A SCOTS' WELCOME

Southland Times, Issue 18824, 18 May 1920, Page 5

A SCOTS' WELCOME

THE PRINCE AT DUNEDIN A DAY OF RECEPTIONS (Per United Press Association.) DUNEDIN, May 17. The Prince’s journey was resumed to-day through the fertile lands of South Canterbury and the interesting hills and valleys which mark a large portion of the railroad route southward through North Otago. The weather was fine throughout, though the sky was overcast a good deal of the time. Stops were made at Ashburton, Temuka and Timaru. RECEPTION AT ASHBURTON. Half an hour was spent by the Royal party in Ashburton, where the whole population of the town and countryside turned out for the event, which marks a red-letter day in the history of the place. The Prince was driven to the Domain where the civic and country addresses were presented. The children formed a prominent feature of the ceremonial. The returned soldiers, of course, came in for His Highness’s attention, and they and he were warmly cheered by the crowd. The departure from the station was marked by further pronounced demonstrations of enthusiastic loyalty. TIMARU’S WELCOME.

At Timaru an especially fine reception was arranged on the beach of the picturesque Caroline Bay. The train drew up at a special platform which the railway authorities had built opposite the bund rotunda, where the pxtual presentation of an address took place. Viewed from the beach a fine panorama spread out. the beach in the foreground covered with troops, cadets, and the public, while the terraces in the middle distance were packed with children, and on the terrace at the back above a long line of railway carriages held hundreds of spectators. Altogether 15,000 people were gathered together to see and do honour to the man who one day will be hailed as the King-Emperor of Britain and the Dominions beyond the seas. The High School boys’ band made a fine impression, and the girls from the Girls' High School were a picture of comely budding womanhood. The children from the State and other schools, there were over 3000 of them, made the air resound with cheers and huzzas as His Royal Highness passed through them. The demonstration as the train pulled out was remarkable, the people cheering and waving flags as if they meant never to stop. VISIT TO WAITAKI HIGH SCHOOL. The next call was at the Waitaki High School, where the Prince left the train and made a careful inspection of the buildings and appointments. The School Cadets a very fine body of boys, made a great impression by their smartness and steadiness on parade. In the Assembly Hall the Principal, Mr E. Milner, on behalf of the scholars addressed a few words to the Prince expressive of the boys’ welcome and of their loyalty to the Throne and to the person of their distinguished visitor, who, in a brief reply, congratulated the school on its fine record in producing citizens of worth. He also referred to the splendid role played by the old boys of the school in tha Great War, and urged those present to remember the grand example of those who had gone before. If they lived up to the traditions of the school a great future was assured them. The boys gave a spirited rendering of the Eton boating song and an adaptation of a Maori haka. Before leaving his Royal Highness planted a commemorative oak in the school grounds. AT OAMARU. Oamaru was reached by motor. The townspeople turned out in very large numbers, the slopes around King George Park being lined with spectators who accorded the Prince a warm-hearted reception. The route bade to the train led through wellfilled streets, and the people’s enthusiasm knew not the meaning of "Halt” until the Royal visitor was well clear of the town. Darkness had fallen over the country by the time Palmerston came alongside. This portion of the line, through hill and dale, with many sharp turns, reduced the average speed considerably. Nevertheless the train arrived at Dunedin very little later than schedule time, although Oamaru was left half an hour late. Passing along past Port Chalmers a fine spectacle was presented to the visitors. Scores of coloured "flares” about the town lit up the surroundings with a weird and striking effect. ARRIVAL AT DUNEDIN. THE CITY ILLUMINATED. PEOPLE’S HEARTY WELCOME. Dunedin gave the Prince a "cheerio” welcome. The city was brightly illuminated, and smiling faces filled the streets and lively, at times thunderous, acclamations rose to the clouds above the scintillating streets. From New Zealand’s “only” railway station, the facade of which was very finely illuminated, the route led through Stuart street, around the Octagon. up Princes street, and thence by way of Manor Place to the Fernhill Club, where the Prince resides during his stay here. Stuart street from the entrance appeared like a bower, roofed with fairy lights. When the procession entered the Octagon the Town Hall tried to dim Stuart street’s lustre by showing a bold front and a pagoda-like erection of electric lamps that was very effective. Away up Princes street was the Harbour Board’s arch, in the form of a gantry spanning the roadway, the framework seemingly composed of nothing but lights running through garlands of greenery and hearing lifebuoys on which were the names of the New Zealand hospittd ships and transports engaged in war work. Other illuminations were plentiful, but they were not carried out in such an ordered scheme as in the other cities. The enthusiasm of the huge crowds in all the streets along the route, however, was unbounded. Possibly it was worked up by the beaeon fires that studded the hills heralding the Royal train’s approach to the city. However that may be, it was a hraw Scots’ welcome to the bonny Prince who has walked right into the hearts of the people here as he has everywhere else in New Zealand. Later in the evening the Prince attended the citizens’ ball in the Art Gallery, a brilliant function in every respect. CHRISTCHURCH INCIDENTS. AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. THE PRINCE’S KINDLINESS. (Special to the Times'). CHRISTCHURCH, May 17. On his entry of the railway station this morning the Prince was informed that the stationmaster, Mr J. Woodbury', just a few minutes earlier had tripped over the .carpet laid to the Prince’s carriage and had broken a bone in his left elbow. The Prince at once went in to see him and shook hands, sympathising with him and wishing him a rapid recovery'. The happiest man in Christchurch as the Roy'al train steamed out was Superintendent Dwyer, of the Christchurch police. He was left standing with a little narrow leather case which the Prince pressed into hia hand with a hearty handshake as the train was actually moving. Mr Dwyer hastened to open the case, and found that it contained a gold tie-pin. The head was oval, and the edge of milled white. The centre was of red semi-transparent enamel with white Prince of Wales feathers let into the enamel, and the scroll with the motto in green enamel. The gift was a beautiful memento, and it was tendered in recognition of the excellent work of the police in Christchurch. Previously on the railway platform the Prince had shaken hands with Mr Dwyer and congratulated him on the traffic and other arrangements. On entering his carriage the Prince sent for Mr Dwyer, who

