SOUTHERN JOURNEY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18411, 18 May 1920, Page 5

SOUTHERN JOURNEY.

AT ASHBURTON?. PICTURESQUE SCENE*. ( A distinct feature of the celebrations jt t Ashburton yesterday was the elaborate scheme of decorations in the Domain. 'The Royal car entered through a drive 'get off by numerous arches, all bearing [words of welcome and huge garlands ot lowers. On each side of the roadway rndets in khaki stood to attention while the Royal party passed on to 'the grandstand, amid the press or people that bounded it on three sidesThe scene from the dais was picturesque und inspiring. Behind lines of returned soldiers the Territorials were drawn •lip in company formation, making room If or hundreds of school children, all iwaving miniature Union Jacks. I Several incidents appealed with striking directness to the general body ol (spectators. One was when Captain. iTahu Rhodes, at the Prince’s personal .’request, stepped down off the platform jsind returned with a warrant officer (who had gained two coveted distinction* while on service with the New Zeahnd Expeditionary Force. The soldier walked over the platform with perfect nonchalance, and after a real f‘ Sling Camp ” salute, stood smartly to attention before the Prince. His Royal (Highness congratulated the man on his 'splendid military record, and wished Mm a prosperous future. Another full ceremonial salute, and the soldier left tho dais while everyone cheered.

S Among those on the dais were:— (The Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith), the Mavoress and Miss Galbraith, Mr A. (Drummond (chairman of the County (Council) and -Mrs Drummond, the 'chairmen of several town boards and jamral boards, Mr I<\ Main-waring (clerk of the Conn tv Council), Mr C. J. Harp»r Air E. Stan dish, Colonel Findlay, tfie Hon V. Nosworthy and the DeputyMavor (M” F. Forriman). There was a ibig muster of (buhls and returned sol!diers, in addition to the Eighth South 'canterbury Regimental Band, and the .fiwfcfcijb 'Piv*® Puid- Included m the fawnm wt*

. J „„ ra »s Sister Barr (now was under the comma of welcome read * Mo'f S3&J- t X“ £ of ‘'“d °"o“ Maiestv the King Y OUT Royal Highness have^confe^upon jjeeta In U thls Sl far-distant Donnmon Your Royal Highness ha endea ed yourself to us by the active pan you took in the war a E a ~_vo, ._ vo many, and the affection 5 -went shown for our bravo sons,. an( j willingly to meet death foi & , Empire' Almiglitv God baa truly blessed the British race by P lacu V, its head a Royal Family, who, bj noble example, inspire the people to atmo to reach greater heights on J 1 dor of civilisation, thereby keeping the nation in the forefront and bringing to view a groat and glonous future. Wo sincerely hope the visit will afford vour Royal Highness much pleasure, and that, on your return, New Zealand will find a place m join fond recollections. We would humbly prav that your Royal Highness convey to your Roval lather, tho Ling, assurance of our continued loyalty and devotion, and our hope that MS Majesty will long live to rule over ns.” Tho Prince replied as follows: VMr Mayor, G‘entlen(en. v -4I am very glad to 'be able to pay this visit to Ashburton to-day, and 1 tbana you sincerely for the cordial address which you have presented on behalf of the borough and the neighbouring districts I will not fail, on 1113' return to England, to convey your assurances of devotion to my father, tho King. lam much touched by your too generous reference to tho very moderate part which I was able to play in the great war. I value that experience very greatly for the close association into which it brought mo with my brother officers and men from all parts of the Empire, and I am particularly glad to be able to see so many of them again now in iheir own homes and among their kith and kin. I congratulate this district upon its war services, and offer my sincerest sympathy to those homes which have suffered by disablement or loss. Nothing can touch the unity and well-being of the British Empire while its sons preserve

the spirit which carried them to victory in tho last fivo years. I am deeply interested, as a farmer in a small way myself, in the splendid farming country through which I am passing now- I congratulate you on your progress, nod I wish you in the future much prosperity and happiness.” The Prince was again very heartily cheered at the conclusion of his speech. During the proceedings, the Princo shook hands with a large number of returned number of returned soldiers, as they filed past him. and gave sympathetic and cheering words to those who had lost a limb or were otherwise maimed. He also shook hands with the Rev J. F. Wiseman (who was a chaplnfci with the Canadian forces), with the Rev W. Billock (who was one of the chaplains in France), with Sister Barr, Sister Gill, Mrs J. Blackmore, of Dromore (who lost a son during the war) and with many others.

WELCOME AT TEMUKA. Though tho train stopped for only ten minutes at Tomuka tno Prince met the Mayor, Mr T. Gunnion, and leading citizens, and listened to an address of welcome, and read a brief reply. He shook hands with over one hundred returned soldiers and twenty or thirty early settlers, and inspected a small parade of school children- A panoplied stage in gold and purple had been erected on the southern end of the platform, and here the Prince was received. Over the roadway were hung banners and flags, one bearing the inscription “Temuka’s Welcome to Our Prince.” The train went out to the notes of a Maori war cry.

Replying to an address of welcome at Temuka the Prince said:— “ I am very glad to pay this visit to Temuka, very short though it must be. I thank you sincerely for your loyal welcome and loyal address. I appreciate greatly the far too generous things which you have said about myself. I shall be glad to receive your assurance of devotion to Throne and Empire, and to mv father, the King. 1 wish the people of Temuka much happiness and prosperity.”

