ROYALTY ENTERTAINED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 289, 7 December 1901, Page 3

ROYALTY ENTERTAINED.

IN HONOUR OF THE OOLONIAL VIBIT.

A BRILLIANT FUNUTIOrt.

PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. Received 6, 0.17 a.m. London, December 6. The Prince and Piinee«s of Wales were entertained by tie City of Loni don Corporation to-day, in recognition i <>f the Kuccess of their colonial tour. 1 They leceived a greafc ovation as they i drove through Piccadilly and Holborn.J The City w»s gaily decsrated, the flag of the Australim Commonwealth beiDgf extensively displayed. The Agents-General of the various colonies were amongst the guests invited to attend the luncheon at the Gui'dhall to meet their Royal Highnesses. The function presented a splendid spfctacle. The Prince of Wales, re plying to the toast of his health, said ha paw in Au-traliathe consummation of mission which was the immed'ate objec of the R'.y«l journey. Hh beirers could imagine the pride he felt at pre siding over the inauguration of tht first R preventative Assembly of thf Commonwealth. During his happy stay of many weeks in the different States, ha was able to give an insight into the working of their social and other interest*. He was able to see something of the great progress made, and the vast capabilities of the Commonwealth, and also to gain the acquaintance of many of those tu whose credit the progress of the country is jdue. He found New Zaaland in full enjoyment of free and liberal institutions. Many interesting social experiments were being put to the test. He had the s ttisfaction of meeting a Urge gathering of Maoris, once our brave and resolute foe?, but who were now paoeful and contented. Tasmania was visited on the homeward

jcurney. He added that tbe Old Country must wake up if she intended to maintain her „old position of pre-eminence in colonial trade Bgainst foreigners. Lord Rosebery, proposing the toast of the " Colonies," expressed a hope that one result of tbe journey would be to Bystemise and make more businesslike the bonds uniting the Umpire. Mr. ChnmberlaiD, in responding, rejoined that their Royal Highnesses, as representing the Imperial idea, w«re welcomed by >ubj cts living on five continents yet constituting one people.! Lord Salisbury, in propo-ing the " Lord Mayor ani Corporation," and commenting on the colonies' rally to the Mo'herland in h>r trouble, said our distant kinsmen's support constitutes an approval and sanction which to us is worth infinite'y more than all the contempt and aflthe censure we may receive from other nations.