BRITAIN'S RULERS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 37, 24 May 1910, Page 6

BRITAIN'S RULERS

SOME REMINISCENCES. (By B. Enroth). Part 11. It is said, justly enough, that no public function can be postponed to advantage—and it was thought that this one was no exception to the rule. But it was fine enough. The weather was what used to be called "Queen's weather," and that in itself is no small matter in that murky climate, when it often occurs that one does not see the sun for weeks at a time. The procession was long and interesting, as is a matter of history. But the main feature, of course, was the golden coach with its eight grey horses, led by men in gorgeous livery, only exceeded in splendor by the coachman on his vvondenul seat. The carriage was open and one • feu a good view of both their Majesties. Forgetting the long years since 1 had seen him, I was struck to see an elderly, though portly,gentleman, with, on! such a benignant yet dignified cast of countenance. Such a lace and expression must, one thought, be a special gift of God to the ruler of 'his ( vast Empire. Those more familiar with his face, said foe looked pale, tout it had not occurred to me that he did. As to the Queen, whom I then saw for the first time, we all Iknow of her beautiful queenliness, which on that occasion was so lit up with joy and happiness that it was a means of grace to see her. A matter of interest to colonials was the fact that the horsemen who formed the immediate bodyguard of the Royai i carriage were selected from the various COLONIAL TROOPS who had served in the Boer war, which had come to an end while we were at sea. These men, one at least of w-hom 1 knew personally, had been selected in Africa for this honor, and very proudly they carried themselves, with as good, or better, a seat in their saddles as any other of the numerous soldiers from all parts of the Empire who rode past us that day. When the cheering which preceded and followed the Royal Family—for the present King and Queen, their children and many other royalties preceded their Majesties—when this ebulition of loyalty had passed us and the last of the procession was nearly Parliamen House and the Abbey, I ventured, as a colonial addendum to the various vocal evidences of loyalty, to give a coo-ee. There were many hundreds of colonials around me and I 'was gratified to 'hear this Australasian cry taken up by many of them.. Some of the paperes afterwards opined that it was the first time that sound had been heard by the walls of Westminster.

I saw 'his Majesty next on board his Royal yacht at the •XAVAL REVIEW AT SPITHEAD. The splendid liner Arcadia had been placed at the disposal of the visiting colonials and was for the occasion looiceu on as belonging to the Navy. We were all free igjuests, could take meals and order drinks or smokes as if we were so many private guests. It may not be amiss to note for the thoughtful consideration of our abolitionist friends, that although this was the case, by taking particular notice, I did not see one instance of one of the large number of colonials on board who exceeded the

I bounds of Christian temperance. i«ut that is, however, by the way. We were given a place close to the Royal yacht, and had therefore not only an excellent opportunity of seeing those monsters of the deep, which gave an object lesson of the might of the Empire—a sigjkt never to be forgotten, but we also watched his Majesty and party from almost over their head* anil close at hand. How : happy and proud they and we all were! 1 My thoughts recurred to the fourteen or fifteen ironclads we had recently seen in the harbor of Valletta, to say nothing of many others in Australian and Eastern seas, while here was a licet more than equal to dominate any other in existence at that time. One can only hope we shall always maintain an equally powerful preponderance. Once only since have I seen King Edward. It was on the occasion of his OPENING PARLIAMENT after the 'general election of 1!)05. Too late to witness the opening ceremony, I was fortunately in time to see him leave the House of Lords in his coach of .state, surrounded and escorted by the Life Guards and others. He bowed constantly in response to the salvos of cheers which went up from the crowd. He looked particularly well and hearty, there being not the least indication in his appearonce that his valuable life would soon be brought to a close. THE PRESENT KING. Other than those already mentioned my recollections as to the present King are but two in number. One is commonplace enough as connected with a levee at the Parliamentary Buildings at Brisbane, when I had the honor of shaking hands in the usual way. One thought then struck me—as it has many others —his wonderful likeness to his cousin the Czar. As this event is still fresh in the minds.of most .people further remark | is unnecessary; the voyage of the Ophir and its Royal passengers around the world will not quickly fade from recollection, any more than the celebrated "walke up" speech he made in the Guildhall on his return, which appeared to give him an individuality and prominence in the public eye and from which the happiest auguries for the future may be drawn. A CURIOUS INCIDENT.

The other incident was curious in more ways than one. It was so long since as when the two Royal Princes, Victor and George, were making a trip round the world in Ii.M.S. Bacchante, and the latter was a playful middy. Among other places visited was Brisbane, where everything was done to amuse and interest the youngsters as well as to show our loyalty to their Royal grandmother, Queen Victoria. A new Grammar School had been recently built and- it was thought well that the two princes should be asked each to plant a tree in the adjacent grounds, wihieh occupy a very fine position.' A state of unrest and suspicion then prevailed, which has long since died away, happily enough. .So different are things now, that but for such incidents as that which I am about to relate these bad old days would seem almost mythical. But it was not so many years before that their uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, had been shot at in Sydney by an avowed Fenian —an act that had it been successful would certainly have led to civil strife and much loss of blood. Hence a large body of citizens had quietly banded themselves together to form an informal bodyguard to these dear boys and to protect them from insult or injury. 1 learnt on good authority that every available revolver had been bought up and. I was advised to arm myself with one. But I had never so done even when living among wild Macks and had always found that 1 was quite as sale and as much respected as those -who were thus armed. My theory had always been that -by practising the golden rule and carefull}- avoiding a breach of native rules of etiquette one was safe in any place, if in the path of duty. So * repudiated the use of firearms now. It was thought that when the two young 'Princes were engaged in planting their trees and when all eyes would be fixed on them, any evily-disposed people, if such existed, would have their opportunity. So a number of gentlemen 1 arranged to be on on the alert and care- I fully watch proceedings, which we did. My station was immediately at the back of Prince George, our present King, whom may God long preserve. The lads'|j did their work well and truly, and of < course came in for much 'applause. 1. . must say in all fairness that I failed to detect in the very respectable company assembled anyone who looked likely to try a hand at assassination, and I felt glad I had not been induced to arm myself with anything more formidable than a stout walking stick. SIGNIFICANT PORTENT.

There is one incident connected with this tree-planting which has since caned forth some remark. The two trees planted were Moreton Bay tigs, and there seemed nothing to choose between them. But on the visit of the Duke ana Duchess of Cornwall and York it was noticed that while King George's tree had grown and flourished, as is usual with such species, Prince Victor's tree had never done so. When 1 last saw them the difference in their growth was most marked, one being a line specimen, while no one could so characterise the other. Many though this very curious then. Whether the same dissimilarity of growth still continues I am unable to say.