THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14045, 30 April 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE'S TOUR.

(Per Press Association.) < ROTORUA, April 29. The full text of the Prince's reply to the address of welcome from the Maoris was as follows: —"Chiefs and people of Aotearoa. —Your welcome fills me with gladness and with pndegladness thai following the path oi mv father the King I am come *tn see von in your own beautiful land." whose loveliness no other land excels, and pride that von should meet me thus with loyal 'and contented hearts m ancient manners and form. A mighty war has shaken the world since my father came 10 this place, but the .Maori people have held true to the oath which they swore to him upon the day when he stood here. Your warriors went forth to fight and conquer his enemies, in maiiv distant lands. I saw and spoke with" them often on the hard fields oi Tu. Thev fought :md endured most gallantlv "as Maori warriors ever do. and many gave up life or health for the sake of us who remain. Their bravcrv and their sacrifice were seen bv the* King, who bade me praise the Maori people for their faithfulness and valor even unto death. Chiefs and people, it is Queen Victoria's gnat grandson who speaks to yon today. Under her just Government, to which your fathers swore fealty at Waitangi SO years ago. the Maori people. | secure in "their lsuids. found true contentment and peace. Under her wise guidance the Maori and pakeha grew ever closer together in understanding and goodwill, welfare, and happiness, to which Queen Victoria first led you. and these urn; assured to you in like measure bv King Edward and King George. I reioiVe to hear that your children make good progress in the schools which the King'- Government provides tor vou. for thus only can the youth .if Aotearoa. Maori and pakeha alike. grow up worthy of this free land and of The mighty Empire to which they belong. For* my pari I will ever keep before me the pattern of Victoria, t heurea t Queen whose heart was with the Maori people from the day on which thev -wore allegiance to her rule. I have brought you medals from the King for your warriors who fought overseas, and these will be distributed later. I adjure you to care for these as valuable memorials, and hand them down to your sons. Chiefs and people. I f»reet vou from mv heart, and so farewell."

At the conclusion of the address, hakas. poi dances and other evolutions followed in quick succession. The enthusiasm was rising in intensity as the warriors and women warmed to their work. The Xgapuhis. perhaps, excelled all the other's, as the warriors advanced in ordered array, and went through the inspiring steps and movements of the hakii. using their spears in thrust and S'eiK-\ and working their faces in heartthrilling contortions. Of the poi dancers (women), the Wangaliui may be singled out for special mention, though tin- others run them very close. The rise and fall in the cadence of voices chanting the poi song was a revelation to many.

One "presentation may be described as tvpical of ail. The East Coast tribes, under Hon. A. T. Xgata. M.P., come forward: warriors naked to the waist, except for a blue sash over the shoulders, and barefooted. They are men of splendid physique. The air quivers with their shouts" of "Ail! All! Hah!' - , as they brandish spears all together. Then they crouch, the deep roar of defiance dying away, and being replaced by a cry of welcome." The wahines come forward in black and purple mats, and carrying a piece of pui of the same colors. Their powhiri has been well rehearsed, and compels attention, the final salute to the Prince being warmly applauded. The warriors then pass through the ranks of the women, and from here they chant the shout of welcome, which grows and swells to great volume, as it rolls along the ranks, ending in a crash of the native equivalent of hurrahs and clapping of hands. The presentation of gifts to the Prince followed, the chiefs and chieftainesses advancing and laying them at tlie feet of the Prince, at the same time IxMiding low in token of obedience to the son of their King and great-grandson of the great and good Victoria, of honored memory.

The Prince then passed through the lines, examining the dresses worn by the different warriors. The whole ■tone was one of an unequalled impressive nature. The huge space iit the -hape of a square was surrounded hy thousands of spectators, and the space at- the sides were filled with dunce, parties awaiting, their turn. The movements of the dancer*, men and women with bright colors ot dresses, and thi> flags flying overhead, produced a fine kaleidoscopic effect. The rhythmic stumping of the warriors, growing in intensity as the. dances progressed, was vi ry etf.-ctive. Tic- collapse of the stand as t'lv Prince entered the gates provided ai: alarming sensation for a minute or two. but when it war- found that' no: much harm had been done it was literally a case of "on with the dance.'' and on it went.

