THE ROYAL TOUR

Southland Times, Issue 18837, 2 June 1920, Page 5

THE ROYAL TOUR

PRINCE AND WAR COMRADES

RELAXATION IN THE COUNTRY

(By Telegraph..—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

MELBOURNE, June 1. The Prince is staying two days in the country. He spent Sunday with Mr Hughes and enjoyed an exhiliarating gallop to Mr Hughes’s mountain home at Sassafras, incidentally halting for “billy tea.” The Prince was delighted with this aspect of Australian bush life.

He visited the Caulfield Military Hospital on Monday, stopping at each bed and cheering patients. One soldier asked if the Renown’s band could visit the hospital, and the Prince consented. His Royal Highness was welcomed by 5000 soldiers, sailors, and nurses, and was presented with a golden paper-weight. The Prince condoled with the bereaved and expressed genuine delight at renewing his acquaintance with innumerable soldiers. A COUNTRY TOUR. MELBOURNE, June 1. (Received June 2, 1.10 a.’.n.) The Pnrice left to-day on a tour of the country. He was enthusiastically greeted ait Geelong, a feature of the reception being 7000 massed school children. He made a brief stay and then continued his journey. PRINCE AND CHILDREN.

MESSAGE TO YOUNG NEW ZEALAND

The message of H.R.H. was read by order of the Minister of Education in all the schools of the Dominion on Monday. The message was as follows; — H.M.S. Renown, Lyttelton, May 22, 1920. Girls and Boys of New Zealand, — I am very sorry indeed that my delightful visit to New Zealand is over, and I w T ant, before I leave, to send you my best wishes and a few words of farewell. 1 have asked that this message be read out to you by your masters and teachers, and also that, it, may be published in my own handwriting in your school journal. My first wish is to thank you all for giving me such hearty welcomes everywhere. It has been a great pleasure to me to see so many of you gathered to meet me. and I am going to tell my father and mother, the King and Queen, what a fine and loyal future generation is growing up in this Dominion. I also want to tell you what I feel about New Zealand. It is a splendid

and beautiful country, and well worth your life-long devotion. Remember, however, that it is a young country, and that it depends upon you and upon those who follow you to cany on the amazing rate of progress that has been achieved by your parents and grand parents. You have a spk-ndid example before

you in your fathers and brothers and also in your mothers and sisters, who marched and fought or worked and endured to win our well-earned victory in the great war. Remember always how much you owe to them, and try to do as much for the Empire in your own day as they have done in theirs. I trust that you may never be called upon to fight

in another war; but you can serve the mighty Empire,, which has kept you safe and well, in times of peace by living straight and useful lives and always putting your duty to your King. your Country, and your Flag before everything else. There are just three things which 1 want you to bear in mind; 1. Never consciously say or do a dishonest thing. 2. Always remember other people’s interests when pursuing your own. 3. Play for the side, and play the game. One last word: Please do not think of me as someone very distant who came to see yott once and then forgot you for people nearer the Old Country. I love New Zealand, and belong to it every bit ns much as you do yourselves. You. New Zealand girls and boys, are my own British kith and kin. and I will never forget the wonderful first welcome which you gave me to my New Zealand home. I hope this message is not to say goodbye, but merely "au revoir.” EDWARD P.