H.R.H.

Northern Advocate, 7 May 1920, Page 5

H.R.H.

WELLINGTON EN FETE

EXUBERANT LOYALTY,

WELLINGTON, This Day. Wellington excelled itself yesterday in the warmth of its reception accorded the Prince of Wales in his progress through ihe streets to sev. eral functions. Th c official civic welcome at the Town Hall was the occasion of a remarkable display of loyalty and good-will.

At the luncheon tendered him by the Government the Prince again made a great, impression, his speech in responding to th c toast of his health being greatly enjoyed and admired. In the course of his reoly the Prince expressed gratitude for the enthusiastic welcome accorded him everywhere he had been in New Zealand. He made humorous reference to the railway trouble and was delighted to be able to carry out hi.< North Island programme without serious curtailment. He had long looked forward to his visit to New Zealand, but never in any flight of imagination had he expected the warmth of the reception accorded by pakeha and Maori alike. He wis amazed to see the progress made by the country in the brief space of time sinc c it was first settled. What struck him most, however, was the splendid spirit of the people, proved first in the Maori wars, then a generation later in South Africa. The greatest test of all was in his own time, and he was glad now to be abb to pay a personal visit to the land from whence so many men went to uphold the Empire's name. The Prince paid a tribute to the work of the women during the war, and offered his condolences to all people who mourned the loss of dear ones through the war.

iHe had been greatly struck -by the systematic way in which New Zealand trained its children to become good citizens of the Empire. The late war had resulted in hard times for many people, but even mor c difficult times were with us now that a •new epoch in the history of the world had arrived, and the responsibilities of the British Empire were greater than ever before. The British peoples, however ( he believed, were recovering from the war effects more quickly than other nations and en joyed a measure of well-toeing s fi !l denied to the majority of other peoples of Europe. Unrest prevailed to sbme extent in British countries, but this would be overcome if we showed the steadiness and fairness which had marked our conduct in the war. We must remember that the eyes of tho. world were upon us and settle -)ur disputes with commonsens e and fairness to all, not letting local controversies affect our common devotion to British justice and freedom and th c unity of the great empire which our hands had made.

The Prinqe's speech occupied a quarter of an hour and was frequently interrupted by appplause aad cheers.

The Prince attended a military review at Newton Park in the afternoon, and last night was the guest of the Governoi-jGeneral at a bail given in his honour at Governmsnt House. —'Press Assn.