THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14042, 27 April 1920, Page 2

THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

Fbb Pbbss Association AUCKLAND, April 26.„ • Auckland has truly taken the Prince of Wales to. its heart. To-day / the third of his stay, tho people turned, out once more in their thousands to catch»a glimpse of him as he passed to fulfil enV gageinents. Everywhere his appearance evoked outbursts'of such as probably have never been heard in . the city before. . . The children held the pride, of place in this morning's programme for the entertainment of the Prince of Wales.. Jt was their day out, and they made the most of it. Many thousands, of parents, friends, and the public gener-' ally filled afl the'space 6h rising banks above the' sward on Which the 'evolutions took place. When the Prince arrived at about ten o'clock the scene; was one of great interest: Eight thou-; sand school children were drawn up in ordered ranks —the girls in sections clad in red white and blue and carrying flags of the same colors. The Chairman of the Education Board, the Mayor, ! Ministers, and other officials were at the grandstand when th ePrince's car arrived, • which was the signal for an outburst of cheering as the band from* the Renown played the National Anthem. Then the front portion;:of the 1500 children resolved itself into the word "Welcome," formed by girls, who, as the Prince took his place in the.! stand, curtseyed, and then' the whole assemblage of children gave three cheers for the Prince, who stood- and saluted. The girls then moved to the sides, and 2500 boys mached up from tfie back and went through •physical drill, evoking tho warm commendations of all beholders. The boys then re«tired, and a transformation of wondrous beauty followed in moment, as it were. The girls moved from the front, sides. back, and- corners in towards the centre, forming, the Union Jack. As they earned out exercises with their flags. The effect was almsot beyond description and "be-, holders were unstinted-in their, acel.ama-. t-ion. On its. conclusion the Prince congratulated those in charge of the displav. He then entered his car.:and made a circuit of the grounds,.when an. unrehearsed incident lent a.piquant and picturesque touch to tho finale. ' The girls in the flag broke away and. cwarmed round the Royal car, the Prince standing and raising hit hat to., the lifc~ tfc ones. The car had thus to make its circuit through . scurrying crowds of gaily-dressed and highly-delighted, girls. In the meantime the boys on.parade atthe back of the grounds remained as steady as a rock, not one moving a' foot, from his "appointed place till: the Prince drove away off the grounds. It was-in-deed a great day and one that will live in the children's memories and afford '£ subject for stories to other children in. vears to come. The streets to and from" the' Domain held cheering thousands to watch the Prince passing and the march of the Royal Marines and Band;'from the Renown, with a detachment of bluejackets and marines, e\oked great,.enthusiasm on all sides. The people waited at various vantage points to gam another glimpse of the Prince as he went to the races at Elllerslie. " Here, in the'afternoon, he was the guest of the Auckland Racing Club. I , Ellerslie course was looking at its best. The rich golden tints of autumn mellowed the former brilliancy' of t the trees in the grounds, making a foil to set off the vi\ id green of the lawns and bright hues of the ornamental flower' beds and borders The stands and* lawns were filled with visitors.-and the ladies' dresses, the uniforms of the men from the warship, and ihe colors of the flowers made up a kaleidoscopic effect not easily forgotten. The -Pririfce's arrival wag the signal for a. great outburst of cheering, which continued almost all the tune he was* received by the v President and of the Club and conducted to>tTie'< space; reserved for tb«& Royal, Dartv stand. The; Prince there, hoyf^f^J^PSL^frfM^^^^

the working of the totalisator.." Returning from the ■ races to the city, the Royal car was still the magnet that drew all eyes till it turned; into Government House gates, to issue again as the Prince'. went off to the civic reception at the Town Hall.