The Prince this afternoon, in addition to meeting the school children, v. as present- at a parade of returned .Maori ,-o!dic:-s in the baths gardens, and prc.-enled a number of medals for war ncrvices. After that he paid another visit to Whakarewarewa, walking out and back. During his stay at Witaka he thoroughly examined every ium in the list of the wonders of Nature to be seen there. His Itoyal Highm~ has been greatly interested and impressed by the evidences on every hand of the mighty forces at work in this remarkable geyser valley. He was highly amused at the spring which upholds* objects thrown into it. and IoU towed the usual tourist's example of throwing pennies into the water and watching them,remain suspended. The f-prings. mud hole.-, and spouting gcyseix all in turn arrested his attention, and a more leisurely enjoyment of a unique experience was possible than on hi- formal vi-i# of the previous-day. It i- r.nofn.ialiv stated that the Prince, while refraining from an expression of opinion on the question of the strike, is hopeful that a satisfactory arrangement of difficulties will be r< ached. a> he is extremely ar.xiou; that no part ot the lountry tour should tie abandoned. His interest, especially in the children, no doubt would" cause him to regret exceedingly any step that would rob them of the celehrannn.to which they have looked forward so long with joyous anticipation. The return to Auckland is made in order thai the more central situation would enable negotiation between the parties to proceed, with greater expeultion. His Roval Highness has indicated that ho would williuglv give up the the three daw- proposed for deer-stalking if thev "could be utilised in covering the Turanaki-Hawke's Hay portion o! the original itinerary. He is especially anxious that the question of his convenience should not be used to infrVence the men one way or the other, but he does say that the children and country people generally in the are.i affected by the proposed cut would' (.less si settlement that would enable them to realise the hopes thev have lately been building up of participating in scenes that will live in their memories.

The extraordinary situation arising in Ifotorna as a, result of the railway strike is not without it* humorous side. The spectacle of *tnid Ministers of the Crown and private secretaries, usually so completely armored in sangfroid as to be impervious io excitemejit over the ordinary exigencies of travel, hurrving round arranging and rearranging journeys this way and that out ot" Kotoran. was one that could not fail to raise a smile on the faces even of those who were beset, by uncertainty as to their own prospective movements. Lately many roads have led to Rotorua and many feet have trod them, but now the chiefest of them is closed, and means of passage over others is limited. Cars are reserved largely, for : o&V cialrparties. - -and -cfen-Ihey ■'■ cahnot ; aVwavs do what they would like to do. Some have succeeded, but the majority are still in the throes of uncertainty, and people anxious to get to their homes must resign themselves to wait till the air clears.

The position of the townspeople is not altogether enviable. Coal is in short .supply, wood, though plentiful at no great distance, cannot be got- because the eternal lal>or scarcity,bars the way. and food stocks arc insufficient to stand the (strain of a large temporary population. When the shop 3 opened this afternoon

oidood on* Suunsua smrj. ,/Suuau -joo„ a'ub pajuaAaid pun ouios o; sbji jo u«id is -pnq •pajudiDi'}ttß su 'qsni b svm. 9-iatr} of small means would have sufficient for their immediate needs. Y\ ith gradual evacuation of the visiting hundreds the situation will become easier of course, but at present it is, though not desperate, causing the managers or the town's-affairs quite,a lot of concern . As the hour of the departure of the Roval train drew near many people gathered in the vicinity of the station, and, though they had not lost interest in the central " figure of the Prince, there were many curious eyes .turned upon those fortunate ones able to get away on the train. "Chance will not do the work."— Scott. No one can alford to take chance with health. Yet how many during the Winter, when coughs and colds are so dangerous, experiment with preparation after preparation. Take Baxter's Lung Preserver immediately and be sure. Mr Baxter did all the experimenting 54 years ago, and now you can promptly remedy cough, cold, sore throat, chest and bronchial troubles. This sterling specific is quick in its action, permanent in its relief. Get large 2s 6d bottle to-day from chemist or store.