DAY IN THE RAIN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 4

DAY IN THE RAIN.

MAORI DISPLAY ABANDONED.

WELCOME THIS MORNING.

CURTAILED PROGRAMME.

[BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER]

ROTORUA. Wednesday. Potentially a great day, thorough spoiled by the rain, is the only verdict which can be passed upon to-day in Rotorua. In the morning an endeavour was made to carry out the set programme, in spite of the weather, but by mid-day it was obvious that the Maori demonstration at Arawa Park could not be proceeded with and the whole of the proceedings had to be abandoned in consequence. Even the entertainment that was to be given in th dance marquee at the camp to-night has been cancelled, and any arrangements that are being carried but for the entertainment of the Prince and his party are of an entirely unofficial character. The demonstration in a curtailed form will take place to-morrow morning, which had been left free in the event of anything like to-day's circumstances arising, so that some atitunpt can be made to give the Prince a greeting in the proper Maori fashion. The weather prospects are very much better this evening, and it is hoped that something can be done with the programme in the morning.

To-day's tale of wasted effort is the more to be regretted in that everything seemed to promise well. The Maoris were keyed up to a "high pitch of enthusiasm, and everyone in Rotorua was expecting a memorable day. Lowering clouds early in the morning gave warning that trouble was to be apprehended. At 9.15, when the Prince was preparing to leave the Grand Hotel, light rain was falling. A considerable crowd gathered, nevertheless and watched with great interest when His Royal Highness, wearing military uniform, entered his car and left for Ohinemutu.

A little interlude was provided at this moment. The crowd had first been cheering the arrival of the Prince in the street, and was standing watching his car disappear when a motor-car coming up with insistent hooting demanded a way through. Everyone turned to see what was afoot, only to discover a bridal party in the car making its way to church for -a wedding Careless of Princes or any other distractions, the crowd, seizing on the incident cheered the bridal couple with a heartiness second only to that with which they had greeted the Prince. From the hotel the Prince's course was shaped for Ohinemutu, where a reallv well organised welcome was given him The rain by this time, was falling steadilv but it was not sufficients heavy to spo'il' tho ceremony entirely.

A rapid visit was then paid to the KinGeorge V. Hospital, where the Prince spent some time among the soldier patients, From there the visit to Whakarewarewa was pursued, but bv this time rain was falling so heavily as to make conditions thoroughly unp'leasant for all con cerned. The Maoris, in their light costumes, must have felt the cold keenly, but they carried on valiantly nonetheless Pohutu refused to play, and this last toucL was only in keeping with the other circumstances which conspired to mar the da-. This was the more annoying, as those who ventured down later in the afternoon witnessed a really fine shot. Word was sent round early that the afternoon proceedings could "not be ittempted, and everybody spent the rest of the day as best suited themselves. I