was actually the last man to say good-bye. A little incident illustrative of the Prince’s native courtesy occurred at Riccarton on Saturday. He was walking with a few, friends, but detached himself for a fevf moments to visit the totalisator. On his way he passed close to a lady who was carrying a child in her arms. The child had the racing programme in its hands, and as the Prince passed the little booklet fell to the ground. The Prince stopped, picked up the programme, and courteously returned it to the mother. Before passing on he received her thanks, but she was evidently in blissful ignorance that it was the Prince himself who had retrieved the card. THE RETURN JOURNEY. STATE DINNER ON THE RENOWN. (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, May 17. It will be impossible for the Prince to stay a day in Christchurch on his return north, as has been suggested. He will return to Christchurch from Invercargill early on Friday. Possibly there will be a hunt that morning in which the Prince will participate. In the evening there will be a farewell State dinner on board H.M.S. Renown, to which the Mayors of the four centres are to be invited, as well as prominent Government, civic, and military authorities. The Prince and the whole of his staff enjoyed their visit to Chri:\church im-. mensely. LOCAL PREPARATIONS, PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY. Local preparations for the reception and entertainment of the Prince during his brief stay in Invercargill are proceeding smoothly. Members of the corporation and government public works staffs are busily engaged in erecting the street decorations. Work on the arches is proceeding apace, and the Post Office has been outlined by electric light globes. Yesterday a goodly portion of Dee street was overhung with garlands of greenery which, if relieved by colour, should have a pleasing effect. On the occasion of the Prince’s visit to Auckland there were 12G minor casualties resulting from long waits in a standing position, etc., and these people were attended to by members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade which established stations at various points of the city. The local authorities are also making preparations for such eventualities, and it has been arranged to have a doctor at coll to attend to any casualties all of which will be evacuated to the Town Hall. Last night the illuminations on the Grand Hotel, the Post Office and the street decorations so far erected were tried, the effect being decidedly good. It has been suggested that country people in town when the Prince arrives should assemble in force in the vicinity of the particular “welcome banner” presented by their local body. This is a suggestion that commends itself to quite a few of the country folk to whom it ha-s been mentioned. SHAKING HANDS, DIGGER VIEW OF THE PRINCE. Writing in the Christchurch Press a Digger thus describes the ‘‘march past” and "handshake” in connection with the welcome to the Prince of Wales: —Then the Prince of Wales took his stand on a dais, and the diggers’ turn h.Ad come. The nurses and other "diggercsses” went first, and formed the head of a long g.nake-like single file, which from beginning to end must have been well over a mile long. It was a big task that the Prince of Wales had set himself in his eagerness to meet each individual digger, and while waiting our turn we began to realise what an ordeal handshaking must be for his Royal Highness. I think each digger made up his mind not to grip at all hard when his turn came. Slowly, it seemed to us, the Prince of Wales greeted every man, offering his left hand in hearty greeting with a friendly nod and that wonderful smile that lit up his strong, handsome young face, and punctiliously returning every salute. It was a task at which the horniest-handed giant might have quailed, but the Prince is good and game, and he honestly gave the conviction that he was thoroughly enjoying himself. In reality, the hand-shaking proceeded at a fast rate, probably forty or fifty to the minute. Then my own turn came. The Prince’s clear blue eyes looked me full in the face, his left hand caught my right, and there was a touch of genuine heartiness in the light pressure, and of friendliness in the I ‘ mile which flashed across his jolly face, j Passing from the dais, I made my way In the ranks of the hollow square forming up round the Standard, and took up a “possie” directly facing the Prince. I watched the remaining quarter mile of hand-shaking diggers pass before him, and the last man got as warm a greeting as the very first. There was not the faintest suspicion of boredom or weariness. The Prince was full of friendly “ginger” all the time. Every time a digger who had lost an arm or showed any sign of disablement stepped on the dais, he was detained for a few seconds while the Prince, with a look of genuine sympathy, spoke a fe wwords to him. The Prince was a marvel in the way he picked out occasionally soldiers who had served in units outside the N.Z. Division and the A.1.F., and questioned them as to their service. He had a word nr two for one or two of the “Aussies” whom lie recognised. PRINCE AND MAORI MAID. INCIDENT AT CARTERTON. At the Carterton celebrations in connection with the Prince's visit, a little Maori girl, the daughter of Mrs Boyd, of Greytown, presented His Royal Highness with a Maori mat, the gift of herself and tier mother. Subsequently, and just beforeleaving, the Prince noticed the little girl in passing, came over to her, and askc-1: "Is this the little girl who gave me the mat?” Receiving an answer in tlie affirmative, he shook hands with her saying. “Good-bye little dear,” and then shook hands also with her mother. Later Mr and Mrs Ernest Boyd, of Greytown, received the following letter from the Prince; — "Government House, “Wellington. “The private secretary' to the Prince of Wales presents his compliments to Miss Maisie Boyd, and is desired by His Royal Highness to thank her very much for the Maori mat which she presented to him yesl terday, and which His Royal Highness was pleased to accept as a souvenir of his first visit to New Zealand.”