The Prince of Wales at Pukekohe.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 526, 27 April 1920, Page 8

The Prince of Wales at Pukekohe.

CHARMS THE HEARTS OF THE MULTITUDE. An Enthusiastic Demonstration. FRAN&L N'S ABIDiNG LOYALTY.

Long before the Royal t rain to convey the Prince thlough to Rotorua was timed to leave Auckland there was a large crowd at the Pukekohe railway station eager to obtain a gilmpse of our Royal guest. The station was lavishly decorated with native palms, and presented sin unique spectacle. The main entrance to the railway station was closed to traffic, and it was on the southern side of the station that all were assembled. A dais erected to reecivo the Royal guest was decorated with bunting and greenery, while the barricades to prevent the public from encicaching too near the Royal train were also draped with greenery. In front of the pavilion the returned soldiers of the district, about fifty, were lined up. while on either side were about 1000 school children from all parts of the district under the guidance of their respective school teachers. On the right of the returned men were the territorials and senior cadets under Lieutenant A. R. Hatt, area officer. Imperial and late war veteran. On the left of the soldieis' lines were members of the various local bodies, while at the rear of the lines was the large attendance of the public who had attended from far and near. The school children were seen to advantage on the railway platform, each one caivying a Union Jack mounted on a small stick, shortly after 10 o'clock all arrangements were complete and the ViceRegal train, which preceded the Royal train, by an houi'. conveying His ! Excellency ' the Governor-General, j Lord Liverpool, and staff. As the train drew into the station His Excellency stepped from his car on to the platform of the carriage. At the instigation of the Mayor <Mr. C. K. Lawrie) the Governor-General of New Zealand was given an enthusiastic ovation, for which he returned thanks. A short time after the ViceRegal train had continued its journey, the pilot train conveying the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), who was accompanied by his private secretary (Mr. F. I). Thomson) and a posse of police in.der Commissioner Donovan, pulled into the station. The Prime Minister, upon mounting the platform was heartily cheered. Accompanying the Premier was Mr. Keith Mil: dock the well-known war correspondent aid who is touring the Donrnion with the Prince as cor;espendent of the "Times" (London). The pilot train departed leaving the Prim* 1 Minister in Pukekohe. also some of the abevementioned officials. Eveiyone was now eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Prince. The stationmaster (Mr. A. F. Brown) gave a warning call that the Royal train had left Paerata. Everyone was astir, and within a few minutes the engine whistle was heard. The children commenced cheering, and inside four minutes from the time the train flew through Paerata she pulled into Pukekohe. The Royal car conveying his Royal Highness, at the rear of the train, drew up opposite the dais, and all the time there was continu ous cheering. As the train pulled up thi Prince appeared from the re a ■ car, and upon stepping on to Pukekohe soil he was met by the Prime Minister, who presented His Worship the Mayor (Mr. C. K. Lawrie), who in turn presented the bofough coim(illc.rs and the town clerk. The Prince, after shaking hands with the councillors and town board commissioners, mounted the stage, beaming a warm smile. As he stepped on to the stage the crowd rendered a verse i of the National Anthem, while the Prince stood bareheaded at attention, at the same time taking a note of the surroundings. His Worship the Mayor then introduced the Royai guest to those on the platform. Those on the platform were the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey), the Mayor and Mayoress, the chairman of Franklin County Council, Cr. W. Claud Motion and Mrs Motion, the chairman of the Tuakau Town Board, Mr Dynes Fmton, the chairman of the Papakura Town Board. Dr. A. W. P. Brookfield. and Miss V. H. Webster. (;. I!.K. (representing the Patriotic Society). J. F. Deane (town clerk). Messrs. F. Perkins (chairman of the Pukekohe School Committee). W. I). Flavell (headmaster), J. Patterson (secretary) and others ably arranged the scholars into the required formations. After the introduction the Maun then presented His Royal Highness with the acklness as follows:

