THE PRINCE

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE

VISIT TO CHRISTCHURCH. FIRST FREEMAN OF THE CITY. By Telosrapli.—Press Association. Christcluireh, Last Night. "Prince's weather" Hint marked the Royal tour ever since Rotorua was left, broke to-day. The morning was wet and drizzly, but the afternoon saw the sun making feeble efforts to break into a smile as the Prince walked from the Christcluireh Club to Latimer Square, where the formal presentation of an addross from tin; citizens was made by the -Mayor. Many thousands of people were present, and heartily cheered the Prince coming and going. A feature of this function was the presence of members of the Christchurch Cambrian Society, the women being dressed in quaint Welsh national garb. The Misses Hudson made a presentation. "God Bless the Prince of Wales" was then sung in .English and Celtic. His Royal Highness, acknowledging the address, said he was always glad to meet Welshmen anywhere in the Empire. Addresses were also presented from the Ly:» telton Harbor Board, the Methodist Church, and the British Israel Association. ' , ~ :

At the conclusion of this ceremony the Freedom of the City of Christchurch was conferred upon the Prince by virtue of a document handed to him By the Mayor (Dr. Thaeker, M.P.) This is the^first case of the Freedom of the City being conferred upon anyone in Christchurch, or, indeed, in New Zealand, and it was decided upon by a meeting of city councillors while waiting on the railway platform last evening for the Prince's arrival. It is not clear whether the idea can be given proper effect to without special legislation, but that phase of the matter \Vill be inquired into later. Meantime, the idea, which originated with the Citizens' Association, has been carried out, and His Royal-Highness is enrolled as the first honorary Freeman of the City of Christchurch—a unique distinction for both the city and the man. '

A beautiful casket of gold,' platinum and silver, to contain the Auckland city addiess to the Prince, was not completed when His Royal Highness was in tho north, but has now reached Chriatchurch, and hits been handed over.

After the Latinfer Square function th« Prince drove to H'agiey Park. The route was lined by thousands and thousands, and more stood on all sides of the parage ground. In the Park an inspection ' of veterans and territorials took some'time, and the Prince's frequent stoppage to speak to men wearing special ribbons, or to_ a wounded man, earned for His Royal Highness frequent cheers and applause. 'Die troops made a fine display, and a large number of returned soldiers and nurses filed past the Prince. The drone ot the aeroplane overhead added a touch to the scene reminiscent in mr.ny ears of the dreadful days not long past, when such sounds meant much to'the auditors The rain kept off, but the ground was damp underfoot, and a chill southerly wind made things very uncomfortable. The streets are brightly illuminated tonight, and are packed with sight-seers