Royal Highness attended a public reception and citizens’ ball ,in the Drill Hall, which was finely decorated for the occasion.' .- The function was really a brilliant sue, cess; indeed, it may be'said that Hokitika’s welcome to the Prince was extraordinary in the intensity' of the nariotic feeling displayed.

THE VISIT TO FIJI.

’ SENSATION AT A DANCE. AUCKLAND, May 12. The Prince of Wales has a happy knack of endearing himself to the people whom lie meets, no matter in what walk of life they may, happen to be, and particularly to the returned soldier. Describing tlie Princess visit to Fiji, the “Herald?s” Suva correspondent states that when inspecting the returned soldiers, Private G'. Higgins,' late of the 17(11 Battalion, came forward and shook hands with tho Prince. His Royal Highness looked at him keenly and said, “Well, I did not expect to see you here. When I last saw you you were in the hospital at Rouen.” , On meeting an Australian soldier' whom be had inspected in France the j Prince said, “I don’t think I will ever - jjp' forget thA visit to you Australians. * They gave me a wretched horse to ride, and I had the wind up properly. Every time you men made any movement with your rifles that old waler attempt- • , ed to on its hind legs.”, The joke was the soldier relates, that all hands were wondering at the splendid horsemanship of the Prince. A dance was given at Suva to tho officers of the Renown, and the Princo and hia staff attended. The ladies were in a flutter of expectation as to whom the Prince would dance -with, and

there was a sensation when his aide-de-camp approached' a pretty girl typiste, (not in society), and she danced with the Princo. During the evening his Royal Highness cast aside convention by personally inviting Miss Mitchell, the pretty young daughter of Mr .Mitchell of Burns, Philip, and Co.) to dance with him. A second danco resulted, and the Prince led hep to supper.' . . 'Hie correspondent adds that tno Prince’s visit undoubtedly loft an excellent impression on the Indians, who are still a bit sore over restrictions which it is still found necessary to impose upon them. A