THE PRINCE OF WALES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18412, 19 May 1920, Page 6

THE PRINCE OF WALES.

VISIT IX) DUNEDIN.

ENTHUSIASTIC CROWDS.

[Per Press

DUNEDIN, May 18.

Glorious weather to-day rendered the visit of the Prince of Wales to Dunedin most pleasurable to the Royal party and to tho thousands of people who, m the afternoon, turned out to seo his Royal Highness as ho passed along the streetsThe morning was spent quietly, being what is scheduled on tho official programme as "free" The Prince was motored out to the Otago Golf Club's links at Balmacowen, and played, a round. Though tho visit was unheralded in any way, news of it spread on swift wings, and soon quite a thousand people garnered to see tho scion of tho Royal House enjoying himself like an ordinary British, citizen, free from the restraints of formality. Tho afternoon saw the Prince an harness again, so to speak. At two o'clock an oihcial welcome to the city was extended to him at a special dais erected in the Octagon in front of the Anglican Cathedral, on the steps of which boveral hundred college girls wore mass* cd, and sang " God Bless the Pnnco ot Wales-" Huge crowds occupied tho open space in the Octagon and the streets converging thereon, tho whole scene being one of life and colour, and remarkable warm-hearted enthusiasm. The Mayor, Mr Begg, read an address of -welcome, and the Prince, in reply, expressed appreciation of the splendid reception accorded him. He also referred to the great part the people of Dunedin had taken in promoting educational progress among tho people, the part they thus played being worthy of the noble traditions the pioneers brought with them from the schools and colleges of the Old Country. Their devotion to British ideals had beon sternly tested in tho past five years, and the response had been a splendid one. The Prince then received various addresses from ohurcb and other bodies in the piovinco. Visits to the Medical School and the soldiers' ward of the hospital followed. Crowds cheered the Prince along the route, and at the hospital gates three hundred medical students, armed with leg and arm bones, and other grisly reminders of their chotfen profession, gave his Royal Highness a typical students' welcome, to tho huge delight of tho spectators especially tho übiquitous juvenile element. In the main hall of the hospital the Prince was received by Surgeon-General M'Gavin and Colonel Falconer, officer in charge of the institution. . Here as many of the sitafi as could bo be spared from duty were grouped and inspected, also several tiny patients who, in spite of their helpless condition, sat up in their cots with expressions of keen delight on their faces as tho Prince bent over each in turn and spoke a few kindly words, which* he knows so well how to choose for every occasion. It may be mentioned that four of these tots, whose ages range from five to eight years, addressed a letter to tho Mayor, pleading that the princo should visit them, and in the largeness of his heart his Royal Highness saw to it that they were not overlooked.

The' soldier patients' ward was next visited, the Prince spending some timo among the oots. It was pathetic in some cases to see how the faceß of men suffering from terrible war injuries lighted up as tho well-known figure approached., and the pleasant sympathetic voice fell on their ears. It was to each a minute to bo treasured among the cherished memories of life Tho Prince also inspected the gallery in which are displayed casts showing the wonderful results attained in the treatment and remedv of the terrible facial injuries suffered by men in the war. This and a similar hospital at Sidecup, England, are the only ones in the world specialising in this work. Lieutenant-Colonol Pickerell, who has charge here, is to be congratubated on the remarkable success that has attended his work. The Prince was specially commendatory in his remarks on what he saw. "Walking" cases in hospital were inspected by the Prince in one of the exercise corridors, each man getting a handshake and a few cheery words of greeting. Altogether half an hour was spent within the hospital. Later the Princo visited Port Chalmers, which was gaillv, decorated, and received an address of welcome in the presence of a largo number Of townspeople. The outward run was made via Northeast Valley and as the party topped tho hills dividing tho valley from the harbour and the latter burst suddenly into view, exclamations of surprised delight were general. Tho scene was remarkably reminiscent of views in some parts of Scotland, with its peaceful harbour waters bordered by hills and deep indentations of the sea. Returning to the city by way of the lower Port Road the Prince was stopped at Ravensbourne and accorded a hearty impiomptu welcome. The official citizens' reception took place in tho evening at the drill halL, and later on the Prince was guest at a ball given by the Otago Women's Club in the Art Gallery. Both wero brilliant affairs, attended by very large numbers of people. The visiting Pressmen with the Royal party were the guests of the local journalists at dinner in the Commercial Travellers' Club this > evening. Sir George Fenwick presided, and tendered a hearty welcome to the visitors. Messrs Cotes,, Sandes and Murdoch responded in felicious terms, expressing deep appreciation of the wonderful hospitality accorded them thronghont the Zealand tour.