KING COUNTRY WELCOME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17460, 3 May 1920, Page 4

KING COUNTRY WELCOME.

RECEPTION AT TE KUITI. GREAT ENTHUSIASM SHOWN. PRINCE'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT. INTEREST IN RETURNED MEN. [BY telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] TE KUITI, Sunday. The Prince of Wales met with an enthusiastic reception at Te Kuiti, where a large crowd gathered at the railway station. The school children were drawn up in an enclosure immediately in front of the Royal stand, with the returned soldiers under Capt. Kennedy, D.5.0., M.C., on their right. There was an excellent parade of returned men representing nearly every unit of the oversea forces. The Mayor, Mr. G. P. Finlay, explained that there would be no presentation of an address of welcome as the visit was an informal one. Tho address, which the Mayor read, would be handed to Sir William Fraser, and by him presented to His Royal Highness on behalf of the district. Punctually to time the Royal train drew in, and when the Prince appeared the crowd cheered right heartily and the children waved their flags. The Prince inspected the returned men, shaking hands with every one on parade, and speaking to those who possessed decorations. Then to the delight of those present His Royal Highness walked round the enclosure between the children and the people, the crowd cheering. Returning to the stand the Prince asked that the headmaster of the school should be presented. Then the Prince made a brief impromptu speech. He said:—

I would like to say how much I appreciate the vory kid welcome you have given me, and I am sorry that, my stay in Te Kuiti is so short. It la a particular r>jeasire to moot so many returned eoldiers, soma of whom I think I met with the New Zealand Division m France. It is also a, great pleasure to see the children, and I have asked the headmfster to give them a day's holiday to commemorate my visit. • The cheering again broke out with renewed vigour, and the National Anthem was sung, the band leading. The returned men then sang "For Hes a Jolly Good Fellow." Amid cheers and cries of "Good-bye, Digger," the Prince returned to the station platform. An order to the returned men to man the platform was obeyed at the double, the crowd pressing on behind. Cheers were given for Admiral Halsey, and for the navy, followed by "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" in Maori for the Prince. Amid great cheering the train moved off. After the departure of the tnin the Mayor read the following reply to the borough address of welcome, which had been conveyed to him by Sir William Fraser :—

I have been greatly touched on reading the loyal terms of your address. I thank you for it moat sincerely. I am entirely of your opinion regarding the value of the personal tauch. That is one of the chief advantages which I hope to derive from my visit to New Zealand, and I shall be happy to tell my father the King of your expression of loyalty to his person and Throne. I very much regret that owing to the retardation of ray programme caused by recent events I have to pass through Te Kuiti on Sunday and cannot, therefore, receive your address formally from the representatives of the borough. I can assure you that I value it nona the less and am most grateful for the kind things which you have said about myself. May I wish you, on my part, all possible prosperity and happineee? STOP AT TAIMARUNUI. GREAT ENTHUSIASM. AN ADDRESS PRESENTED. [bx KLECRAPH.—OWN ' cobrespond^kt.] TAUMARUNUI. Sunday.

Despite short notice a very large number of people had assembled at the railway station when the Royal train came in on time, and there was a great outburst of cheering. The Mayor and members of the Borough Council and chairmen of local bodies met the Prince and his party and escorted them through a long decorated archway to a dais on the main street, where an informal reception took place. The town was brilliantly lighted and the archway and dais decorated with flags and ferns. The Mayor briefly welcomed the Prince and handed him an illuminated address. The Mayor's daughter presented the Prince with a bouquet from the school children, who, bearing miniature Union Jacks, were lined up in front of the dais. Over 100 returned soldiers lined the passageway, and the Prince shook hands with each, also with Mr. Alexander Bell, who was the first white man in the King Country, and Mr. J. Meredith, both Maori war veterans. The Prince briefly addressed the crowd, wishing the district every prosperity, and asking that the school children be # given a whole holiday in honour of his visit. On returning to the train the Prince was met by a number of railway servants, who expressed regret at the trouble through the strike, saying it was not through disloyalty to him. The Prince thanked the railway men, who had brought his train through. The crowd surged on both sides of the train, following it out of the station, the Prince waving his hat to them from the observation platform. The band played the National Anthem and patriotic airs, and the proceed were marked with great enthusiasm.

AUCKLAND'S WARM WELCOME.

ADMIRAL HALSEY'S THANKS.

Appreciation of the spontaneity and enthusiasm which marked the hearty welcomo extended to the Prince of Wales by the citizens of Auckland was expressed by Admiral Sir Lionel HnLscy in taking leave of the Mayor on Saturday. The arrangements, said the Admiral, hid Iwert carried out in an excellent manner, and nothing finer, in regard both to the welcome given to the Prince and to the treatment of the men of the Renown, had been experienced during the Prince's tour. The enthusiasm displayed by the people had, he said, made a great impression on the Prince and every member of the Royal party, and he desired the Mayor to "onvey their thanks to the citizens. HOME FROM ACTIVE SERVICE. o. SMALL DRAFT ON RKMUKKA. The Remuera, which arrived from Southampton on Saturday, brought a small draft of soldiers returning from service abroad. The draft, which comprised twenty one men of all ranks, including five officers, was in charge of Captain VV. Kay, 0.8. E., of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Two officers and five privates were accompanied by their wives. Major Kay stated that the voyage had been uneventful and that the draft was in good health. The southern members of the draft left by the Monowai on Saturday evening.