ENGLAND’S PRINCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1926, Page 4

ENGLAND’S PRINCE.

LONDON, July 22. The Prince of AYales had a wonderful reception at Portsmouth yesterday, when he became the first freeman since the., port- was raised a few weeks ago to the dignity of a city. All business in the town was sus, pended for several hours and there was scarcely a gap in the huge crowds as be drove along the 15 miles of decorated streets. The police were not numerous enough to keep a rigid path for the Prince, and time alter time bis car had to crawl through narrow lanes of cheering people. The presentation took place at the Guildhall and the casket containing the scroll was made of copper and oak from Nelson’s old flagship, the Victory.

The mayor, in handing the casket to the Prince, said: “We welcome you as Heir Apparent, but moro particularly as a man who is generally recognised as the greatest ambassador and sportsman of this generation.”

lITS KAfPIRE TOURS. The Prince, ill reply, said : “ [ am proml in accepting your Freedom to follow in the wake of so many illustrious sailors, the first, of whom I understood was Lord Howard of Effingham, of Armada fame. “ Although nowadays. 1 do not wear the uniform of a naval officer as often as I might wish, I Slave been given nilrivalled opportunities of seeing the world and sailing the seas during the last ,seven years, and throughout that period Portsmouth has wished me Godspeed and welcomed me on my return with cordiality that 1 can never forget. “ 1 am glad to think that on each occasion of my various tours of the Dominions it was from this historic port that 1 set out to traverse seas which still echo the fame of many of those who have preceded me in their time as Freeman of Portsmouth, and paid visits to 'distant parts of the Empire which they strove to consolidate.

“ Memories come hack to me of my first departure one English .summer evening, with the Victory looming through the haze, and gradually fading away in tihe smoke of its saluting gmis—and a return on a later occasion ; great ships in Spithead, a leaden skv and driving tain, hut the warmest of welcomes after a long absence from home.”

EXTRA WEEK’S HOLIDAY. The Prince afterwards went to tlie Royal Portsmouth Hospital, where lie distributed among the patients, the flowers thrown, into his car. Twelve thousand children were gathered at Alexandra Park, hut refusing to go on the dais he walked among the children and listened to their singing. “I am not going to leave these children without -speaking to them,” lie said to the mayor and, picking up a megaphone; he climbed to the conductor's platform and made a short speech in which he told tnein ho had obtained nil extra week’s holiday for them.