A PRINCE IN EXILE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19169, 7 November 1925, Page 12

A PRINCE IN EXILE.

MEMBER OF RUSSIAN FAMILY. SHORT STAY IN AUCKLAND. THE BLIGHT OF BOLSHEVISM. Prince Berlins Volkonsky, ot Riussi&j is at present staying with friends iu Auckland. He arrived at Wellington from .Sydney a few days ago and is seeing something of New Zealand before leaving for Canada by the Niagara on her trip to Vancouver. His mission in Canada is to rejoin his .sister, the I'rincess Volkonsky, whom he found only last year in Norway. The members of the Volkonsky family were scattered to the four winds in the cataclysm that followed the Russian revolution in 1917. His sister is the only one whom the Prince has so far been able to trace. Li is father left Russia foi France, in 1917 and has not been heard from since. The Prince, who is under 30 year sof age, has vivid memories of the horrors of the revolution which broke up the life previously so peacefully lived by the family in the Tornbobsk Province. He had not long returned there from finishing his education at St. John s College, Cambridge University, when the storm broke over the Romanoffs and ail the nobility. " I think New Zealand is a remarkable country;" he said yesterday. Its prosperity and potential wealth must impress every v isitor. I lie most remaikable thing, however, is how English your people are—they are British, absolutely British, and much more so than in Australia, where I have recently spent some time. "1 had long ago read of your Maoris, what a fine race they were, and their fighting qualities and am intrigued now at being able to see them in their native land, to satisfy an "Id curiosity. This morning I had a most interesting interview with £>r. P. H. Buck, and heard from him of the history, traditions and customs of tho Maoris. Next week I am going to Rotorua, where I hope to see more of the native race and as well to enjoy some golf, fishing and shooting, of which I have heard such fine accounts." Prince Volkonsky went on to speak of the Bolshevik blight which had fallen on Russia. lie said it was supposed to have hastened J h • march of progress, but actually the clock had been put back 100 years. Human advancement had nowhere received such a check as ill Russia under Bolshevism. The best elements in Russian society had been hounded to death or into "exile. To-day there were millions of Russians living in alien lands, many poverty-stricken, but all imbued with hope for the return of sanity to their native land and the right to go back and live in it as free men.