PRINCE IN THE INDIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 237, 4 October 1920, Page 5

PRINCE IN THE INDIES.

I CLOSE OF A GREAT TOUR. AMERICAIfISATION OP THE ISLA-CDS. A MOTORLESS GROUP. ;tty Cable.—Press Association.—Copy—e_t.) I Received 11.30 a.m.) HAMILTON, Bermuda, Oct. 3. The Prince of Wales closed an evermemorable Royal tour to-day. His last public engagement was attendance at a church parade of the Royal Sussex Regiment in the beautiful grounds on the summit of Prospect Hill, where the garrison troops are stationed. The Prince could sec spread before him the whole island on which stands Hamilton, capital of the group, which has been a British possession since Shakespeare's time. Local opinion holds firmly that Shakespeare derived inspiration for the opening scenes of his comedy "The Tempest," from the shipwreck of Sir George Somers, who discovered "the still vexed Bermoothes" by tho simple process of being wrecked on the island in his ship, the Sea" Venture, while on a -voyage to Virginia in 1609. The Bermudans have just celebrated their tercentenary as a colony with representative institutions. One of the most remarkable acts of tbe local House of Assembly was to prohibit the importation and' use of motor cars in the colony. The prohibition includes motor cycles, and horse traction provides the only means of transit. Carriages for hire are exnensive, and also slow, but many Bermudans express satisfaction with the enactment. The process of A—icricanisation goes forward rapidly in Bermuda, a» well as in some of the other colonies, of the West. Indies group, notably Trinidad. There arc 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 distance away." American influence and fashions and manners of speech are 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 of these territories. The Prince drives to St. George Harbour, where he embarks on the Renown, this evening, for Portsmouth.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)