THE ROYAL VISIT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14042, 27 April 1920, Page 3

THE ROYAL VISIT.

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, ■April 26; ..■ Rain set in after the races, but the ardour of the. Aucklanders was not in any way damped thereby. There was. a tremendous crush at the civic reception in the evening in the Town Hall. Queues of cars blocked the streets, and thews'-was only standing room for all.' The chairs had been removed to enable more people to get in. Four thousand five hundred invitations had been issued, and there must have been 4000' present. The citizens came in uniform, in evening dress, and in plain clothes. The hall was decorated with todeasnperba palms and chrysanthemums. The Prime Minister, Mrs and Miss Massey, Sir Joseph and Lady Ward, and some of the Cabinet. Ministers arrived just before 9, and the Prince in evening, dress wearing his decorations and medals, shortly afterwards. The. intention was that peonle should simply file quickly past the Prince, but when ho reached the .door of the hall he said he thought he was fit enough to shake hands with everyone on this occasion. The people came up in• single hies,; and the Prince shook hands with them at the~rate of 45 a. minute. He has, previously shaken hands' with a large audience"at the rate of over 2000 an hour, and 7000 an hour-have filed past him, going three deep. _ The Prince backed three winners at the races to-day. and no losers. After the races he went down to the Renown: and played an energetic game of squash raquets'. Then, at .7 p.m. be, was at the Northern Club. The members had. lent the club for his father's staff when the latter was here, and he wanted to see the members in gratitude .for. this kindness to his father. The members drank his health and sang the NationilAnthem and then "For He's a- Jolly Good Follow." Mr Massey asked it ho would like it in Maori, and getting a reply in the affirmative, he asked Henry Brett to start the song, and members joined heartily in the Maori chorus. The Prince spoke to several of these and shook hands with Bishop Geary and Clutha Mackenzie. - The children's show to-df'y greatly appealed to the Prince. He said it was one of the finest he had erer seen. The Prince will leave at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning for Rotarua. One of •the feat i-os in the priceedir.o= attendant upon the Prince's visit' to Rntorua, will be the presentatio- to his Royal" Highness of a !' yal address from the MacrT-re The address itself is a very, fine production of the illuminator's han- ; dicraf t, the lettering bi ing enclosed in a rich red-brown .border, the design being a production of traditional Maori carvings; with a three-fingered god appearing frequently among the intertwining scrollwork. Inserted ifl this border are water colors of Mount Egmont, Huka Falls, the Wairoa Geyser, and Lake Taupo. The text of the address is as follows: — "Haere mai e te kotuku rerenga tahi. Te Manuhiri Tuarangi." "To his Royal Highness Edward Prince of "Wales. ■• -« "Ye who lie in the dark chambers of death come forth and hearken! Ye who sleep the long last sleep a rise, stand forth and give welcome, for 10, the first-born of the line draws near, eldest of him whose face ve saw on this twice-honored ground.', Son of his Majesty.Return once more, following'" the'way S'STrr father trod. Least among the people i-hat acclaim his/ mana, we give place to none in service aftd loyalty and'thus we greet thee. Welcome to these the. furthest isles of the. Southern Seas. Welcome 'to Aotearqa. Welcome to TevWaipounamu. Our hearts are full ■of gladness. Come in the glory of victory. 'Once more the bonds that knit the Empire in one allegiance have held true. ■'■'.."■'

"Your father came to tis after a. war that added a bright jcv.el- -tin diamond of- Africa—to ihe Imperii-1 Ciown. Yoi> c ine, a. soldier Prince, the embodiment of ' greater victory won over forces of oppression and lawlessness. The world has been saved for freedom wherein the peoples, great and small, may grow side by side without fear. You brine; with i you memories of our beloved dead. They live again who strove with you on the i fields "in many lands beyond the seas. Your presence there endeared you to the hearts of our warriors. Your brief so'journ here will soften the sorrows of those whose dear ones followed the setting sun. . "Royal son of an illustrious line, King that" is to be, we are proud that you, should carry on the traditions of your race and house, for it is meet that those who sit on high should turn an equal face to the humble as to the. mighty. *\Valk, therefdre, among your peoples sure of their hearts, fostering therein the love they bore Queen Victoria and those who came after her. "W>lcomt and farewell. Return in peace without misgiving, bearing to his Majesty the King and to her Majesty the Queen the renewal of the oath we swore to them on this ground a generation, ago. an oath embodied in the Treaty of "Waltangi, thrice hallowed by time and manifold" trials. • The Maori people will be true till death, and so farewell." AUCKLAND; April 27. The departure of the Prince of Wales for Rotorua bv-train this morning was a scene of wild enthusiasm, enormous crowds displaying in every possible way pleasure and appreciation of H.R.H. Before leaving the Prince gave the Mayor - the, following message: —"I have had a perfectly glorious time. Unfortunately my stay m your beautiful city is all "too short. I have been greatly impressed by the spontaneity of welcome accorded me, as evidence by the. enthusiasm of the people on all occasions. That has pleased me very miich". I can assure you that I have had an extraordinarily good time here, and all arrangements were highly satisfactory. 1 ' Then from the train hosaid: "My visit has been a perfectly delightful one. I desire, you to thank" the citizens for jne.", ' , ■'""

Before leaving by the Royal- train I this morning for Rotorua. the Prime I Minister expressed his pleasure and gratification at the unqualified success' of the visit of the Prince .to Auckland. i The enthusiasm of citizens and-.the

visitors from, the something wonderful. ' 'Xn«r"S|;nMtndWS been a hitch from • The Prince expressed der to the charm of Auoklaiitt natural beauties and the whoie?He# warmth of his, The spontaneity and, welcome have made an him that ho declares can J effaced. It will always memory as the happiest ments of the patriotism and>loy&lt&;for;ra:|| which the people of New ever famed. The unfeigned', '■'*§ spoken pleasure of his Royal ffi&haees, > s ,t|with entertainment he has reeeived"ati,*' %W the hands of Auckland and its- crSa'enss. iw is, indeed, a happy augury of thoughts which he will carry back > the Motherland with him respecting' #ss this land of Southern Cross- and yitas<>.{4 loyal-hearted people. As to the def- 'o£ monstration in the Domain yesterday the Prince told me that ho was $M prised and delighted both with, the ap-' "M pearance and the performance of "the -Ww children, it was an outburst that dearly ;$j appealed with peculiar force ttf'the ~{* heart of the Prince. • Speaking person- ! j''j-| ally, said Mr Massey, that demonstrar ■ .'■j'J tion of the school children exceeded i„ V V V anything of the kind I have ever seen ,5/ in my life. It was simply. magnificent, •' , ) a exclaimed the Prime. Minister, , with. /:. genuine pride in his voice. ' s l- ''