LONDON'S WELCOME TO THE PRINCE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7372, 25 January 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

LONDON'S WELCOME TO THE PRINCE.

A COLONIAL DAY AT THE GUILDHALL.

THE PRINCE OF WALES

ON HIS TOUR-

•A STATESMANLIKE SPEECH.

LONDON, December 6.

The Prince aud Princess of Wales made their first public appearance yesterday since the historic title was conferred on them. At the invitation of the "City Fathers" the Royal couple went to the Guildhall to receive an address of welcome and congratulation after their .little world jaunt of 45,000 miles.' The weather happily, was ultra fine for December, and the Royal progress from York House to the city was witnessed in comfort by untold thousands massed along the whole troop-lined route. For once in a way Fleet-street and the Strand were shelved in favour of Piccadilty, Shaftesbury Avenue and Holborn, and the change was an excellent one, since the heavy vehicular traffic in the city from north to south was hardly interfered with at all. The route, of course, was decorated in the usual style, which consists chiefly of a mass of tawdry bunting of crude colours fluttering overhead:

Of the proceedings at Guildhall preliminary to the luncheon little need be said. Mr John Dimsdale, the Lord Mayor, with the usual array of civic big-wigs in attendance, received the Royal visitors in the library, where already had gathered Lord Salisbury, Mr Chamberlain, Lord Rosebery, the Duke of Devonshire, and other political and social entities.

The gargantuan feast prepared was euphemistically termed "luncheon." Thereafter came the usual array of toasts, and the accompanying columns of oratory from the Lord Mayor, the Prince, Lord Salisbury and the Colonial Secretarj'.

THE PRINCE'S SPEECH.

In reply to the toast of the day, given by the Lord Mayor, the Prince, after the necessary graceful compliments to the hosts, spoke at length upon the recent tour. Of the Australian Commonwealth .the Prince said: "Australia saw the consummation of the great mission which was the most immediate object of our journey, and you can imagine the feelings of pride with which I presided over the inauguration of the first Representative Assembly of the new-born Australian Commonwealth, in whose hands are placed the destinies of that great island continent. (Cheers.) During the happy stay of many weeks in the different States we were able to gain an insight into the working of the commercial, social and political institutions of which they justly boast, and to see something of the great progress which the country has already made, and .of its capabilities, while at the same time making the acquaintance of many of the warmhearted and large-minded men to whose- personality and energy so much of that progress is due."

Of New Zealand the Prince remarked that it "afforded us a striking example of a vigorous, intelligent, and prosperous people, living in the full enjoyment of free and Liberal institutions, and where many interesting social experiments are being put to the test of experience."

Having traced the journey through the Prince said: "If I was asked to specify any particular impression derived from our journey I should unhesitatingly place before • all others that of loyalty to the Crown and of attachment to the Old Country. (Cheers.) It was, indeed, touching to hear the invariable references to Home, even from the lips of those who never had been or were ever likely to be in these islands. And with this loyalty ' were unmistakable evidences of a consciousness of strength, a consciousness of a true and living- membership in the Empire njid a consciousness of power and readiness to share the burdens and responsibilities of that membership."

After reference to the part the colonies have played in the South African war, and having drawn the Secretary of War's attention to the cadet corps in Australia and New Zealand, and the general abundance of excellent fighting material to be found in those countries, the Prince alluded to "the impression which seemed generally to prevail ampng their brethren across the seas that the Old Country must wake up if she intends to maintain her old position of pre-eminence in her colonial trade against foreign competitors." ((Cheers.)

"No one," he said, "who had the experiences which we ha^d during our tour could fail to be struck with one all-prevailing and pressing demand — the want, of population. Even in the oldest of our colonies there were abundant signs of that need, boundless tracts of country yet unexplored, hidden mineral wealth calling for development, vast expanses of virgin soil ready to yield profitable crops to the settlers. And all this can be enjoyed under conditions of healthy living, liberal laws and free institutions, in exchange for the overand one only, is made by our colonial crowded cities and the almost hopeless struggle for existence which, alas! too often is the lot of many in

the Old Country. But one condition, brethren, and that is, 'Send us suitable emigrants.' I would go further and appeal to my fellow countrymen at Home to prove the strength of the attachment of the Motherland to her children by sending to ihem only of her best. (Cheers.) By this means we may still further strengthen, or at all events pass on unimpaired, that pride of race, that unity of sentiment and purpose, that feeling of common loyalty and obligation which knit together and alone can maintain the integritj- of our Empire."

And with this statesman-like conclusion the Heir to the Throne sat down 'mid hearty cheers, which had barely subsided ere Lord Rosebery was on his legs to propose