Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1901. EDWARD VII.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 January 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star, AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1901. EDWARD VII.

The as yet uncrowned, but nevertheless the King of Great Biitain and her dependencies is to be known as Edward VII. Why so when his name is " Albert Edward" does not appear very clear, but the name matters but little; it's the man, his character and nature that we need but look at. As the London Times remarks, he " is endowed with the most lovable and attractive qualities of his great mother. He has a kind heart, and quick appreciation of genuine worth. The nation will be happy in the confidence that the King will follow his mother's footsteps, according, at once, to the spirit and letter of the constitution. Moreover, the King has perfect tact, and a wide knowledge of men and business virtues. He has a method of prompt decision and punctuality, and a great capacity for work." More could not be said in his favor in a given number of words. He is the eldest son of our late Queen, was born at Buckingham Palace, November 9th., 1841, received his early education under the Rev. Henry M. Birch, rector of Prestwick, Mr. Gibbes, bar-rister-at-law, the Rev. C. F. Tarver, and Mr. H. W. Fisher, and having studied for a session at Edinburgh, entered Christ Church, Oxford, where he attended the public lectures for a year, and afterwards resided for three or four terms at Cambridge for the same purpose. His Royal Highness spent most of the summer of 18G0 in a visit to the United States and Canada, where he was most enthusiastically received, was in 1858 gazetted to a colonelcy in the army, and joined the camp at the Curragh in June, 1861. Accompanied by Dean Stanley, the Prince travelled in the East, and visited Jerusalem in 1802. His Royal Highness is a K.G., a general in the army, and Colonel of the 10th Hussars, and has the titles of Duke of Cornwall (by which he took his seat in the House of Lords in February, 1863, in the Peerage of England); Duke of Rothesay, Baron of Renfrew, and Lord of the Isles, in Scotland; and Earl of Dublin and Carrick in Ireland; and enjoys the patronage of twentynine livings, chiefly as owner of the Duchy of Cornwall. His Royal Highness married, March 10th., 1863, the Princess Alexandra of Denmark, by whom he has issue. The Prince of Wales became President of St Bartholomew's Hospital in April, 1867. Towards the close of the year 1871, his

Royal Highness was attacked with typhoid fever, and for some weeks his life was despaired of; but ho slowly recovered, and was able to take part in the memorable " Thauksgiving Service " in St. Paul's Cathedral, February 27th., 1872. He was elected Grand Master of the Freemasons in England in succession to the Marquis of Ripon in 1874, and on April 28th., 1875, was admitted to the office at a Lodge held in the Albert Hall, South Kensington. On May sth., 1875, he was installed at the Freemasons' Hall as First Principal of the Royal Arch Freemasons. In 1875-76 His Royal Highness visited India. The great interest he took in the Paris Exhibition of 1878 contributed in no light degree to render it a success. His Royal Highness attended the Court Festivities held at Berlin in March, 1883, to celebrate the " silver wedding " of the Crown Prince with the Princess Royal of England. On this occasion he was nominated by the Emperor as a Field-Martial in the German army. In 1885, the Prince, with the Princess and their sons, visited the Paris Exhibition ; and in October of the same year he was present at the wedding of the Duke of Sparta at Athons. The annual income of His Royal Highness was raised, in 1889, from £IO,OOO to £76,000 (in accordance with the recommendation of a select committee appointed to inquire into the subject of Royal Grants, on the occasion of the Queen's application for an allowance for Prince Albert Victor and Princes Louise of Wales), so that henceforth the provision for the Prince's children was made out of the Prince's income. His Royal Highness hag taken a great personal interest in all the Exhibitions recently held at South Kensington, and was Executive President of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, opened by the Queen in May, 1886. He also originated the Royal College of Music, and is the chief mover in the Jubilee schemes of an " Imperial Institute." In 1888 the Prince and Princess celebrated their silver wedding Of late years, and since a very serious illness, ho had cast on one side the frivolities of youth, and paid great attention to matters of Stato. Indeed for many years past he, in many respects, fulfilled the duties that appertained to the monarch. He is, perhaps, more a man of the peopb than any previous King. He is possessed of liberal ideas and wi 1, we opine, make a model King of Britain.