THE MAYORAL ADDRESS. TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, Duke of Cornwall In the Peerage of England, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, and Baron of Renfrew in the Peerage of Scotland, Lard of the Isles and Great Steward of Scotland, K.G., 8.W1.1W G., M.C., Etc., Etc. .May it please Your Royal Highness i'he Mayor, Councillors and !iu:-j gesses of the Borough of Pukekohe and the surrounding districts extend you a most hearty welcome to this Borough on the occasion of your li st landing in New Zealand, and desire to express through you their continued loyalty to His Most (Iraciosn

Majesty the King, whose visit t<tnese Overseas Dominions in 1901 istill held in pleasing remembrance. We have followed with the keenest interest the career of Youv Royal Highness and especially ihe accomplishment of the duties and responsibilities which you undertook during the Great European War now happily ended, and we are glad to ha\c this opportunity of expressing our grateful thanks for the kindly consideration you always displayed in the welfare of those who went to take their share in the service of the Empire in upholding the principles of truth, justice, honour and righteousness against the common foe. We feel sure that the actions of Your Royal Highness in this mat tor greatly' tended to cement more firmly the ties of loyalty to the Thicne, and friendship between. Great Britain and her Overseas Dominions .

In again extending to Your Royal Highness a most cordial welcome and conveying to you the sincere well wishes of our Burgesses, we express the hope that your return Home may be attended with peace and safety, and we pray that the blessing and guidance of Almighty God may rest upon you. (Signed) ('. K. LAWRIE, Mayor. THE PRINCE REPLIES.

The Prince whose slight nervousness. due to innate modesty, veiy well became one in his august position, replied as follows, in a clear voice, his beautiful enunciation and clear, musical, resonant voice bein.i a classic example of what is meant by King's English in spoken langi#ip.e: Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen-

I thank you sincerely for your kind address, and will be glad to convey your assurance of loyalty to my father, the King. Pukekohe is, I understand the centre of the electorate of Franklin, which lias been represented in Parliament by my friend, Mr. Massey, almost since the year of my birth. I congratulate you and him on your mutual fidelity. He looks so young in spite of his long political career, that I think you can never have worried him much. You will, I am sure, regard it as a great honour in yoars to come to have returned to Parliament the Prime Minister who represented New Zealand at the Conference of Paris, and affixed the signature of the Dominion to the Treaty of Versailles. I appreciate very much the far too kind things which you have said about myself. iYl.iy I beg you, Mr, f/layci*, to convey to all the residents of this district my thanks for their cordial welcome and my best wishes for their prosperity and happiness. EDWARD P., Pukekohe, April 27th, 1920. At the invitation of the Mayor, the returned soldiers, headed by a returned sister (whose name we could not ascertain) filed past the* Prince, t'le Royal visitor shaking hands with eat::. Among the returned men were Messrs Joe Wilson, a D.C.M. winner, and Joe Adams, a M.M. winne.'. As these men filed past the Prince had a talk to each for several seconds. During the march past, the children under Mr. D. Flavell sung "G< d I< ! es: the Prince of Wales." As the end of the line were several veterans, the names of whom were unobtainable in the limited space at our disposal. The file past concluded, th-3 Prince then inspected the children, all time the little ones cheering and waving the Union Jack. The Prince acknowledged his appreciation by saluting them and returning an appreciative smile. At the invitation of Dr. Brookfieid I lis Royal Highness again mounted the dais and had his photograph taken, all the time the large crowd cheering the Prince. Aftei" saying good-bye to all near him, the future King stepped on to his train and saluted a final farewell, bowing and re| eating the words good-bye. Just before the train pulled out Miss Fdie Perkins, daughter of Mr. Frank Perkins, stepped forward and shook hands with the Prince. He clasped her hand in a gentlemanly manner, shook it and said good-bye. i fitwhole assemblage burst forth into cheers, which was renewed and con-1, tbiued as the Royal train drew out of the station. The Prince acknowledged the appreciation of his hi ief \i:, ; t by saluting and bowing on all sides until his car had passed the water tank on the southern side of the station. The Royal train was followed soon after by an emergency train, which carried a number of oliiccrs from 11.M.5. Renown, who are en route to Kotorua: this being the emergency 1 rain.