PRINCE IN SUVA.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3467, 22 April 1920, Page 5

PRINCE IN SUVA.

AN ENTHUSIAS-TIC WELCOME.

SUVA, April 21

The Prince of Wales landed from the Renown at 10 o’clock to-day, in very hot weather. He received an enthusiastic welcome. Suva afforded extraordinary scenes of colour when the Prince was welcomed by the Governor, Sir Cecil Rodwell. The principal Ollicials were presented by Captain Josko, the Governor ’s secretary, and the pre» sentations included Mr A. K. Young. K.C., Acting-Chief Justice, Mr H. M. -Scott, K.C2, Mayor, and Mr T. E. Fell, Colonial Secretary. The Prince in« spected the guard of honour of fulllblooded Fijians and halt‘-castes, who made a fine show, and also shook hands with eighty returned white Veterans, some from Fiji, others still wearing Australian uniforms. He inspected the stalwart. Labour battalions of fullblooded Fijians who served at Havre, Marseilles, and other regions in France, and also in Ifaly, possessing an excellent record. ,

Among the Fijian ofiicials presented were Roko Tui Tailevu and Roko Tui Cakaudrove, members of the Legislative Council.

Replying to the municipal address, the Prince said: “I met many of your peopleserving with the Australian corps, the New Zealand Division, and the King’s Rifle Corps" and the Fijian Labour Corps. I am particularly pleased to-have seen so. many returned sailors and soldiers. No part contributed more largely in proportion to its strength, both in men and money, than Fiji. The King retains the happiest: memories of his visit to Levuka nearly forty years ago.” The crowds in Suva included solemn suturnine Indians "and gaily bedeck—ed:and laughing Fijians; whose huge frizzy pheadis \wo‘re ornamqntetl with paper flowers, and Whose skins were shining with cocoanut oil. The" dominant note of the. demonstrationwvas distinctly of a military character. The returned soldiers -’= expressed. ftheir i ap-' preeiat-ion of the’ Prince by " Wildly Cheering his every appearance.

The Renown arrived here this afternoon. All are well. She will leave here_ on Thursday.» ~ .

Sfiowery weather interfe/redwith the spectacular side of'the arrival, but a flotilla of native canoes escorted the Renown into harbour. The Governor, Sir Cecil -Rodwell, visited the~P'rince immediately. The Prince gives dinner aboard the Renown to-night,‘ and makes an -official landing‘ to-morrow morning. Suva is gaily‘ decorated ‘for the occasion. ‘ ‘ ' ' ’

After entertaining the Governor and leadin'g‘residents'.at dinnef on the Renown, the Prince Went out in a picket boat with a party in search of sport, equipped with hand nets. They go? among :1 small school of poisonous sea snakes. The Prince netted two and shot one from the _ship’s gangway with a rifle. A brilliant light was lowered to the surface of the water, causing a shoal of fish and snakes to assemble.

PRINCE VISITS NATIVE VILLAGE

Reééived 8.55 a.m.

SUVA, April 21.

This morning His Royal Highness bestowed an accolade on Sir Cecil.Rodwell, Governor of Fiji. The matter was arranged as a surprise ‘for Sir Cecil, who recently received the K.C.M.Gr. In the afternoon, after attending a war dance of Fijians, the Prince went out in a motor with the Governor and Captain Joske, the Governor’s aide—de-camp, leaving his own staff behind. Pilo‘ted by Captain Ellis, President of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, the Prince drove through the bush to the furthest point praciicable on the road. He then alighted and walked with the Governor and Captain Joske two miles ‘to the native village of Tamavua. In Fijian social life._the household {is thennit of civilisation, the village consisting of a number of households under the general supervision of the headman. This headman of Tamavua Was absent on the occasion of the Prince's visit, but the Prince entered the native houses built of woven reeds, with thatched rohf. The people came out and recognised the Governor. Cap‘f. Joske then said in their own language that the Prince was greatly interested. They crowded round and closely inspected him. Hc tried on them a few words of the Fijian language he had picked up, ending “samo'thia,” meaning “goodnight.” He remarked afterwards that he had greatly enjoyed the first glimpse of the real domestic li‘fe of the Fijians.