A TRIUMPHAL TOUR

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5465, 28 April 1920, Page 6

A TRIUMPHAL TOUR

PRINCE LEAVES AUCKLAND FOR IIOTORUA. ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES ALONG THE LINE. , hearty WELCOME AT NEW ZEALAND’S WONDERLAND. Press Association Telegram. AUCKLAND, April 2/. After three days’ sojourn in Auckland, the Prince of Wales this mornm<r set out on a tour of the Dominion. During the night heavy ram had fallen, but though clouds still hung low at dawn, the sun appeared fitfully through the rifts and eventually established the ascendancy. As the hour of ten approached, Lower Queen Street and all thoroughfares commanding any sort ol view of the railway platforms were soon packed with crowds eager for the last sight of the Prince. Hie Governor’s train had departed soon after nine, followed hy the pilot ahead of the Royal train. Promptly at ten the Royal motor car appeared, the Grammar School and Iving s College cadets forming the guard of honor. The Mounted Rifles Band was also on parade, and after the Prince had inspected the guard tne band played him into the train, accompanied by Admiral Sir Lumet Halsev and the staff. Ihe I rmee stepped Into the Royal car after formal farewells had been said, and the train moved off to the strains of “For He’s a Jolly Good bellow from the band and great cheering from the assembled people. Throughout the suburban area many loyal citizens, young and old were gathered wherever the ground provided a coign of vantage for sightseers. Further out mto the country as the tram came to little wayside stations the see tip was tho same in all save but the mten sitv of feeling was as great as ever. Bo the time passed till I uktkono was reached. Here tne 1 rennet, who had come out earlier to nicct hm constituents, joined the Royal train. The Pukckolie people turned out m force the school children, of course, forming a great feature of the gathering. An address of welcome and loyal tv was presented hy. the Alayoi of Puko.kolie, and the IT'nce made a brief felicitous reply. Hi© clnldien sang “God .Bless the Prince of Wales.” The Prince met and spope to some returned soldiers, and the journey was resumed amid the accia illations of the beholders. At Mercer rain came on and fell steadily for some minutes. Iv hen Ngaruawahia was reached the ram was still coming down in a fine drizzle, but this did not damp the ardor of a large bodv of Maoris who had. gathered to greet To Pirinihi lo \Vera. The tram did not stop but went on slowly. As the Royal car came opposite' the platform two burly Maoris in full native panoply of war held aloft a banner on which was blazoned the Maori equivalent of “Welcome to the Prince,” and they bent to the ground in recognition of the young Rangatira who one day would ■be their King. then a large number of Maori women marshalled along the roadside and chantedl a song of welcome, keeping time with the waving of greenery. RECEPTION AT HAMILTON. The rain threatened to fall lieai iei than ever, but a few minutes later the sun burst through the clouds, and as'the train pulled into the Hamilton station th© scene was gay in the extreme. The approaches to the station were thronged, ana an the band, struck up the National Anthem when the Prince appeared, the crowd’s enthusiasm was let loose m continued cheering and applause. After inspecting the guard of honor the Prince entered his car and drove to the Claudelands racecourse, the line of route being decorated and lined, with many hundreds of cheering, flag-waving people. At the course another great concourse had gathered, the numbers, of wlv.ch cam* as a revelation to the visitors, wno bad not dreamed it possible that the country centre could make such a showing." Owing to the recent resignation oL the Mayor of Hamilton , the town clerk (Mr. E. J. Davey),* with Mr. J. A. Young, U P. for the district, received His Royal Highness and Admiral Halsey. Ibe Prince then made an inspection of the veterans and the children lined up on the green. Tlio children, 5500 of them from all the schools in the neighborhood, presented a pretty picture as they fluttered their flags mid beamed, wTth delight written on their faces on the Prince they had taken to their hearts.

Tlie Prince then moved to a dais an front of tho grandstand, and was there presented with addresses from the Hamilton citizens, the County Council, and the- Veterans’ Association, to which the Prince replied in terms of appreciation. He made special reference to the fact that Waikato bad known the hardships and dangers of war, and rejoiced in the fact that the land now enjoyed peace and prosperity, which .he trusted would be enduring. i he Royal party then rejoined the train ■at Claudelands, after some delay due to unexpected- trouble in watering tho engines. This delay resulted in tho people getting rather out of control, and a singing crowd thronged delightedly round about th© Prince. ON TO ROTORUA. The rest of the journey to Rotorua passed without incident, except lor the cheering welcomes of little knots gathered at various wayside stations at tiic lake. At 4.35 schedule time all the world and hi s wile in Rotorua seemed t© have shut up house and gone into the streets to welcome His Royal Highness. Outside the station, which was decorated with ferns, foliage and flags, were •seated a group of wounded soldiers in blues with nurses in attendance. Two ranks of veterans, many being Maoris wearing mats of great value from tbe Maori point of view, and In front of these again 150 pakeha and Maori returned soldiers, awaited the Prince’s appearance, while the guard of honor was formed hy one hundred

members of the Maori Pioneer Battalion. After a brief inspecSSca-of these the Prince entered his car and drove to the Grand Hotel, which is the Royal residence during his stay here. His appearance at every point evoked a wonderful outburst of enthusiastic cheering, Maori and pakeha vying with each other in the expression of a hearty welcome to the wonderland of New Zealand. Hifi Royal Highness’ face was suffused with a flush of pleasure as he kept constantly acknowledging .the plaudits of the people. To-morrow’s programme will comprise the official Maori welcome and! tfl’e presentation of gifts to the Prince. > - 1 WiiCORK FROM BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS. PRINCE’S INSPIRITING REPLY. Press Association Teleeram CHRISTCHURCH, April 2/. The following telegram has been received by Colonel Cossgrove from the Prince of Wales in reply to a message of welcome on behalf ol tho Dominion Boy Scouts Council and the Boy and Girl Scouts of tho Dominion '' Please express t-o the Dominion Bov Scouts Council and to all New Zealand Scouts my sincere thanks for their message qt welcome and good wishes. I am looking forward to seeing many of.them during my visit, mid know I shall fina, among them that fine spirit and to at efficiency ,>f which 1 have already heard from the Chief fcPout. —(Signed) Edward P.” ELA 13011 ATE A RRANGEMENTS* IN SYDNEY. (Received April 27, 10.40 p.m.) SYDNEY, April 27. Elaborate plans have been prepared in connection with the Prince’s visit. At a meeting to be held in the Town Hall on Friday, representing two hundred organisations, it is expected to complete final arrange-, ments.—United Press Assn.