PRINCE’S GAY DAY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 May 1925, Page 11

PRINCE’S GAY DAY.

STUDENTS’ BAG AT CAPETOWN

DRIVE IN OX-WAGON

CAPETOWN, May 2. The outstanding feature of a croweded day was a students’ rag, when the Prince of Wales was invested as Chancellor of the University. A procession of motors outside Government House wa s replaced by a wagon drawn by 16 oxen, and the Prince jumped into the driver's seat.. An escort consisting of an army of “Cossacks,’ bearded and carrying brooms at “the present,” formed up in military fashion.

At a piano on the wagon a student struck up “For He’s a .lolly Good Fellow.” ' •

Surrounded by a thousand students the party made their way to the City Hall amid tremendous cheering. , Rising in the centre of the audience, a student impersonating General Hertzog gravely announced: “I am entirely opposed to secession”; while another, imitating Air. Glam say MacDonald, conducted vigorous singing, with the refrain, ‘‘You may forget Alai an and Bovdeli, but voiT'll never forget Ate.”

The hearty singing made the Prince laugh, and when, at a rounded period in the Vice-Chancellor’s speech, a student put a hen i n front of the Administrator, the venerable professors and the Prince joined in the laughter. The Prince in an extempore speech thanked the students. A drive round the mountain, interspersed with several chats with school children, followed, and the Royal party had lunch at the historic Vnnderstel’s homestead at Constantia, where the Prince delighted several hundred representatves of all South Africa with his tribute to the scenery, declaring: “I don’t know of anything finer.” He stopped the car at Constantia Nek to pick up a girl three years of age who was waving to him. He accepted her ‘‘bunnv rabbit’’ as a souvenir, and kept waving till the child was out of sight. This afternoon the Prince laid the foundation stone of. the University on a magnificent site at Gfroot Sefiuur, which, he recalled, was the gift of Cecil Rhodes, who knew no_ difference of race between the two South African ancl European strains, and who saw no barriers between the Union and the British Commonwealth, who now formed tlie surest nucleus of the wider fellowship of the League of Nations. There was another fireworks display to-night, while the warships were again illuminated.

OUT ON THE VELDT. PRINCE AMONG THE BOERS. The Prince of Wales met his first commando outside Worcester. After listening to the Mayor’s welcome he went straight to the familiar line of ex-service men. The n he studied the sturdy veldt ponies, and was introduced to the burly" commandant, who towered over him. Seated in a barouche, in the centre of 500 horsemen, the Prince was galloped into the town. When the commandant deployed the crowd rushed the harriers with an enthusiastic roar. The Prince was separated from his staff, but enjoyed himself jn the splendid countryside welcome. Returning to the station, the Prince noticed a Jong line of blind children from Worcester’s big blind institution. Their sightless eyes stared blankly, but their little hands clutched Union Jacks and their voices cheered feebly, while other voices choked. The Prince bowed his head humbly The Prince asked the schoolmaster to give all the scholars another holiday ‘to-morrow. The Master: That is impossible, sir! I shall have to telegraph to Capetown. The Mayor (intervening) : The Prince commands it! The Prince chuckled and drove off. At Wellington Hugenot College the girls nresented the Prince with a doll, capped and gowned. The Royal train constitutes quite a town on the veldt, haying all the appointments of a luxurious hotel, with telegraph operators to handle the many messages received and transmitted. The Prince’s arm is still in a sling.