END OF TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 October 1920, Page 5

END OF TOUR.

PRINCE'S LAST FUNCTION. By Talssmyii,—Prosi Atsn.— Copyrifbt Hamilton (Bermuda), Oct. 3. The Prince closes his ever-memorable Royal tour to-day. His last public engagement was attendance at a church parade of the Royal Sussex Regiment in the beautiful grounds at the summit of Prospect Hill, where the troops are stationed. The Prince could see spread before him the whole island, on which stands Hamilton, the capital of the group, which has been in British possession since ffce time of Shakespeare. Local Opinion holds firmly that Shakespeare derived inspiration for the opening scenes of his drama "The Tempest" from the shipwreck of Sir George Somers, who discovered "still vexed Bermoothes" by the simple process <tf being wrecked on the island in his ship Sea Venture while on a voyage to Virginia in 1800.

The Bermudans have just celebrated their tercentenary as a colony with representative institutions. One of the most remarkable act* of the local Houso of Assembly was to prohibit the importation and use of motor-cars in the colony. The prohibition includes motorcycles. Horse traction provides the only means of transit. Carriages for hire are expensive and also slow, but many Bermudans express satisfaction with the enactment.

The process of Americanisation goes forward rapidly in Bermuda, as well as in some colonies of the West Indies group, notably Trinidad. There are many American business people in Hamilton, and American coinage is accepted as readily as British,. American tourists are welcome visitors, many coming for the winter months from New york, which is only two days' steaming distant. American influence in fashion and manner of speech is very observable in several islands of the West Indies group. The ancient system.of administration by military governors with local legislative bodies, having much circumscribed powers, is plainly ill-adapted to cope with the increasing Americanisation influences in these territories. The Prince drives to St. George harbour, where he embarks on the Renown this evening for Portsmouth,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.