PRINCE OF WALES TO VISIT CANADA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 94, 22 April 1908, Page 6

PRINCE OF WALES TO VISIT CANADA.

QUEBEC TERCENTENARY.

GREAT NAVAL DISPLAY,

The Prince of Wales, who will not be accompanied by the Princess, will represent His Majesty at the tercen/ie2hQ7 fn Pfamplain's foundation (1608) of Quebec, at which will be initiated the carrying into effect of the movement undertaken by Earl Orreyfor acquiring the Plains of Abraham as a National Memorial Park. The visit will be confined to one week, from July 22 to 29. The shortness of the visit is due to the pre-ar-ranged movements of the Atlantic jueet, which will accompany His Royal Highness. In naval circles al Portsmouth it is stated that the Prince of Wales will use the Renown for his trip to Canada. The Renown has remained fitted as a yacht since she took the Prince and Princess of Wales to India. At the present moment she is in the special reserve at Portsmouth.

GREAT GATHERING OF TROOPS. The intention w^as to hold the celebration in the first week of August, but the announcement of the Prince's visit of course means that it will take place a week earlier. In moving a vote for £60,000 towards the cost of the celebration, Sir Wilfrid Laurier in the Dominion Parliament said that it would be managed by a Commission of five members.

"If any province ox- any British Colonial Government," he added, •'contributes £20,000, it will have representation on the Commission. The powers of the Commission will be to

devise a plan for the reclamation of the battlefields of Quebec, and to carry out the work of beautification."'

In addition to a naval display, there will be a mobilisation of 20,000 Canadian troops, including Regular forces and Militia from all points in Eastern Canada. The gathering of the Militia on the ancient battlefields of Quebec will, it is felt, prove a memorable event. It will take place during the annual training camps. Not only the British Atlantic Squadron, but, it is hoped, French and American warships, will be at Quebec during the Prince's visit.

THE QUEBEC PAGEANT. Quebec is at the present moment organising a pageant which will reproduce the chief historic events in the city's career. This will coincide with the inauguration by the Prince of the National Park, which comprises the battlefield where Montcalm and , Wolfe fought in 1759, and where the French, under De Levis, made a strong attack upon the British troops in 1760^ and were only prevented from storming the citadel by the sudden and unexpected appearance of British warships. These two battlefields, the Plains of Abraham and Sainte Foye, are to be combined into one park, surrounded by a unique drive seven miles long, a road which will on the south-east side run along the high bank of the St. Lawrence and on the north-east side close to the walls of the citadel. GREAT PEACE MONUMENT. The park is further to be ornamented by a great Peace monument, to be placed so as to be in full view of steamers passing up and down the stately St. Lawrence. It will not be necessary to acquire much land, and it will only be requisite to move two important buildings—the Ross Rifle Factory and the gaol. The total sum needed is two million dollars, or £400,----000, and much has already been subscribed, although further funds are needed. The royal visit will, however, doubtless give the funds the desired impetus and lead it to a highly successful conclusion. It 'is regarded as likely that the French Government will be also, by invitation, represented by a high official, as the celebration is in no sense racial, but, on the contrary, is one in which both nations have a jointly keen pride and interest.