THE PRINCE'S LITTLE JOKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1920, Page 6

THE PRINCE'S LITTLE JOKE.

AN EARLY MORNING CALL. With all his onerous formal duties, the Prince still preserves the gladsome heart of a boy. At Eotorua oh Wednesday night he had a- little practical joke entirely on his own. After he returned from a private dance he astonished a porter by creeping quietly downstairsLooking around for a minute he found in the office the slate on which instructions are written as to the time guests are to be called. He wrote for a minute and then dashed upstairs again. The porter looked at the slate and found an instruction to call Lorn M..-untbatten at 5.30 and Lord Claude Hamilton at 5 o'clock. The porter duly carried out the instructions. Lord Hamilton, it is stated, was inclined to be annoyed when he heard loud knocks on his door as the town clock was striking the hour of five, but he decided to resume sleep without more ado. At 5.30 Lord Muntbatten received an emphatic call from the porter, and the Prince's cousin was also annoyed. He was more insistent than Lord Hamilton. He wanted to know why he had been called before coek-crow. The porter immediately broi/it the slate, and to his Credit be it said, he did not smile. Lord Mountbatten read the instructions and then he remarked, somewhat crisply, that the porter need not wait. He had recognised the Prince's handwriting, but what happened later is not known. It is hinted, however, that the Prince had his bath at an earlier hour than usual and that much splashing was heard from a certain bathroom, from which the Prince and Lord Mounrbatten, looking very cold, later issuedThe Prince made an unofficial visit to Whakarewnrewa in the afternoon. Accompanied by a friend he walked to the famous show place, calling for a guide on the way. The party inspected the sights at leisure and spent an enjoyable time. Pohutu geyser,, which failed to play during the official visit yesterday, owing to the bad weather, gave a splendid shot, thoroughly repaying the Prince for his trouble. The other attractions of the place were seen under the most favorable conditions, the weather being ,B«rft«t,