TIMARU’S RECEPTION

A OROWD ON THE BAY.

Timaru’s reception took place on a bold clilf front overlooking the sea. The picture was one of the most inspiring that could lie imagined. At tho wharves to the right of the bay small cargo steamers made a brave display with bunting. Right along the seashore, on the paths round the pavilion, and on tho promenades stretching from one end of the bay to the other, there was an enormous crush of cheering spectators. When the band played, the massed school children waved bright pennants and made the whole scene one of colour and animation. The Prince was welcomed on the special platform, and then passed through lines of soldiers to the pavilion, where .the following address was presented:— “AA r e, the Mayor, Councillors and Burgesses of tho Borough ol Timaru, New Zealand, cordially welcome you to this distant part of the British Empire. Wo remember with pride that your Royal parents honoured Timaru with a visit in 1901 and we now ask you to convey to their Majesties this expression ol our continued love and loyalty. We feel sure that your visit to the various portions of the Empire will help to strengthen the bonds of Imperial Unity, and will also promote a livelier and more solid patriotic recognition of the freedom, justice and protection, and tho consequent duties which. Imperial Citizenship confers on, and requites from everv citizen of our Empire. AVe have confidence that the reign of their Majesties will be distinguished by a vast improvement in tho moral and social condition of the people. AVo recognise the importance of the part which you took in the great war and the spirit of comradeship which your presence on the battle front helped to promote. AVo are certain that the associations which were thereby promoted will always remain a pleasant memory to our gallant’ soldiers. As circumstances compel us to also make this a farewell address, permit us in bidding you farewell to express tho sincere hope that your voyage will be a very happy one, and that you will return to yo-ur homo refreshed in mind, and strengthened in tho knowledge that the people in these far-off lands are strongly animated by feelings of love and loyalty to their’King and Queen and all the members of the Royal Family.^’

Tho Prince replied as follows: “I am very happy to be able to pay this visit to Timaru, and thank yoii sincerely for your cordial welcome and loyal address. I shall be proud to convey to my father, the King, your assurances of devotion to his Throne. 1 greatly appreciate your much too generous reference to tho very humble part which I played in the great war. My 'lose association during that period wilh tho splendid troop? sent to the front, by all parts vf the Empire he* enabled tm, V) re411# fete fcjpife m *im m-mym

of. the Empire is founded. This Dominion played a most gallant part in tho groat struggle, and I should like to congratulate you on your war services which were I know, equal to the

best. It is a great pleasure to mo to meet again so many of tho soldiers who were my comrades in arms at tho front. Some, alas, will not return again, and I offer my sincerest sympathy to those homes which have been stricken with loss- I understand that all this district is making rapid progress, and I wish you much pros-

perity and happiness.” Tho Prince inspected the guard of honour, composed of one hundred members of the Timaru Boys’ High School Cadets, and the following gentlemen were presented to him:—Mr .1. Craigie, M.P., Mr J. Bitehener, M.P., Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., Mr F. J. Rolleston (chairman Timaru Harbour Board), Mr E. Macdonald (chairman Mackenzie County Council), Mr Iv- Mackenzie (chairman Geraldine County Council), Mr T. Ilart (chairman Waimate County Council), Mr J. Maze (chairman Pleasant Point lload Board), Mr F. R. Gillingham (chairman South Canterbury Hospital Board), Mr W. Evans (Mayor of Waimate) and Mr B. It. Macdonald (Mayor of Geraldine). The Prince presented decorations as follows: Distinguished Servicp Onjer.—Captain A. E. T. Rhodes. Meritorious Service Modal.—SergeantMajor H. Frank. Next-of-kin:—Bar to Military Medal, W. D. Howie; Military Medal, C. E. it. Dass and M. Hickey. Military Medal.—Rifleman R. S. Nichol. The final scene was full of incident, though far from boing in accordance with the official arrangements. Tho Princo, accompanied by Sir Lionel Halsey and Lord Mount,batten, walked up the cliffs, between ranks of gaily dressed school children, and then prepared to board his "train with a final handshako to the Mayor and tho marshal of tho parade. The engino whistled, and in a flash hundreds of schoolboys and junior cadets jumped over the barrier to take part in an unrehearsed demonstration. Policemen who attempted to stem the rush were powerless. The boys were determined to be in the picture. Staider citizens followed, aud in a couple, of minutes the special platform was flooded with sightseers. Soon the Princo himself was surrounded by boys with rifles, girls with flags, and other people with cameras and flowers. Nobody enjoyed the business more than his Royal Highness. Eventually ho reached tho door of his carriage, flushed and smiling. Tho engine whistled and while the train gathered un speed, lie stood oufsido lifting his hat and waving until the vast crowd had disappeared heliind a bend.

IN HIS BEST FORM. The Princo appeared to be in hi.a best form at the receptions at Ashburton, Tomuka and Timaru yesterday. Ho had lost all traco of nervousness, and rivalled bis Chief of Staff, Admiral Halsey, in conveying tho impression of being very much at home. “ Why, ho seems to like it,” remarked a red-cheeked old lady as tho Prince waved his hat to the gratified school children in the Ashburton Domain. The Prince’s buoyancy seemed to be infectious, for every function went with a swing, and tliero were frequent spontaneous bursts of applause that robbed the receptions of any tinge of formality.